No student data was compromised in alleged theft of Harford County school property, state investigation finds
Maryland's Inspector General for Education (OIGE) completed its investigation into Harford County Superintendent Dr. Sean Bulson. The report found there was no data breach after Bulson allegedly reported that school-owned property was stolen from him in 2024.
The OIGE initiated the investigation after several county officials raised concerns about a non-emergency call that Bulson allegedly made to the New Orleans Police while he was attending a work conference in 2024. WJZ is still working to authenticate the call.
Harford County school officials, including Bulson, Deputy Superintendent Eric Davis, and Board President Aaron Poynton, were in New Orleans attending the National School Board Association Conference.
Bulson was put on administrative leave with pay as the investigation played out. Davis was also put on administrative leave.
As of Monday afternoon, the Harford County School Board did not have an update on Bulson's job status.
"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," Interim Superintendent Dr. Dyann R. Mack said in a statement. "As that process moves forward, my priority is ensuring the continued effective operation of our school system and maintaining trust through transparency and accountability."
Superintendent reports alleged theft
During the conversation, a caller who identified himself as Bulson reported that he let an unknown woman into his hotel room, and she stole his wallet, an Apple Watch, a laptop and an iPad, totaling about $8,000 in value.
It was initially believed that the stolen items were school-owned property. However, an internal review carried out after the OIGE investigation began found that no student data was compromised.
The results of the internal review were reported to WJZ by former Harford County Board of Education President Dr. Aaron Poynton.
OIGE report
According to the OIGE report, the board president reported that a school-issued phone and laptop were lost or stolen while the superintendent was attending the 2024 National School Board Association Conference.
The report found that staff members at the hotel recovered the items from the superintendent's hotel room and returned them. According to the report, the items were examined for signs of tampering, and the school district's IT director determined that there was no breach.
The report said Poynton was aware that the items were reported stolen, found, examined, and replaced 20 months before the request for an investigation was made.
On January 8, Poynton resigned from his job, citing a heavy workload, and saying his decision "was not influenced by the recent challenges facing the district."
The OIGE submitted its report to the Harford County Board of Education for "appropriate action."
Harford County school board meets publicly
Harford County's Board of Education is meeting publicly on Monday for the first time since all of the controversy surrounding the superintendent and the school board.
Despite several agenda items, many parents in attendance want transparency from the school board. Even though the school board has taken actions to remedy the situation, parents are wondering how this flew under the radar for so long.
"The transparency with the school board speaks of so frequently seems to be a little less clear to me and now the board has failed to pass a measure to ensure that an independent investigation of the school board is carried out," a parent said.
Board members made it clear they are in support of these investigations, and they too do not support these allegations.
"When that trust is shaken, it's our responsibility to respond with integrity, transparency, and care," said School Board Vice President Lauren Paige said. "Please know that I firmly believe that transparency is the currency of trust."
"This board needs to be able to realign itself and get our eye back on the ball," added board member James McVicker.
"This moment will not define us," said Interim Superintendent Dyann Mack. "It is just a moment, but it is how we lead through this moment that will be our story and I'm confident we can rebuild the trust of our community together."
However, parents say actions speak louder than words.
["We need new leadership and let's get back to teaching traditional academics and forget the rest of that stuff," a parent said.