Aberdeen High Students, Parents Bring Principal Concerns to Board of Education

Parents and students took their peaceful protest from the streets of Aberdeen to a boardroom in Bel Air Monday night to support the Aberdeen High School principal who says he is being forced out of the job he loves.

Principal Tom Szerensits has said county Superintendent Robert M. Tomback told him that he would be removed from his job and forced to retire or be reassigned to a position that Szerensits has said would equate to a demotion.

Parents and students crowded the 7 p.m. Board of Education meeting to express support for Szerensits, about 12 hours after they had started the day with a protest outside of Aberdeen High School.

“He gives his all, every day,” said Susan Wilson of Aberdeen. “I am proud to be an Eagle mom. That comes from the top.”

Wilson said she could have sent her children to private school but she didn’t.

“I chose Aberdeen High,” Wilson said. “My family and I are incredibly saddened by your decision.”

Tomback declined to comment after the meeting because the issue is a personnel matter. The board was not scheduled to take any official action related to Szerensits, but Board Vice President Leonard Wheeler commended the crowd for speaking on behalf of their principal.

Joseph Pinto, whose children all graduated from the Science and Math Academy housed at Aberdeen High School, said Szerensits and the board should be able to resolve whatever problems exist between them.

“He has provided leadership like no other principal in the county,” Pinto said. “Give him a chance.”

Nick Burdette, 16, a sophomore, said it is evident that Szerensits cares.

“He actually spends his time listening to children,” Burdette said. “For someone to want to fire a great leader like that shouldn’t even be a leader.”

In other business:

• The board recognized the "2010-11 Teacher of the Year Finalists and 2011 Teacher of the Year Christian S. Slattery, Sr."
• Approved the 2012-13 Harford County Public Schools Calendar." This is the color-coded calendar grid.
• Approved "the transfer of funds between capital projects."
• Approved various monthly contract awards.
• Awarded a contract to replace gymnasium bleachers at three middle schools. 
• Awarded a contract to buy a refrigerated box truck.
• The board approved Citizen Advisory Committee memberships.
• The board approved the transfer of one bus contract between two companies. 

In addition, the board also heard presentations on policies that staff members recommend deleting from the policy manual and placing under the discretion of the superintendent.

Those included:

• Absence of Principal (Policy No. 06-0001-000)
• Emergency Procedures for the Public Schools (Policy No. 06-0002-000)
• Interscholastic Athletics (Policy No. 06-0009-000)
• Intramural Athletic Activities (Policy No. 06-0008-000)
• Management of Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) Orders (Policy No. 06-0003-000)
• Student Control and Classroom Management (Policy No. 06-0004-000)"

Board member Francis F. "Rick" Grambo III questioned whether it was necessary to eliminate policies.

"Are these policies hampering the superintendent's ability to do his job?" Grambo asked. "I'd like some more background."

These policies will be held over for 30 days before a decision is made and posted on the school system website for public comment, according to a statement released immediately after the board meeting.

"I think what I hear from my colleagues is a sense of unreadiness," Wheeler said.