Community Corner
Harford County School Board Overrules Town Of Bel Air On Road Decision
Harford County Public Schools leaders said the town of Bel Air overstepped its authority regarding Homestead Wakefield Elementary School.
BEL AIR, MD — The Harford County Board of Education decided to overrule the Bel Air Planning Commission this week regarding its request for the town to be given access to MacPhail Road.
As part of the process for development, the town of Bel Air required Harford County Public Schools to present plans for the elementary school it is building to replace Homestead Wakefield.
Rather than two buildings, the school system plans to consolidate the elementary schools into one single building that is two stories on the Wakefield Elementary site for the $82.5 million project.
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Bel Air's Planning Commission, whose job it is to enforce the town's comprehensive plan, approved plans at its April 7 meeting presented by Harford County Public Schools but issued several stipulations, such as requiring public right of way be given so MacPhail Road can extend before the town authorizes use and occupancy of the building.
During its meeting this week, the school board voted not to accept the town's requirements and to instead accept the recommendation of Superintendent Sean Bulson, who said the town stepped beyond its authority.
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"The Town’s proposed road will serve no educational purpose," Bulson said in a statement presented at the April 25 school board meeting. "The property is currently being used for educational programs at Homestead/Wakefield Elementary and will be needed for the future Bel Air Middle School project."
Unanimously, the school board members voted to accept the superintendent's recommendation.
“Absolutely unreasonable," school board member Dr. Joyce Herold said of the town's request to obtain access to MacPhail Road. "I think that our students here need us to stand up as a board and advocate for their safety."
Harford County Public Schools sent the letter below to town of Bel Air after the board's vote:
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