While students were busy soaking up the sun over the summer, the Board of Education has been making some substantial changes to North Harford and HCPS.

A lot of focus has been centered on the new policy of pay-to-play. This past June, the Board approved fees on athletics and other school activities. Students must now pay $50 in order to participate in a school sport, and $25 to be involved in any other extracurricular activity. The money acquired from students will go towards the coaches’ salaries and transportation costs.

In addition to the budget cuts, bus routes have been adjusted in  a manner that will seriously lower the amount of money spent on transportation. according to HCPS. Magnet students must now be dropped off at their districted high school at 6:30 sharp, then acquire transportation home in the afternoons. Although the amount saved in this endeavor is impressive, nearly $890,000, many students have endangered themselves in an effort to get home every afternoon, and many parents are unable to drive their kids to and from the bus depots.

“I know of two people that have had to drop out of North Harford and attend their home high school, because they couldn’t get their parents to take them to the depots every morning,” stated freshman Madeline Ward.

Freshmen have spent the last month adjusting to the flow of high school life. Everyone can attest to the difficulty of learning of North Harford’s large building, but the freshmen this year seem to have gotten the hang of it pretty well so far.

“I feel more independent walking around the high school because it’s so much bigger,” stated freshman Ryan Jura. “The first day was confusing, because of schedules and figuring everything out, but by now it has become the norm.”

The task of picking a college has been looming over many of the seniors heads recently. However, the prospect of the future has excited many.

“I’m going on college tours, and planning my future this year. The plan is to work super hard on schoolwork yet still make time to hang out with my friends,” said senior Jordie Cantrell. “I can’t wait for college, I’m so excited.”

Principal Ed Herbold is also looking forward to this new year as a chance for fresh starts, and to overcome problems that stand in the way.

“ The budget cuts have seriously affected the way this school is run, because there are less teachers, less materials, and larger class sizes,” stated Herbold. “But this year has gotten off to a wonderful start, many of our teachers are saying that they are pleased with the behavior of their students, and that’s just the way we like it.”

As the school year progresses, it is easy to lose control of all of the work and assignments.

“The biggest thing that holds students back is failing to turn homework in. A student could ace tests and class work, but lose major points on homework, and fail for the quarter,” said Herbold. “This year, the biggest thing that I would like to urge the students to do is try.”