Last night’s meeting of the Wicomico County Council was designed to be a pretty boring affair. There wasn’t much on the agenda other than appointing several council members to the Tri-County Council and introducing a bill that would exempt Wicomico County from the new reg to put sprinkler systems into new houses (the controversy on that will come with the public hearing). Boring that is, until public comment.
With nothing of real interest on the agenda, I think that council members were a little surprised by the number of citizens who showed up last night. What motivated voters to take time out of their busy schedules to attend? They wanted the opportunity to express their desire for an elected school board.
Only one citizen, Mary Ashanti of the Wicomico Branch of the NAACP, spoke in opposition to an elected board. Everyone else speaking on the matter supported either a fully elected board or were willing to consider the compromise of a hybrid board (partly elected, partly appointed).
Council Gail Bartkovich has promised to bring the matter to a work session. The question is … WHEN? I realize that Bartkovich is very deliberative. This is one reason that she makes such an excellent council president. However, the window of opportunity for getting the Maryland General Assembly to pass legislation this year will be closing soon.
An elected school board is not a panacea. However, a school board that is accountable to the citizens of Wicomico County rather than to the governor or special interest groups such as the MSEA cannot be a bad thing.
To paraphrase Councilman Joe Holloway’s comments last night:
I wonder how the voters would feel if the county council were appointed by the governor rather than the elected by the people of Wicomico County?
During council comments four council members: Joe Holloway, Bob Caldwell, Bob Culver, and Matt Holloway, all concurred that we need an elected school board. The time to place it on the agenda is NOW!
39 comments:
Privatize the school system.Get it out of the hands of the liberal unions.
A fully elected school board can be a bad thing. Look no further than the recent situation in Texas, where one of the largest school districts in the nation was taken over by ultra conservative religious activists. The entire nation's text books are being revised to advance their ideology.
Like we elect good people here. Keep politics out of our education system. The real problem is that the unions do not negotiate with the council. They negotiate with upper management at the BOE whose salaries are also affected by this process. This is the real problem as 90% of the BOE budget is in salaries.
Anon 1059 -
Comparing an elected school board in MD to one in TX is apples and oranges. Different structure, different powers (local school boards have taxing authority in Texas for starters). Secondly, what you are referring to was not regarding a local school board but the state textbook commission. I'm not even sure that those folks are elected.
Anon 1117 -
So it's really better to have school board members who are accountable to no one in Wicomico County? The union contracts cannot be approved by council. They are, however, approved by the school board. I would much rather have those people accountable to someone at home.
As for keeping politics out of education, give me a break! Do you think that having school board members put forward by the local Democrat and GOP county committees is "keeping politics out of our education system"? Do you think that having school board candidates endorsed by the teachers' union is "keeping politics out of our education system"?
BTW - 90% of the WCBOE's budget does not go to salaries (unless you are somehow ignoring all capital expenditures). Second, the four unions are not the sole problem. What about legislators like Norm Conway and Jim Mathias who voted to give those unions a mandated right to binding arbitration. ... or the state making it almost impossible to fire a bad teacher?
GA
Your are right that the Texas issue was at the state level, but Dr. McLeroy and his board are elected not appointed. And, I do have concerns that the quality of the board will decline. You may not agree with them all the time, but most have knowledge and background credentials.
Anonymous said...
Like we elect good people here. Keep politics out of our education system. The real problem is that the unions do not negotiate with the council. They negotiate with upper management at the BOE whose salaries are also affected by this process. This is the real problem as 90% of the BOE budget is in salaries.
11:17 AM
So who appoints the board members? I will tell you...it is the Governor and guess what he is a politician. Wouldn't it be better for the "people" to appoint there school board members through the election process.
If you don't agree you obviously have something to hide.
While I agree to holding the BOE accountable to someone at home, I can't think of one person in this county right now I would like to have running my kids schools. I have not been here long; 8years; I am a transplant (ewwe hate that term, but that is what you call us), but I do see the need for someone perhaps, there is no easy way to say it, so...someone not from here. The world is a much bigger place than Wicomico County and there are so many idea's that work for other counties out there regarding schools that many people shoot down because it's different.
