News

Staff are advised that the HCPSS Instructional Resource Center (IRC) will be closed the week of Spring Break. Please plan ahead for any IRC needs. Following break, the IRC will be open Wednesday, April 8 through Thursday, June 4 during its regular dates/times.

The IRC is open Wednesdays and Thursdays from 4-6:30 p.m. and is located in the HCPSS Logistics Center, 9645 Gerwig Lane, Columbia. The IRC is accessible via the entrance on the right side of the building where staff can be buzzed in. Directional signage is posted.

Please note the following:

• The IRC is accessible to staff only during the designated operating hours. For safety and liability reasons, staff may not enter the IRC at any other time.
• If schools are closed districtwide due to inclement weather or any other unscheduled emergency, the IRC also will be closed.
• When bringing materials to the center to laminate, staff may make materials for one class set.
• IRC resources are to be used by school staff creating instructional resources for students. Central offices staff should work with Print Services for their materials needs.

Additional information on use of the IRC is available onsite.

HCPSS staff have access to systemic well-being programming, made possible through the HCPSS Employee Well-Being Program. AETNA provides funding to support this program. These opportunities include:

Weekly Livestreaming Yoga Class

HCPSS staff can join the livestreaming “Yoga Flow & Restore" class every Wednesday from 6:30-7:30 p.m., using this Zoom link (Meeting ID: 865 9872 9492 and Passcode: 590493). Classes will be recorded and accessible online using case-sensitive password – BlueBirdforHCPSS – so staff can access them any time – whether individually or in a group setting.

Nervous System Regulation Videos

These monthly on-demand videos provide staff with self-regulation practices to use during the workday and evening wind-down practices. The March videos are available now:

• In the Moment Nervous System Reset: Try one of these quick grounding strategies if you are feeling stressed in the middle of your workday? Each strategy will help guide you to return to the present moment, providing a tool to help move from stress to self-regulation.
• Evening Wind Down: After a stressful, active day, it can be difficult to fall asleep. The body can feel charged and tense, and the mind might be filled with racing thoughts. Taking a few minutes to intentionally wind down—both physically and mentally—can help release built-up tension, calm the nervous system, and quiet the mind, making it easier to drift into deep, restorative sleep.

The Bright Minds Foundation invites HCPSS educators to submit a proposal for their 2026 classroom grants program. This opportunity is open to all HCPSS teachers and school-based staff interested in delivering educational projects focused on improving student achievement, engagement, and wellbeing during the 2026-2027 school year. Approximately 20 proposals will be awarded grant funds (up to $2,000 per award). Educators interested in applying should click here for additional information, resources, and application instructions. Applications are due by March 22, 2026, 11:59 p.m. (extended from original deadline of March 15).

At the Feb. 26 Board of Education meeting, HCPSS staff shared updates to the Implementation Procedures (IP) of Policy 8080 Responsible Use of Technology, Digital Tools, and Social Media. HCPSS began implementing these changes effective immediately.

Among the changes, the implementation procedures were updated to include Section B. HCPSS Employee Responsibilities related to personal social media use. The new section clarifies that an employee’s use of personal social media “may not disrupt the work/school environment, impair the employee's ability to effectively perform the duties of their role, impair the school system’s ability to function, impact student’s ability to gain benefit from HCPSS programs, services and/or supports, and/or compromise working relationships within HCPSS schools and offices.”

More information about this policy change is available on Boarddocs. Policy 8080 and its updated IPs are available online.

The Superintendent’s FY27 proposed budget includes the conversion of one 10-month special education teacher position per school to an 11-month Special Education Team Leader position. Beginning with the 2026–2027 school year, each school, and in addition, each Early Childhood Special Education program with more than one classroom, will have a designated 11-month Special Education Team Leader. (February 27, 2026 Staff Hub Message).

Key Information

• Deadline: All forms must be submitted by March 16, 2026. 
• How to Access: Instructions can be found here. The forms are accessed through Workday. 
• Requirements: You must meet the certification/licensure requirements for each level selected.

Available Interest Forms

• Elementary Schools 
• Middle Schools 
• High Schools 
• Education Center (Homewood Center) and PreK-12 (Cedar Lane School)

Please Note

• Internal Priority: Principals will first consider qualified staff members currently assigned to their own school building before reviewing interest from candidates at other locations. 
• Action Required for Current Staff: If you are interested in this position at your current school, you must select that school as a preferred school on the Interest Form to be included in the principal's initial internal review.
• One Form per Level: Only one form per level (Elementary, Middle, High, etc.) is needed to indicate interest in multiple schools within that category.
• Assignment Updates: Principals will receive a list of all qualified staff members who have expressed interest in their school. Please note that expressing interest does not constitute an automatic change in assignment; all staffing decisions are based on the evolving needs of the school system.

