Just got back from voting and in our precinct (gym side) at Abingdon Elementary we zoomed right through. There is a line on the cafeteria side, but not too long. It seems like they had maybe a few more voting machines. Definitely more volunteers, and no offense to previous volunteers, but younger volunteers. I noticed that the voters also skewed younger, at least when we were there.
If you're going to vote, the back parking lot on Singer Road was completely empty. You can't get in the side door, but it's just a short walk around to the front.
The touch screen worked well, but we still do not like the lack of a paper trail. If you have a voting experience you'd like to share, please do.
Also, if you vote and get your little voting sticker, it entitles you to a free coffee at Starbucks or an ice cream at Chik-Fil-A.
Showing posts with label election. Show all posts
Showing posts with label election. Show all posts
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Election Day
Just got back from voting at Abingdon Elementary. It was bustling, but no lines. The poll worker told me that they've seen a steady stream of voters all morning. He said, "It's an exciting election!"
There still was some confusion about the computer systems with some of the poll workers, so remember, speak clearly and doublecheck everything.
There still was some confusion about the computer systems with some of the poll workers, so remember, speak clearly and doublecheck everything.
Monday, January 14, 2008
More on the School Board
Glad we’ve got some lively debate about the school board happening. Readers can probably tell from my postings how I feel about this issue.
I’ve lived in Philly, Kansas City and all over West Virginia, and in my time as a reporter covered many school boards. One of my first assignments as an intern was sitting in on a work session for the Washington County, Maryland, school board (Hagerstown area) where, surprise! they discovered they were millions of dollars short at the end of their fiscal year. I watched as they went line by line hacking expenditures. Just them, no one else was there. This was a long time ago (I’m not giving up how long!) but that was my first brush with Maryland public schools.
While I was a reporter in Charleston, West Virginia, the state capital, I covered the school board for several years. The elected school board was a diverse group. There was a teacher, a lawyer, a homemaker, a doctor – a good representation of who lived in the area. One of my favorites was a military man, (I believe a Marine), who was frustrated by the glut of administrators and one day decided to run for the school board – even though he didn’t have any children in school. He was just concerned about how the schools were being run. This is something that could never happen with an appointed board. He brought a wealth of knowledge and experience to the job that was invaluable at that time. He didn’t know any one on the school board, or county commission. In fact, he was rather new to the area at that time. But he went in with fresh eyes, questioned everything and made everyone look at how things were being run in a new way.
In the time I covered the school board, the board trimmed unnecessary administrators, fired a rather ineffective school board superintendent and replaced her with an excellent one, and built two new high schools.
During the process for the new schools, people packed school auditoriums to address the school board. And surprisingly, the school board listened to their concerns. They didn’t just say they were listening, they actually decided on a different site for one of the high schools than originally planned because of parental concern.
When I e-mailed the school system a few months ago about what changes they were making to improve the Edgewood schools, where my children are slated to attend once they leave Abingdon Elementary, I was told “they were working on it.” Oh, and then I was invited to a pep rally to rah rah the Edgewood feeder schools and celebrate them. Are you kidding me? They wasted money on that? I’m just looking for a comprehensive plan that will fix these schools. I’m still waiting to hear back from someone who was supposed to contact me in October. Still waiting.
I think accountability is really the issue. There is no oversight – the committee no longer exists. There is no accountability for anything the school board does. So even if the current school board’s intentions are good, absolute power corrupts absolutely.
And the school board is already politicized. They are plainly stating why they should keep their jobs in the legislative platform. If they weren’t political, why wouldn’t they say an elected school board is something that shoulld carefully be considered, looking at all points of view? No. They say the oppose it.
I was thinking of another example of the school board’s accountability problem when I thought of an incident that happened last year. I’m snagging this from the Baltimore Sun, it’s from an article about a hearing for the former C. Milton Wright assistant principal Chris Battaglia. You know, he’s the guy who complained about the block scheduling and was then demoted and forced to teach while carrying his books around in a cart because they didn’t even give him a room. This is a great example of how they discipline those who don't fall in line, and try to intimidate those who disagree with them.
“Battaglia's hearing was closed to the public, although he had requested an open one. The school administration pointed to a school policy that prohibited the public from attending.
When Wright students and parents gathered outside the building in the morning, school officials told them that they could not stand on the sidewalk directly in front of the building and that they would have to go across the street.