Is electing people the answer? I don't know, but I for one am willing to try.
GA is right. the Union is not all bad, its the State politicians that have cornered the Tax Payer so that we have no SAY in how OUR school board is run!
and take the Texas thing and shove it, totally does NOT matter to this conversation here in MD.
we had the opportunity several year ago to crunch the numbers offered by the Wicomico BOE...they were subjectively stated..the budget was dominated by what was spent in house at the Board itself...and purposely left vague..in my opinion they were hiding something..
this like most everything else makes too much sense..for it to happen
Fantasy elected school board:
Barrie Tilghman, Bubba Comegys, Mikey Dunn, Lynn Cathcart, Shanie Shields, Louise Smith, Bill McCain, Marvin Long, Phil Tilghman, Rusty Molnar . . . now that's a real "dream team".
I rest my case!
GA:
Let's have an elected dog-catcher, too, for better "accountability".
Let's elect everyone -- the Health officer, judges, etc. -- after all this should be "the peoples' choice".
Robin Holloway is the only one worth her salt on the current board. She does her homework. She's smart, approachable and willing to buck the status quo.
10:58 AM
What?! lmao
If you don't think the Texas 'thing' could happen here, then you don't pay attention to the comments on this site. You could transplant most of them smack dab in the middle of Texas and they would never miss a beat. I'll take my chances with appointments any day of the week before I want the loonies around here electing them. There is no forward thinking around here; case in point, the revenue cap. All you need is someone loud to cry the sky is falling and these sheep just follow right along. Sorry, G.A., but I think you are wrong on this one.
I don't know.........an elected Congress doesn't seem to be going so well.
Locally elected people are required to listen to who pays them.
People appointed by the Governor who we can't oust have no interest in what childrens' parents think. They are beholdin" to their boss!
C'mon people! Are you just going to lay there and let them take half your tax dollars and do as they please???
Anon 1521 and Anon 1524 -
I haven't seen such specious arguments in a long time. Dog catchers, health officers, etc. work at the pleasure of an elected official. Therefore there is accountability. Circuit court judges must stand before the voters.
You were saying?
I learned a new word tonight
specious (ˈspiːʃəs) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
— adj
1. apparently correct or true, but actually wrong or false
2. deceptively attractive in appearance
[C14 (originally: fair): from Latin speciōsus plausible, from speciēs outward appearance, from specere to look at]
There's a lot of specious posts on this site.
For an example of an elected Board not listening to the voters who voted them in, just look at Laurel. Their board is elected. The majority of the citizens wanted the superintendent's contract renewed. It wasn't renewed because of the personal agendas of 2 board members and a third who seems to go with whatever the board president tells her.
At least with appointments, there is a chance of getting someone removed. Once elected, you're stuck with them - good or bad - until their term is up or they decide to resign.
Anonymous said...
I don't know.........an elected Congress doesn't seem to be going so well.
5:46 PM
We are fortunate that we can get rid of the members of congress after to years. We are stuck with the Board of Ed members until their terms expire. That would be 10 years!! Two terms, 10 years!!
At least we would have the opportunity to replace our board members every 4 years during the election cycle!
Anonymous said...
For an example of an elected Board not listening to the voters who voted them in, just look at Laurel. Their board is elected. The majority of the citizens wanted the superintendent's contract renewed. It wasn't renewed because of the personal agendas of 2 board members and a third who seems to go with whatever the board president tells her.
At least with appointments, there is a chance of getting someone removed. Once elected, you're stuck with them - good or bad - until their term is up or they decide to resign.
8:14 PM
How stupid is this comment "Once elected, you're stuck with them - good or bad - until their term is up or they decide to resign."
I can say the same thing here. "Once APPOINTED, you're stuck with them - good or bad - until their term is up or they decide to resign."
Please don't piss on my head and tell me it's raining!
8:24 - Well, appointed officials can be removed.
Elected board members can be re-elected for many, many non-productive years. Wicomico does seem to have a history of voting in incompetent people year after year.
3:16 -
That "dream team" needs Tony Sarbanes, too (he has classroom experience)!
