Finally - after several years of trying to find a resolution on how to go about getting our school board elected - a measure is at hand. Last night HB-966 and SB-99 was filed in the Maryland Legislature that might enable our County to finally allow our community to choose its leaders as opposed to special interest. It could not come at a better time as public pressure is mounting for close scrutiny of the entire educational establishment. Almost everything in the educational gambit is in play this year - (i.e. teachers pensions, elected school board, re-employment of the Superintendent, school budgets, school construction, firings, sexual harrassment, incest - you name it). In this authors humble opinion - this legislation is long, long, overdue.
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Saturday, February 11, 2012
Wicomico County Elected School Board Legislation Sponsored in House and Senate
Finally - after several years of trying to find a resolution on how to go about getting our school board elected - a measure is at hand. Last night HB-966 and SB-99 was filed in the Maryland Legislature that might enable our County to finally allow our community to choose its leaders as opposed to special interest. It could not come at a better time as public pressure is mounting for close scrutiny of the entire educational establishment. Almost everything in the educational gambit is in play this year - (i.e. teachers pensions, elected school board, re-employment of the Superintendent, school budgets, school construction, firings, sexual harrassment, incest - you name it). In this authors humble opinion - this legislation is long, long, overdue.
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22 comments:
Can I get an Amen?
Introduced in Ways and Means, which I believe is chaired by Norm Conway.
Don't think it swollen help our current situation but will for the future.
Seriously you people. Who in their right mind would want to spend money to run and election for the BOE. It doesn't pay anything and it will cost to much money. It is also very time consuming. An elected school board is not the answer.
It would have passed a long time ago - but Mary Ashanti help up the process for a couple of years.
Some of my neighbors said the other day that Mary ought to think for herself, but to leave them out of it as they were all in favor of the people selecting the appointments (democratic selected)as opposed to the governor. I'll tell you someone else that is going to suffer politically for holding up this process - and that is her side kick Sheree Sample Hughes, and Rudy Cane. I would not be a bit surprised if you see some newcomers come election time.
It's about time the people on the west side woke-up. Even Ed Taylor was in favor of the elected school board.
It's unfortunate if people can't be trusted to decide if they want an elected school board or not. At least ones that are ineffective/weak can be gotten rid of after one term.
As a retired school teacher who worked under both systems (elected board and appointed), I can tell you the old adage "Be careful what you wish for." If it passes referendum, I'm sure that I'll be writing "I told you so."
Those who are appointed have been carefully vetted by their respective central committees before their name is submitted to the governor. Each is considered to be well-informed, particularly about education (e.g. Carolyn Elmore); this does not mean that all are educators. On the other hand, anyone can run for the BOE, whether they know anything--or care--about education.
Norm Conway is chair of Appropriations, not Ways and Means.
4:14
Norm chairs Appropriations. Sheila Hixson, former teacher, chairs Ways and Means.
Correction To 4:14 Posting
Norm Conway's name is not on this bill - but almost of the other Delegates are sponsoring it - with exception to Cane.
I find it hard for Norm to get involved with this bill as he was a paid Board of Education official even while holding his office as a Delegate. If he gets involved it gives an appearance as a conflict of interest and I would expect him to recuse himself because of his personal interest with his previous job, pension & all.
Sorry but this bill won't see the light of day so, all, don't get your hopes up.
To 5:39
If it doesn't see the light of day - it will be the very first as most all of Maryland's jurisdictions now have elected school boards. If anyone throws up a road block - it makes them out as being anti-democratic or fascist.
Ref to 6:15 post
Yep, that is why I agree with 4:21 post also.
So please tell me who is going to spend money to run for an elected school board position with ZERO pay??? Please tell me who is going to put in those kind of hours with practically no compensation?
Seriously you people. Who in their right mind would want to spend money to run and election for the BOE. It doesn't pay anything and it will cost to much money. It is also very time consuming. An elected school board is not the answer.
February 11, 2012 4:19 PM
Are you DAFT? If there was no money in the job (or graft and corruption) no one would want the job. Obviously, there are people who are very jealous of anyone suggesting making it an elected position, so there must be interest and money in it. And for not knowing why anyone would want to run "and" election? You have just answered the question with your sentence..
Ricky didn't support this going up to Annapolis-----DOA!!
Ashanti, Conway....Dumbmocrats either?? 3:52...AMEN
4:19 not everything is about the money! There are Mayors in our area that make a few hundred dollars a year with no insurance or any perks! People will run for the school board to attempt to make the school system a functional one for both our kids and our tax payers. Your comment comes from a very selfish place and I hope you read this and pause to consider my point. Public service is about being a servant, not making money!
Look at how many founding fathers LOST money in their service to this country. How many of our soldiers have been payed little in exchange for their lives? Yet they all esteemed the noble cause of serving the American public as worth it.
9:05 PM
If Rick Pollitt is happy with this Board and Superintendent, he needs to go, too.
To 7:15 Commenter
One would believe that if the present County Executive only had the cahoonas - he would negotiate elimination of several administrative positions - one of which is currently being advertised in the Daily Rag - at a salary of $97K. Then - the newly Elected County School Board salaries could be substantially increased to easily $20k/annum.
That being said - I firmly believe that the savings reaped to the taxpayers from the newly elected school board would be in the millions!
1:14am you have no clue what you are talking about. The clowns in the one horse town are not compensated as mayor because they do nothing. BOE members are responsible for the daily operations of 14,000 students, 1,400 employees and a multimillion dollar budget. Get a life before you speak with an uneducated assumption.
8:03 am I agree with you totally. With that said $20,000 would be a bare minimum. If you want quality elected officials you have to compensate them fairly. Not everyone has the time to work a full time job and then work full time as an elected leader for free. Look what you are getting for Mayor and council of Salisbury.
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