Harford County Public Schools Superintendent Sean Bulson has been suspended with pay by the Harford County Board of Education following the release of a recorded 911 call made during his time last year in New Orleans.

The call, placed April 6, 2024, came during a National School Boards Association conference, where Bulson and other staff were attending. In the recording, a man identifying himself as Sean Bulson reported that a Black woman in a green dress, whom he had invited into his hotel room, allegedly stole his wallet, two phones, an Apple watch, an iPad, and a laptop after he fell asleep around 2 a.m. the night prior.

“I let someone in my room who basically just took everything in my room,” Bulson said, laughing to the 911 dispatcher. “I think what happened is I fell asleep and they left.”

On the recording, Bulson says he did not know the woman’s name or her approximate age and that no weapons were involved. Police asked the approximate value of the items, and Bulson said it was around $8,000.

According to his contract – which says his annual salary is $293,220 – Bulson has a smartphone and tablet or laptop that “belong to Harford County Public Schools.”

Harford County Board of Education President Aaron Poynton told the Baltimore Sun Wednesday that the district does not believe any of the items were stolen during the trip and said that Harford schools have been in possession of the laptop and cellphone Bulson reported as stolen, since the New Orleans trip.

Suspension follows an hours-long meeting

Bulson’s suspension follows an hours-long meeting Wednesday by the Harford County Board of Education. Prior to the closed session, the board met for 46 minutes to discuss launching an investigation into Bulson. A motion to proceed with the investigation did not pass.

After the closed meeting, Poynton said that although the motion failed, he instructed the Maryland State Inspector General to take over the investigation, and the board agreed. Poynton added that Bulson would remain suspended with pay for the duration of the probe, which the board expects to last about 30 days.

During Bulson’s suspension, the district’s Deputy Superintendent, Dyann Mack, will serve as Acting Superintendent.

After news reports about the 911 call were published Tuesday, state and county officials began calling for Bulson to resign or be terminated, including Cassilly and state Sen. Jason Gallion. Other officials, such as Republican state Dels. Mike Griffith and J.B. Jennings, called for an immediate investigation into the 911 call.

Also on Tuesday, Harford County Council President Patrick Vincenti, a Republican who is running for county executive this year, said he has asked County Auditor Chrystal Brooks and the state Department of Education to immediately investigate “the expenses and attendance at the educational conference held in New Orleans in April of 2024.”

“Like many of you, I am deeply disturbed by the information released earlier today by Fox45,” Vincenti wrote in a news release. “If these allegations prove to be true, I fully support the resignation or removal of any Harford County Public Schools leadership and anyone else who may have been involved.”

Bulson, who was hired in 2018, has faced various calls for resignation related to school safety, including handling of last year’s fatal Joppatowne High School shooting. Most recently, Harford County Public Schools was criticized for employing a teacher aide who has active gun charges.

Baltimore Sun reporter Bryna Zumer contributed to this story.   
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