Negative. Negative. Negative.
No one is elected yet and already somebody is feeling 'stuck' with them.
lol Nothing is accomplished yet and they are already looking for failure.
First, there is no union - it's an association and there is a difference. Two, the last thing we need around here is an elected school board - seriously, it would be nothing but persoanl agendga's and a rarely would we get a competent individual. All of you who are complaining could request to have your name added to the next group of potential appointments.
8:43 - You are right! Sarbanes for Dog Catcher!! Opps, no I meant School Board
Anonymous
8:24 - Well, appointed officials can be removed.
Elected board members can be re-elected for many, many non-productive years. Wicomico does seem to have a history of voting in incompetent people year after year.
8:37 PM
Well guess what Idiot 8:37 PM?
Elected board members can be removed as well. It's called an election!! Apparently the majority of the voters wanted the re-elected members year after year after year. In case you need a refresher civics lesson it's called a Democracy! Also known as the will of the people.
As for Wicomico having a history of voting in incompetent people you Liberals voted in an incompetent president.
By the way Wicomico has elections every 4 years, not year after year!
Anyone in office whether it is appointed or elected is going to pursue whatever personal agenda they may have. Sounds like you have your own agenda for not wanting an elected board.
Anonymous said...
8:43 - You are right! Sarbanes for Dog Catcher!! Opps, no I meant School Board
9:16 PM
LMBO
Sarbanes is/was/always has been a wannabe!!
9:40 - Wow - aren't you a charmer. Why so nasty?
My point, which I didn't realize I had to spell out, is that you don't have to wait until the next election for a bad board member to be removed. When the person is appointed, there would be a process citizens could request from the governor to have the appointed board member removed.
I didn't think it had to be said that elections weren't every year. Although, I would hope if an elected school board does happen, that it is at least staggered so you don't have the possibility of all new people learning the ropes.
Appointees are also already vetted, where almost anyone can run for office.
Do I think it would be easy to have a bad board member removed from office, no. But at least there is a possibility of it, instead of having to wait until that member's re-election date is up.
I've seen the Laurel School District screwed over by the people they elected and now wish they hadn't. But it's too late, they're stuck with one for 3+ more years.
I've also seen the Wicomico Board of Ed members fix some wrongs that were caused by the administration.
I don't have an agenda. I've just seen people screwed over by Wicomico administrators and not the appointed board members and seen people screwed over in Laurel by the elected board members not administrators.
Both ways have their pluses and minuses, neither is perfect.
Anon 2344 -
Sorry you had to waste a lot of time on that one. You're pretty much wrong across the board.
Appointed board members are appointed for a 4 year term. Short of being hauled off in cuffs, you're stuck with them. Ditto for elected board members.
As for giving appointed board members a free pass and blaming the bureaucrats, ask yourself a question - who hired the bureaucrats? That's right, it was that appointed board you hold in such high esteem.
As I noted in the post, and Tuesday night before council, an elected board is not a "silver bullet". However, it can't be worse than what we currently have - particularly now that Robin Holloway is leaving the board.
If I'm not mistaken.. Worcester has an elected school board. And it works just fine.
G.A. in case you are misinformed the BOE members are appointed for 5 year terms with term limits of 2 if they are reappointed.
This is like the Safe Streets legislation in the city, with the exception that County council members had the opportunity to make statements. Put it on the agenda. Discuss it on the puiblic record. Take a vote and move on. The time to do so is now.
11:44 PM
I wasn't being nasty, just observant. But as G.A. pointed out you are wrong anyway so the rest is moot.
What is the process for this to happen? Does the council actually have any say in the matter or is it a matter of state law? And do the citizens get to vote on the issue or is it just decreed?
12:27
Well, calling someone stupid is nasty in my book. G.A. was certainly able to debate my point of view in a civil and adult manner. Again, my point is that an elected school board can be elected and elected and elected - not all voters are vigilant in their selections. Appointed board members (in Wicomico) can only serve 2 terms.
I don't hold the WCBOE in high regard either. They hired Dr. Boston, didn't they! I know for a fact she was not the person who was chosen by the committee.
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