Central Office

School officials want purchasing controls By DAVE McMILLION Staff Writer Washington County school officials discussed Wednesday how to set up a system of checks and balances for the Washington County Board of Education's purchasing policies. School officials discussed having an independent auditor review the school district's purchasing system, but acting Superintendent Herman G. Bartlett Jr. suggested school officials hold off on the idea until he has had a chance to review the situation.

Area closings and delays for Tuesday, Dec. 22: Maryland o Frederick County Public Schools - Closed Tuesday and Wednesday o Washington County Public Schools - Closed o St. Maria Goretti High School - Closed West Virginia o Berkeley County Public Schools - Closed o Morgan County Public Schools - Closed o Jefferson County Public Schools - Winter break begins for students. Instructional Support Day canceled. Central Office will open at noon.

Here are some of the things happening this week in Washington County Public Schools: Monday, Sept. 3 Labor Day - Schools and central office closed. Tuesday, Sept. 4    Washington County Board of Education Meeting - 1 p.m. (broadcast live on Antietam Cable Channel 99) Clear Spring Middle - PTSA meeting in media center, 6 p.m. E. Russell Hicks Middle - Band Boosters meeting, 7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 5    E. Russell Hicks Middle - Flag squad meeting, 7 p.m.; grades seven and eight meet- the-teacher night, 6 p.m. Lincolnshire Elementary - Volunteer orientation in cafeteria, 9 a.m. Thursday, Sept, 6 Boonsboro Middle - Grades seven and eight meet-the- teacher night, 6 to 7:30 p.m. Fountaindale Elementary - Parent community meeting, 6 p.m. Friday, Sept.

The Washington County Board of Education voted 6-0 Tuesday to rescind a food-service equipment contract after learning that the company that was awarded the contract was experiencing financial hardship. The board rescinded the contract from Harwill Food Service Equipment of Winchester, Va., and awarded the contract to the next-lowest bidder, MTS Equipment, also of Winchester. MTS's bid was $32,086, which is $288 more than Harwill's $31,798 bid, according to documents provided by Purchasing Supervisor Lisa Freeman.

The Washington County Retired Educational Personnel Association is offering six $1,000 scholarships, according to a news release. The association is making scholarship applications available to all Washington County Public School seniors, graduating juniors and to college students who have graduated from a county public school under the jurisdiction of the board of education. The scholarships are for those who are enrolled in an institution of higher learning who are aspiring to become teachers.

Here are some of the things happening this week in Washington County Public Schools: Monday, Nov. 19  Barbara Ingram School for the Arts - Hollyfest (Dance Department), 7  p.m.; parent guild meeting, 7 p.m. Boonsboro Middle - Geography bee; merit chorus performance at Hollyfest at The Maryland Theatre, 7 p.m. E. Russell Hicks Middle - Faculty meeting, 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.   Tuesday, Nov. 20 Washington County Board of Education meeting - 6 p.m. (broadcast live on Antietam Cable Channel 99)

With Maryland’s legislative session nearly over, the results of a local lobbying coalition’s 2011 wish list are becoming clearer. Brien J. Poffenberger, president of the Hagerstown-Washington County Chamber of Commerce, said Friday that the coalition knew this was the wrong year to ask for anything that required much money. Instead, the coalition focused on protecting Washington County’s progress, he said. This year’s coalition agenda included road projects and economic development initiatives, as well as a “watch list” for previously approved library and higher-education funding.

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - All 13,000 students in Berkeley County schools were sent home early Friday after someone called the central office saying a bomb would go off in one of the schools later in the day, according to Superintendent of Schools Manny Arvon. Police, firefighters and school officials fanned out across the county to check the district's 25 schools for explosives following the threat. They found nothing, Arvon said. The incident left school officials and others angered and searching for answers for the threat, which was similar to others made against Tri-State area schools in the wake of the April 20 slayings at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colo.

Hagerstown developer Peter Perini told the Washington County Board of Education on Tuesday that his company was interested in developing a building in downtown Hagerstown to house multiple tenants, including new administrative offices for the school system. The Board of Education also heard about the police presence downtown from Hagerstown Police Chief Mark Holtzman as school system officials continue to listen to proposals for new administrative offices. On Tuesday morning, the City of Hagerstown continued its effort to get the school board to move its offices downtown, presenting a video during the State of the City address that featured a rendering of a new office building in the unit block of West Washington Street.

WAYNESBORO, PA. - The 2007-08 school year will be bringing administrative changes to Franklin County, Pa., with several high schools losing principals soon. In the Waynesboro Area School District, Jon Bilbo will exit as high school principal in favor of a job out of state. The Hanover, Pa., U.S. Army veteran joined the district in 2005. "We don't have any other anticipated administrative vacancies or changes," Waynesboro Superintendent Barry Dallara said. The Greencastle-Antrim School District is preparing for the June 29 retirement of Jack Appleby, who was with the district 34 years, according to Greg Hoover, acting superintendent.