Questions may be sent to the Office of Human Resources’ Position Control and Staffing Team via email at staffing@hcpss.org.

Due to recent legislation to the Paperwork Burden Reduction Act, the HCPSS Benefits Office is informing staff of upcoming changes as to how 1095-C forms will be distributed.

Previously, HCPSS was required to automatically provide employees with Form 1095-C each year. As a result of changes in federal law, HCPSS is now only required to furnish the form to employees within 30 days if requested. This form is not required to file your taxes.

What is Form 1095-C?
Form 1095-C provides information about the health insurance coverage HCPSS offered during the year.

How to Request Your Form 1095-C:
Staff can request the form by:

• Emailing benefits@hcpss.org
• Calling 410-313-7333

 The Benefits Office will provide the Form 1095-C within 30 days of your request.

The Superintendent’s FY27 proposed budget includes the conversion of one 10-month special education teacher position per school to an 11-month Special Education Team Leader position. Beginning with the 2026–2027 school year, each school, and in addition, each Early Childhood Special Education program with more than one classroom, will have a designated 11-month Special Education Team Leader.

Job Announcement and Qualifications 

Staff interested in the position may review the job announcements which include qualifications here:

• Elementary Special Education Team Leader 
• Secondary Special Education Team Leader

Information Sessions 

The Department of Special Education will hold virtual information sessions for staff to learn more and ask questions on Thursday, March 5.

• Morning: 7:45 - 8:15 AM and 8:15 - 8:45 AM 
• Afternoon: 3:30 - 4:00 PM 
• Link: Join via Google Meet using code: ITL Interest 
  No pre-registration is required.

Interest Form 

If you are interested in serving as a Special Education Team Leader - either at your current school or another location - please submit an Interest Form.

• Availability: Starting Monday, March 2. Forms may be submitted through March 16.
• Access: Forms will be available through Workday.
• Instructions: Specific directions and direct links to the forms will be posted on the Staff Hub the morning of Monday, March 2.

Questions may be sent to the Office of Human Resources’ Position Control and Staffing Team via email at staffing@hcpss.org.

HCPSS staff members who fall into one of the following categories and who are parents or legal guardians of graduating seniors may present the diploma to their child(ren) at their commencement ceremony. 

• Current Permanent Staff
• Elementary Lunch/Recess Monitors who have been a Lunch/Recess Monitor since Sept. 30, 2025
• Substitutes who have consistently supported HCPSS by substituting 100+ days since the start of the 2024/2025 school year (08/28/2024-current)

Parents who wish to present the diplomas must notify the graduation coordinator at their child’s school by April 10.
 

Applications are now open for 4 positions in the Momentum Academy at the Homewood Center for the 2026-2027 school year. There will be one position in each of the following content areas: mathematics, science, social studies, and English Language Arts.

Momentum Academy teachers serve in a short-term, intensive setting that emphasizes restorative practices, family engagement, close collaboration with home schools, and continuous professional learning to support successful student transitions. Momentum Academy teachers will be expected to communicate with assigned home school transition staff weekly and spend one week a quarter supporting students and staff on-site at home schools. During these designated times, Momentum Academy teachers will work with administration to flex start and end times to align with contractual agreements and home school start and end times.

Current permanent or temporary employees must apply through the Jobs Hub in Workday to be considered for these positions. Voluntary transfer requests to Homewood would not qualify current employees for consideration for these roles. Applications must be submitted by 11:59pm on March 1, 2026.

The Office of Human Resources will host optional virtual information sessions via Google Meet to discuss the voluntary transfer process and answer questions. The sessions are scheduled for:

• Thursday, February 26, 4:30pm-5:30pm
• Monday, March 23, 3:00pm-4:00pm
• Wednesday, April 8, 4:30pm-5:30pm

To sign up to attend an information session, click here (HCPSS login required). Please note, the Google Meet code can be found in the registration form and is available only to HCPSS staff.

As a reminder, voluntary transfer requests for the 2026-2027 school year may now be submitted. Requests must be made in writing, using the established online system (Workday), and must be submitted by April 15, 2026.

Instructions on how to access the voluntary transfer request forms can be found here. The forms are accessed through Workday.

Questions may be sent to the Office of Human Resources’ Position Control and Staffing Team via email at staffing@hcpss.org.