News

The following is shared on behalf of the Maryland State Department of Education:

Phones in Focus is a national research study led by University of Pennsylvania Professor Angela Duckworth and other researchers. Its aim is to give educators an opportunity to inform and improve school cell phone policies and their implementation.

Last school year, 7,863 Maryland educators took the survey, ranking Maryland #2 in the nation for participation. Now, Maryland educators are asked to again join this landmark study on school cell phone policies. 

Access the survey at www.phonesinfocus.org.

• Just 5 minutes
• Completely confidential
• Be entered to win one of ten $500 gift cards
• Instant snapshot of national results
   

Do you enjoy singing? Please consider joining the Howard County Employee Chorus. No previous chorus experience necessary; just a love for singing. 

The chorus is open to all HCPSS employees, as well as their significant others and adult family members. The first rehearsal is Wednesday, Jan. 7 from 7-8:30 p.m. at Howard High School. More information will be sent to those who register.

Learn more about and/or sign up for the Employee Chorus at the following:

• Employee Chorus video
• Registration form

Contact Caleb Lee with any questions.

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, and this week’s focus is on Artificial Intelligence and Social Engineering, two growing tactics used by attackers to trick users into revealing sensitive data. By understanding how AI-driven scams and social engineering schemes work, you can help safeguard both your personal information and HCPSS systems.

Call to Action - Take a few minutes to review these quick awareness modules in KnowBe4 to learn how to recognize and report potential threats. Go to the Staff Hub and selecting Services > KnowBe4 > Library to find the following resources:

• AI and Sensitive Info Don’t Mix (2 mins)
• AI, Phishing, and Cybersafety (5 mins)
• Insights From a Hacker: Social Engineering Red Flags (10 mins)

When in the KnowBe4 Library, use the arrow on the right to see additional awareness modules.

If you have any questions, contact Technology Support at (410) 313-7004 (option 4) or abuse@hcpss.org

Together, we can make HCPSS more secure — one smart click at a time.

Due to rapidly escalating benefits costs, effective March 31, 2026, the Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) has made the decision to discontinue coverage of GLP-1 medications used for weight management. Additionally, no new prescriptions for GLP-1 medications for weight management will be approved after Dec.1, 2025. 

Employees receiving GLP-1 medications for diabetes treatment will not be impacted by this change in coverage.  

This change in coverage may be a difficult transition for some people. Those who currently use a GLP-1 medication for weight management are encouraged to utilize the time before March 31, 2026, to discuss treatment options with their provider.

The HCPSS Benefits Advisory Committee (BAC) has been deeply involved in evaluating the impact of escalating costs associated with GLP-1 medications and recommended the discontinuation of coverage for weight management. The BAC is composed of representatives of the Board of Education, each of the employee bargaining units, and from the retired employees’ association.

Throughout the past two years, the cost to HCPSS for coverage of GLP-1 medications for weight management has increased from $485,000 over a three-month span, to over $3.6M over three months. Without adjustments, employee premiums were projected to increase by 19.5% and the increase for HCPSS for fiscal year 2027 would have been 25.5% or $47 million. With the proposed changes, the employee premium increase will be 13.3% and the HCPSS increased allocation will be around $30 million.  

With this change in coverage, the CVS Weight Management Program, which was previously announced with the goal of reducing GLP-1-related benefits costs, will no longer be in place.

A new circular is now available for all staff. Circular #2017 - Asbestos Notification 2025-2026 serves as notification, as required by law, of the availability for public review of Asbestos Management Plans for the Howard County Public School System (HCPSS).

HCPSS circulars are to share information when that information is needed by staff systemwide and is not specific to a particular school/location or position/job class. All HCPSS staff are responsible for adhering to the guidelines and procedures outlined in the circulars. Circulars are released on July 1, and subsequently as needed throughout the year. When a new circular is added, staff will be notified via Staff Hub post/email. Circulars are available anytime in Canvas (staff login required), which also can be accessed from the Staff Hub under the Services dropdown menu.