But after students and parents consulted with the Harford County Sheriff's Office, they stayed in front of the building, chanting 'B-tag, B-tag,' a nickname for Battaglia.
'They're just trying to intimidate us,' said Kathy King, a Wright parent.
In May, Battaglia, who was then the acting principal at Wright, was to be transferred to Edgewood High School for the 2007-2008 school year. Nearly 100 Wright students and parents crammed into a Board of Education meeting asking that Battaglia remain at their school.
After listening to them, Haas finalized the transfer and told The Sun in May that, 'Their voices were heard, and in some cases, you can't honor their request.'
I think that sums up her and the entire school board’s feelings about anything that parents or educators are concerned with. We heard people talking, but really, we don’t have to do anything about it.
I’ve lived in Philly, Kansas City and all over West Virginia, and in my time as a reporter covered many school boards. One of my first assignments as an intern was sitting in on a work session for the Washington County, Maryland, school board (Hagerstown area) where, surprise! they discovered they were millions of dollars short at the end of their fiscal year. I watched as they went line by line hacking expenditures. Just them, no one else was there. This was a long time ago (I’m not giving up how long!) but that was my first brush with Maryland public schools.
While I was a reporter in Charleston, West Virginia, the state capital, I covered the school board for several years. The elected school board was a diverse group. There was a teacher, a lawyer, a homemaker, a doctor – a good representation of who lived in the area. One of my favorites was a military man, (I believe a Marine), who was frustrated by the glut of administrators and one day decided to run for the school board – even though he didn’t have any children in school. He was just concerned about how the schools were being run. This is something that could never happen with an appointed board. He brought a wealth of knowledge and experience to the job that was invaluable at that time. He didn’t know any one on the school board, or county commission. In fact, he was rather new to the area at that time. But he went in with fresh eyes, questioned everything and made everyone look at how things were being run in a new way.
In the time I covered the school board, the board trimmed unnecessary administrators, fired a rather ineffective school board superintendent and replaced her with an excellent one, and built two new high schools.
During the process for the new schools, people packed school auditoriums to address the school board. And surprisingly, the school board listened to their concerns. They didn’t just say they were listening, they actually decided on a different site for one of the high schools than originally planned because of parental concern.
When I e-mailed the school system a few months ago about what changes they were making to improve the Edgewood schools, where my children are slated to attend once they leave Abingdon Elementary, I was told “they were working on it.” Oh, and then I was invited to a pep rally to rah rah the Edgewood feeder schools and celebrate them. Are you kidding me? They wasted money on that? I’m just looking for a comprehensive plan that will fix these schools. I’m still waiting to hear back from someone who was supposed to contact me in October. Still waiting.
I think accountability is really the issue. There is no oversight – the committee no longer exists. There is no accountability for anything the school board does. So even if the current school board’s intentions are good, absolute power corrupts absolutely.
And the school board is already politicized. They are plainly stating why they should keep their jobs in the legislative platform. If they weren’t political, why wouldn’t they say an elected school board is something that shoulld carefully be considered, looking at all points of view? No. They say the oppose it.
I was thinking of another example of the school board’s accountability problem when I thought of an incident that happened last year. I’m snagging this from the Baltimore Sun, it’s from an article about a hearing for the former C. Milton Wright assistant principal Chris Battaglia. You know, he’s the guy who complained about the block scheduling and was then demoted and forced to teach while carrying his books around in a cart because they didn’t even give him a room. This is a great example of how they discipline those who don't fall in line, and try to intimidate those who disagree with them.
“Battaglia's hearing was closed to the public, although he had requested an open one. The school administration pointed to a school policy that prohibited the public from attending.
When Wright students and parents gathered outside the building in the morning, school officials told them that they could not stand on the sidewalk directly in front of the building and that they would have to go across the street.
But after students and parents consulted with the Harford County Sheriff's Office, they stayed in front of the building, chanting 'B-tag, B-tag,' a nickname for Battaglia.
'They're just trying to intimidate us,' said Kathy King, a Wright parent.
In May, Battaglia, who was then the acting principal at Wright, was to be transferred to Edgewood High School for the 2007-2008 school year. Nearly 100 Wright students and parents crammed into a Board of Education meeting asking that Battaglia remain at their school.
After listening to them, Haas finalized the transfer and told The Sun in May that, 'Their voices were heard, and in some cases, you can't honor their request.'
