(WBFF) — During Monday night’s Harford County School Board meeting, many residents voiced their frustration with the controversy surrounding Superintendent Dr. Sean Bulson and what they call a lack of transparency from school officials.
“Please do your jobs, I am tired of seeing us on the news,” one resident said during the public comment period.
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Dr. Sean Bulson was recently placed on paid administrative leave following a reported theft involving the superintendent while he was in New Orleans for a work conference.
A new report, released Monday evening from the Maryland Office of the Inspector General for Education, detailed the events surrounding the situation that happened back in April of 2024.
According to that report, Bulson’s state-issued laptop and cellphone were not stolen while he attended the work conference. The report also said hotel security staff recovered the equipment from the superintendent’s hotel room and returned it to him. The school system’s information technology department found none of the devices were tampered with or breached.
“Now we are told that HCPS computers weren’t stolen at all, hotel staff found them in Bulson’s safe. Why then did he report a theft?” a resident asked.
“The transparency that this school board speaks of so frequently, seems to be a little less clear to me,” that resident added.
The report concluded, “OIGE is aware of the totality of the events that occurred on April 5, 2024. However, those events fall outside the Inspector General’s statutory authority and do not constitute fraud, waste, or abuse. OIGE views the events of April 5, 2024, as a personal matter involving an individual reporting a crime. The conclusion of this matter is reserved for Dr. Bulson to share with the citizens of Harford County.”
During the meeting, school board members acknowledged the “seriousness” of the concerns.
“We are navigating uncharted waters, and I want to ask for grace for our staff, for this board and for our community as we move through a process that is difficult, sensitive and consequential,” said Lauren Paige, Vice President of the School Board.
“I am confident that we can rebuild the trust of our community together,” said Dr. Dyann Mack, the interim Superintendent
Many board members did not comment directly on the situation, saying they wanted to wait until the investigations were completed.
In response to the investigative summary that was released prior to the full report, in a statement before the school board meeting, Interim Superintendent, Dr. Mack, said, “My focus remains on leading Harford County Public Schools forward with stability, professionalism, and an unwavering commitment to our students, staff, and families. The Office of the Inspector General’s report has been received, and it is appropriate that the Board of Education carefully review its findings and determine what additional actions or decisions may be necessary. As that process moves forward, my priority is ensuring the continued effective operation of our school system and maintaining trust through transparency and accountability.”
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