Formerly, the Board consisted of nine members, seven of whom were appointed by the Governor, along with one who served ex officio, and a student member. The Board transitioned to a partially elected Board with the November 2010 election.
As of July 2022, the Board has eleven members. Six (one from each councilmanic district) are elected by the voters to four-year terms (Code Election Law Article, secs. 8-801 through 8-806). Three are appointed by the County Executive with County Council consent to two-year terms. The Superintendent of Schools serves ex officio. Chosen by the Harford County Regional Association of Student Councils, a student member serves a one-year term (Chapters 745 & 746, Acts of 2009; Code Education Article, secs. 3-6A-01 through 3-6A-05). In 2012, the student member was allowed certain voting rights (Chapter 91, Acts of 2012). Prior to July 2022, the three appointments made by the County Executive, were made by the Governor (Chapter 569, Acts of 2022).
PUBLIC SCHOOLS
The Harford County Public School System is governed by the County Board of Education (Code Education Article, secs. 4-101 through 4-126). In addition, through the review and approval of the annual operating and capital budgets, Harford County government exercises authority over the County Public Schools. Moreover, through the establishment and monitoring of various financial and academic policies and regulations, the State Department of Education also has considerable oversight of county public schools. Indeed, under Maryland law, the State Department of Education works with county public schools to comply with requirements and mandates of federal law.
In Harford County, the Public School System has fifty-five schools: 10 high schools, 9 middle schools, 34 elementary schools, 1 combined school, as well as the Harford Academy, which offers special education. In Fiscal Year 2025, some 37,771 students were enrolled in County public schools.
SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
With the approval of the State Superintendent of Schools, the Board of Education appoints the Superintendent of Schools to four-year terms.
The Board consists of nine members. They are appointed to five-year terms by the Governor with Senate advice and consent. Six members represent Councilmanic Districts, and three are appointed from the County at large. The President of Harford Community College serves as secretary/treasurer to the Board (Code Education Article, sec. 16-101 through 16-107; 16-408).
Opened in 1947, the Public Library is based at Bel Air. Its ten branch libraries include Aberdeen (1947); Abingdon (May 2004); Darlington (1948); Edgewood (Dec. 1963); Fallston (March 1985); Havre de Grace (1960); Jarrettsville (May 2006); Joppa (July 1980); Norrisville (1985); and Whiteford (June 1992).
The Board promotes and supports arts and culture in the County, and provides advocacy, financial and administrative support to local arts and cultural groups. It is a local resource for arts, cultural and historical organizations, individual artists, and County residents. Moreover, the Board encourages local government and citizen interest in the arts and culture, and accepts and processes nominations for Harford Living Treasures. As the arts council for the County, the Board accepts and distributes funds from the Maryland State Arts Council.
PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Appointed by the County Executive with County Council consent, the Board consists of at least seven but not more than eleven members who serve five-year terms (Code Education Article, secs. 23-401; 23-403 through 23-407; County Code, secs. 9-124 through 9-135).
ABERDEEN LIBRARY
Although started earlier, the Aberdeen Library became a branch of the Harford County Library in 1946. Moving from site to site, the Aberdeen Branch Library opened at its present location in November 1975.
ABINGDON LIBRARY
In May 2004, the Abingdon Branch Library opened to the public near Abingdon Elementary School.
DARLINGTON LIBRARY
EDGEWOOD LIBRARY
At its present site, the Edgewood Branch Library opened in December 1963. An addition was made in 1979, and renovations started in November 1999 allowed the Library to reopen in February 2001.
FALLSTON LIBRARY
The Fallston Branch Library opened in December 1984 as the Fallston/Jarrettsville Branch Library.
When the Jarrettsville Branch Library moved and established itself as a separate library in May 2006, the Fallston Library continued in its original location with renovations in 2005, 2009, and 2011.
HAVRE DE GRACE LIBRARY
JARRETTSVILLE LIBRARY
In December 1984, the Jarrettsville Branch Library started as the Fallston/Jarrettsville Branch Library. It moved to its present site as the Jarrettsville Branch Library in May 2006.
JOPPA LIBRARY
NORRISVILLE LIBRARY
At its present site, the Norrisville Branch Library was dedicated in December 1997. Reconfigured as the Norrisville Branch Library and Recreation Center it reopened in February 2003.
WHITEFORD LIBRARY
The Whiteford Branch Library opened on Whiteford Road in June 1992. Later, renovations doubled Library size at the same site, which reopened in January 2010.
Search the Manual
The Superintendent of Schools administers the Harford County Public School System, and serves as executive officer, secretary, and treasurer of the Board of Education (Code Education Article, secs. 4-102; 4-201 through 4-206).
HARFORD COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Located near Bel Air, Harford Community College was founded as Harford Junior College and opened in September 1957. The College offered classes in the basement of Bel Air High School until 1964, when it moved to its present location on Thomas Run Road east of Bel Air. In 1971, it was renamed Harford Community College.
BOARD OF COMMUNITY COLLEGE TRUSTEES
For Harford Community College, the Board of Community College Trustees is the governing body.
PUBLIC LIBRARY
The first free library service in the County started when the Harford County Library Association was founded in 1912. The Harford County Public Library was established in 1946. At that time, Harford became the first county to take advantage of the State Library Law (1945) which authorized matching State funds (based on a county's population) for the establishment of county library stystems.
CULTURAL ARTS ADVISORY BOARD
In 1973, the Cultural Arts Advisory Board was formed. Since December 2015, the Board has operated under the auspices of the Harford County Public Library (County Code, secs. 9-103.6 through 9-103.11).
Created in January 1946, the Public Library Board of Trustees sets policy for the Harford County Public Library.
21 Franklin St., Aberdeen, MD 21001
2510 Tollgate Road, Abingdon, MD 21009
3535 Conowingo Road, Street, MD 21154
629 Edgewood Road, Edgewood, MD 21040
1461 Fallston Road, Fallston, MD 21047
120 North Union Ave., Havre de Grace, MD 21078
3722 Norrisville Road, Jarrettsville, MD 21084
655 Towne Center Drive, Joppa, MD 21085
5310 Norrisville Road, White Hall, MD 21161
2407 Whiteford Road, Whiteford, MD 21160
Maryland Counties
Maryland Municipalities
Maryland Constitutional Offices & Agencies
Maryland Departments
Maryland Independent Agencies
Maryland Executive Commissions, Committees, Task Forces, & Advisory Boards
Maryland Universities & Colleges
Maryland at a Glance
Maryland Manual On-Line
e-mail: mdmanual@maryland.gov
|
|| Search the Archives || Education & Outreach || Archives of Maryland Online ] Governor General Assembly Judiciary Maryland.Gov
|