I think that sums up her and the entire school board’s feelings about anything that parents or educators are concerned with. We heard people talking, but really, we don’t have to do anything about it.
Friday, January 11, 2008
Harford County School Board Doesn't Want an Elected School Board
It's right there on page 19 of the school board's Legislative Platform for 2008. If you want to read it in its entirety click here HCPS Legislative Platform
If you don't feel like clicking, here is the part on "Board of Education Governance."
"Each year the question surfaces about improving the effectiveness of school boards. With school districts expected to implement expansive state and federal education policies, the job of school boards grows more complex. The greatest challenge confronting school boards is to ensure that every child has the opportunity to learn. School boards must provide that opportunity while meeting the needs of the community and taking care not to micromanage or to invade the appropriate realm of professional educators. Part of the balancing act is the implicit desire that school boards be representative and democratic without being overtly political. The Harford County Board of Education strives to improve its knowledge and practice of good governance. Knowing the roles, responsibilities, relationships and the process of effective governance are critical.
Appointed Boards of Education in Harford County have been highly successful, by almost any measure, at producing positive results for the students of Harford County…despite being funded at levels at, or near, the lowest per student in the State. Typically, candidates for appointment have demonstrated an interest in, and are well informed, about education issues.
They most frequently seek the position to make a difference in education, rather than to advance to higher office, and are typically not “single issue” candidates. This process has also produced a great diversity of individuals and perspectives on the Board, which has led to effective decision-making. Board Members over the past 40years have largely been recommended by a consensus of community-based organizations with an interest in education. This method has produced a high caliber of individuals to serve on the Board, with very successful results, including appointments that crossed partisan party lines.
THE HARFORD COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION SUPPORTS:
Continued broad-based community input in developing Board nominees for appointment -whether by Caucus or Commission."
I find this very disheartening, but not surprising. The condescension is palpable, as if parents and other community members don't have enough sense to vote. The school board instead should be recommended by a "consensus of community-based organizations with an interest in education." You know, like realtors, developers, etc. etc.
If you don't feel like clicking, here is the part on "Board of Education Governance."
"Each year the question surfaces about improving the effectiveness of school boards. With school districts expected to implement expansive state and federal education policies, the job of school boards grows more complex. The greatest challenge confronting school boards is to ensure that every child has the opportunity to learn. School boards must provide that opportunity while meeting the needs of the community and taking care not to micromanage or to invade the appropriate realm of professional educators. Part of the balancing act is the implicit desire that school boards be representative and democratic without being overtly political. The Harford County Board of Education strives to improve its knowledge and practice of good governance. Knowing the roles, responsibilities, relationships and the process of effective governance are critical.
Appointed Boards of Education in Harford County have been highly successful, by almost any measure, at producing positive results for the students of Harford County…despite being funded at levels at, or near, the lowest per student in the State. Typically, candidates for appointment have demonstrated an interest in, and are well informed, about education issues.
They most frequently seek the position to make a difference in education, rather than to advance to higher office, and are typically not “single issue” candidates. This process has also produced a great diversity of individuals and perspectives on the Board, which has led to effective decision-making. Board Members over the past 40years have largely been recommended by a consensus of community-based organizations with an interest in education. This method has produced a high caliber of individuals to serve on the Board, with very successful results, including appointments that crossed partisan party lines.
THE HARFORD COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION SUPPORTS:
Continued broad-based community input in developing Board nominees for appointment -whether by Caucus or Commission."
I find this very disheartening, but not surprising. The condescension is palpable, as if parents and other community members don't have enough sense to vote. The school board instead should be recommended by a "consensus of community-based organizations with an interest in education." You know, like realtors, developers, etc. etc.
Friday, November 9, 2007
Feeling Disenfranchised
I've read with envy all week accounts of voters, a few at least anyway, heading to the polls to vote in Bel Air and Aberdeen. Here in Abingdon we got to vote on, let's see, nothing.
Given the lackluster turnout in many races, including the Baltimore mayor's race, maybe I'm in the minority. I know sometimes the candidate choices are not the greatest, but to just have the opportunity to possibly have your voice heard, what that must be like. Here in Abingdon, I can only imagine.
Given the lackluster turnout in many races, including the Baltimore mayor's race, maybe I'm in the minority. I know sometimes the candidate choices are not the greatest, but to just have the opportunity to possibly have your voice heard, what that must be like. Here in Abingdon, I can only imagine.
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