Donna Blasdell
Running for school board in Harford County District A
Email: donnablasdell4harford@gmail.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/DonnaBlasdellBOE
How old will you be on Election Day (Nov. 3)?
61
Are you currently employed? If so, where, and what is your job title?
JBS International, Inc. project manager
What is the highest level of education that you completed, and where did you get that degree?
Master's in public administration, Strayer University
Why are you running for the school board?
I am running for the Board of Education because I want to use my experience as a parent and a professional to help make our schools work better for students and families.
As a mom of nine, I have seen how different children need different kinds of support to succeed. Some of my children experienced bullying, so school safety is personal to me. I care about strong academics, safe classrooms and supporting teachers so they can teach effectively.
I want families to feel heard. Parents should receive timely information, understand decisions affecting their children and receive respectful responses when they raise concerns.
My work in project management and public administration has taught me to listen carefully, review the facts, understand the budget, ask questions and follow through. I want to bring that approach to the board’s work overseeing our schools and how we spend taxpayer dollars.
What makes you a good candidate for the board?
I bring experience in schools, local government and project management, along with a longtime connection to this community.
Through my children, I have experience with special education, gifted and advanced programs, the International Baccalaureate program and homeschooling. Working as a substitute teacher and volunteering with the PTA have also helped me understand schools beyond my own family’s experiences.
As a legislative aide to the Harford County Council, I learned how local government works and helped residents address their concerns. That work required listening, finding accurate information and helping people navigate government processes.
In my current work as a project manager, I plan projects, manage resources and work with people to get things done. I hold a master’s degree in public administration and certifications in project management and process improvement. That training helps me review information, understand budgets and look for ways to improve how work gets done.
Edgewood has been my family’s home for 24 years. I would bring my experience as a parent, substitute teacher and professional, along with that connection to the community, to the board’s work.
What is the most important issue facing your school board and what would you do about it if elected?
I believe academic achievement is the most important issue facing our school board. Without a good foundation in reading and math, students can struggle in other subjects and have fewer options after graduation. Students should leave high school ready for college, career training or work.
The board does not run classrooms or manage daily operations. But it sets goals, approves the budget, and holds the superintendent accountable for student progress. If elected, I would ask straightforward questions: Where are students doing well? Where are they struggling? Are we identifying problems early, and is the help we provide making a difference?
I would also want to know whether teachers have the materials, training and support they need. Our budget should support our academic goals, and we should routinely review whether the programs we fund are helping students learn.
We need to look beyond a districtwide average to understand what is happening in individual schools and among different groups of students. Annual test scores matter, but so does the progress students make throughout the school year.
When students are not making progress, the board needs to ask the superintendent what will change and when we will review the results. I would bring that same approach to the work: ask questions, look carefully at the answers and follow through.
Please name a public leader you admire and explain why.
Michael Perrone Jr. was a public leader I admire. As his legislative aide, I saw how much he cared about his constituents. He took the time to hear their concerns and respond.
One thing that stands out is his role in helping establish the Joppa Development and Heritage Corporation so residents would have a voice in their community. The organization is still going strong today, giving people a voice on issues such as zoning, land use and economic development.
Working with him helped me realize the importance of listening carefully to both individual and community concerns. It also showed me how much it matters for people to know they are being heard.
The Blueprint for Maryland’s Future, passed by the General Assembly in 2021, is a 10-year plan that includes increased funding to support early childhood education, higher teacher starting pay, college/career-readiness standards for high school graduates, and expanded services to multilingual and impoverished families, among other goals. Since the Blueprint's implementation, test scores have increased modestly in many parts of the state, but some school officials complain about the costs and administrative burdens placed on them by the Blueprint. Please tell us your views on the Blueprint and how it is affecting your school district.
I support what the Blueprint is trying to accomplish. Children need a strong start, good teachers and opportunities that prepare them for life after high school. Students who need extra help should get it. My concern is how we pay for those promises and whether they are making enough of a difference.
