Weeks ago, Harford Schools officials were looking to implement a policy to govern the hiring of school employees who have serious pending criminal charges. The policy stemmed from two controversies this past fall involving Harford teachers. But an unrelated controversy that resulted in Superintendent Sean Bulson being put on administrative leave earlier this month has sidetracked progress.

Now, an audit released by the Department of Legislative Services earlier this month has shown that the Maryland State Department of Education “did not have a comprehensive procedure to ensure individuals with disqualifying criminal backgrounds were not employed at local school systems” and also “did not have sufficient policies and procedures to ensure employees hired by local school systems were properly screened and did not have past disciplinary action that precluded employment to work with children.”

Harford County residents and school officials had been calling for enhanced hiring policies after Harford County Public Schools was found to have hired a teacher who faced 15 felony theft counts, and continued to employ a teachers aide who had been arrested on gun and drug charges while employed by the district.

Harford Board of Education’s acting president, Lauren Paige, said this week that she believes the board should give “serious thought” to moving forward with a policy proposed by her predecessor.

“Solid school hiring practices are essential to student safety,” Paige said. “Carefully vetting candidates and continuously monitoring employees ensures that those entrusted with educating children are trustworthy, qualified and committed to protecting the well-being of every student.”

Then-school board President Aaron Poynton drafted a policy in December that would have established a “board-level standard” governing the hiring of applicants who have serious pending criminal charges. If passed, the policy would require the Board of Education to vote to approve or deny hiring of any school system applicant facing charges of:

  • Crimes against children or vulnerable persons
  • Crimes involving aggravated violence
  • Weapons or firearms offenses
  • Crimes of moral turpitude, including fraud, theft, bribery, corruption
  • Sexual offenses
  • Serious drug offenses
  • Any other felony offenses or pattern of criminal conduct

Before a vote, the superintendent of Harford County Public Schools would be required to notify the board about the applicant and provide information regarding the applicant’s charges and other necessary information such as court documents, charging documents and background checks.

The draft policy states that before the board’s vote to approve or deny the hiring, board members would conduct an “individualized assessment” to consider:

  • The nature and gravity of the alleged offenses
  • The time elapsed since the alleged conduct
  • The relationship of the conduct to the duties of the position sought
  • The level of student contact the applicant might have in the role
  • Whether the conduct occurred in an education or child-serving setting
  • Any mitigation or job-related information lawfully available

Shortly after Poynton announced his intention to propose the policy, Bulson and Deputy Superintendent of Operations Eric Davis were placed on paid administrative leave. Poynton also abruptly resigned — stating that he was taking a job out of state.

Despite her support for Poynton’s policy, Paige said she is unsure when the board would get around to introducing the policy as the board still has to decide on next steps after Bulson’s paid administrative leave ends Feb.7; hold a vote on who the board of education president will be; and wait for the Harford County Council to fill Poynton’s vacancy by approving a candidate nominated by Harford County Executive Bob Cassilly.

Have a news tip? Contact Matt Hubbard at mhubbard@baltsun.com, 443-651-0101 or @mthubb on X.