Helping people use their strengths to overcome obstacles and unlock their potential is Barbara Baker’s passion. That same passion to help people problem-solve and achieve has driven Baker’s nearly 20-year career with the Howard County Public School System.

Learn more about Barbara and how her passions drive her role as HCPSS’ Facilitator of Extended School Year Services in this HCPSS Staff Focus article.

This following information is applicable to veterans only. 

As we prepare to honor Veterans Day, we would like to recognize and celebrate the veterans among our HCPSS staff. To do this, we are collecting information from staff members who have served in the military. If you are a veteran and would like to share this information, please complete this brief form if you have not already done so.

Generative AI is supercharging both sides of cybersecurity. Attackers are using it to write highly convincing phishing messages, clone voices, and scale “smishing” (texts) and “vishing” (voice) scams far beyond what we’ve seen before.

The good news: defenders benefit from AI, too  through faster detection, smarter response, and better user awareness.

What to watch for:

• Polished, personal emails or texts that create urgency (e.g., “Act now!”) or request MFA codes, wire transfers, or gift cards.
• Voice cloning calls that sound like a colleague, leader, or family member asking for money or credentials, often with intense urgency.
• Deepfake video or audio in meetings or messages. Clues include subtle lip‑sync issues, odd pauses, or mismatched lighting.

How to stay safe: 

1. Slow down and verify. If a message or call asks for money, data, or codes, call the sender back on a number you already trust.
2. Use MFA everywhere and never share one‑time codes.
3. Be mindful of your voice online. Just a few recorded words can be enough to convincingly clone a voice.

Call to action:
Explore available training resources to learn more . If you have any questions, contact Technology Support at (410) 313‑7004 (option 4) or abuse@hcpss.org.

Learn more (trusted references):

• FBI IC3 PSA: Smishing & AI voice (vishing) campaign—what to look for and how to respond. Read the PSA
• FTC Consumer Advice: How to spot and handle AI voice cloning scams. Fighting back against harmful voice cloning
• Microsoft Security—Cyber Signals: AI‑powered deception trends and defenses. Issue 9: Emerging fraud threats & countermeasures
• Microsoft 365 Tips: What are voice‑cloning scams and practical ways to protect yourself. Voice cloning scams explained
• Optional (Reporting beyond HCPSS): You can also file a report with the FBI at IC3.gov. Internet Crime Complaint Center

National Cybersecurity Awareness Month held each October raises awareness about the importance of cybersecurity across our Nation. This year’s theme Building a Cyber Strong America highlights the need to strengthen the country’s infrastructure against cyber threats, ensuring resilience and security. National Cybersecurity Awareness Month encourages everyone to take increased ownership of enhanced online activity and the important security practices that come along with it. CISA’s Cybersecurity Awareness Month website and Cyber Essentials – basic cyber best practices for business leaders offers resources that you can utilize to keep yourself safe online

This month especially, we ask that you talk to others about how to “Be Cyber Smart” and be sure to share Cybersecurity Awareness Month resources throughout your community. 

! CALL TO ACTION ! Explore the resources available on the HCPSS KnowBe4 cybersecurity training platform under the Library menu. If after reviewing the resource you have any questions, contact Technology Support at (410) 313-7004 option 4 or TechSupport@hcpss.org

Beginning Jan. 1, 2026, HCPSS staff who are members of CVS/Caremark plans and diabetic will have access to engage in the Transform Diabetes Care program to help take care of their diabetes and overall health.  

The program provides members with:

• Support from a Certified Diabetes Care Nurse;
• Two digital vouchers annually for preventive diabetes and hypertension monitoring visits at any MinuteClinic, the walk-in medical clinic located inside many CVS Pharmacy locations; and
• Access to the Health Optimizer mobile app which helps members monitor their blood glucose and blood pressure as well other interventions and supports.

Eligible members will receive more information from CVS/Caremark by mail in the upcoming months.

Contact the Benefits Office at benefits@hcpss.org or 410-313-7333 for questions.