Here in Harford County, the Blueprint affects everything from prekindergarten and teacher pay to career programs and student services. The state provides funding, but I am concerned about requirements that may cost more than that funding covers. What will local taxpayers be expected to pay? How will that affect other needs, including classroom staffing, special education, school safety and building repairs?
I have not yet seen enough evidence to call the Blueprint a success. Some test scores have improved, which is encouraging. But students are also recovering from pandemic learning loss, so we need to be careful about giving the Blueprint credit for all of that progress. I want state leaders to listen to the people carrying out these requirements. If something is too costly, takes too much time away from students, or doesn't help them learn, we should be willing to change it.
As a board member, I would ask what we are spending, whether the funding is sustainable and what students are gaining. Supporting the goals does not mean we should accept every requirement without questioning whether it works.
Chronic absenteeism has been a problem in many schools since the Covid-19 pandemic. How big of a problem is absenteeism in your school district, and what if anything can the Board of Education do about it?
Too many Harford County students miss enough school to affect their learning. In 2023–24, that included 15.6% of elementary students, 21.1% of middle school students and 26.4% of high school students. The numbers were better than the year before, but they are still too high. Missing 10% or more of the school year can make it difficult for students to keep up and stay connected to school.
Students have to be in school to learn, so attendance needs to be a priority. Schools should connect early when a student starts missing days instead of waiting until the problem has grown. Families may be dealing with transportation problems, health concerns, anxiety, housing changes or other responsibilities at home. Some students may also feel disconnected from school. Those situations will not all have the same solution, which is why schools need to understand what is happening and work with each family on a practical plan.
The board should also make sure the superintendent tracks whether those supports are working and shares the results. We need to remove barriers, involve families and hold everyone accountable for helping students get back to school.
Are you satisfied with your school district's policy on AI use by students? If so, why? If not, what would you suggest to improve the AI policy?
I am glad Harford County Public Schools has an existing policy for student use of artificial intelligence. AI is here to stay, and our students will use it in college and everyday life. We need to teach them how to use it responsibly without letting it replace their own critical thinking and effort. Students should learn when and how to give credit for AI assistance and how to protect their personal information.
Harford County’s policy is a starting point, but it should be reviewed often and updated as the technology changes. Expectations for AI use should be clear and consistent across schools and classrooms. Families and teachers should understand when AI is allowed and when it is not.
AI should support learning. It should not replace a student’s creativity, effort or relationship with a teacher.
Youth mental health has been a growing concern for years now. Do you think your school district has the resources and personnel in place to deal with this issue adequately? If not, what would you suggest to improve the situation?
Mental health is a concern for many students and families, and our schools need to be ready to respond. Harford County Public Schools has counselors, psychologists and social workers, but I am not sure every student can get help when they need it. The board should look at staffing, caseloads, vacancies and wait times.
Students should be able to get help before they reach a crisis. Schools need enough trained staff, and families need clear information about where to turn. Teachers and staff should know what signs to watch for and how to connect students with support.
Prevention matters, too. Students need to feel safe and know there is an adult they can talk to when something is wrong. They should not have to figure out how to ask for help on their own. As a board member, I want to know if students are getting the support they need and whether it is helping. If there are gaps, we should address them and put resources where they are needed most.
Do you think there are circumstances when books should be removed from school libraries? If so, what kind of books should be removed, and who should make those decisions?
I do not think books should be removed just because someone disagrees with their ideas or viewpoint. A book may need to be removed if it is not appropriate for the age group, violates the law or raises a serious safety concern.
If someone raises a concern, I would support temporarily taking the book out of circulation while it is reviewed. The review should consider the entire book, its value to students, the ages of the students who can access it and the specific concern.
This decision should not be left to one person or driven by politics. Harford County Public Schools already has a review process that includes educators, parents, community members and students. That group should review the concern and make a recommendation using clear standards. The final decision should be explained to families and the community. This gives people a fair process while protecting students and preserving access to a wide range of ideas.
