It's official. We here at TAA did not believe that the current school board would let this happen, but Gov. O'Malley signed this into law this a.m.:
HB0639
Harford County Delegation
HARFORD COUNTY – BOARD OF EDUCATION – SELECTION OF
MEMBERS
Requiring that specified members of the Harford County Board of
Education be elected; requiring that specified members of the county board
be appointed within a specified period of time; establishing the composition
of the county board; providing for the qualifications, terms of office, and
the filling of a vacancy of members of the county board; establishing a
procedure for the election and appointment of members of the county
board; etc.
EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2009
Showing posts with label elections. Show all posts
Showing posts with label elections. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Voting: Will You, Won't You?
Thanks to everyone who voted on the 1-95 question. Here's hoping the 3 optimists are correct and the rest of us are proved wrong. Maybe the construction will make all our lives easier.
A belated thank you to anyone who voted for me as the Best of Bel Air blog. After just a few months of writing, I was surprised to even be a blip on the screen. I'm going to try to be a little more faithful in my writing with the holidays/strep throat behind me.
Our new poll question is about voting. Do you think your vote still makes a difference or are you staying home on Feb. 12?
Speaking of trying to elect officials, there's been renewed interest in the elected school board issue. I'm surprised that some are still saying the voters (I'm paraphrasing) can't be trusted to elect a school board because if they voted for someone the candidate might have an ax to grind, or here's a thought, might be accountable to voters. In The Aegis article last week legislators said they weren't sure what their constituents thought about the matter.
So if you'd like to make your thoughts known about anything, I thought this might be a good time to review Abingdon's elected officials. Abingdon is gerrymandered, so doublecheck your precise district by clicking here. Find Your District
Council District B: Veronica Chenowith
410-638-3520 Council Office
410-877-7034 Home Office
vlchenowith@harfordcountymd.gov
Maryland State Legislative District 7
RICHARD K. IMPALLARIA
Republican, District 7, Baltimore & Harford Counties
House Office Building, Room 310
6 Bladen St., Annapolis, MD 21401
(410) 841-3334, (301) 858-3334
1-800-492-7122, ext. 3334 (toll free)
e-mail: rick.impallaria@house.state.md.us
fax: (410) 841-3598, (301) 858-3598
J. B. JENNINGS
Republican, District 7, Baltimore & Harford Counties
House Office Building, Room 319
6 Bladen St., Annapolis, MD 21401
(410) 841-3698, (301) 858-3698
1-800-492-7122, ext. 3698 (toll free)
e-mail: jb.jennings@house.state.md.us
fax: (410) 841-3598, (301) 858-3598
PATRICK L. McDONOUGH
Republican, District 7, Baltimore & Harford Counties
House Office Building, Room 310
6 Bladen St.
Annapolis, MD 21401
(410) 841-3334, (301) 858-3334
1-800-492-7122, ext. 3334 (toll free)
e-mail: pat.mcdonough@house.state.md.us
fax: (410) 841-3598, (301) 858-3598
P. O. Box 24640, Baltimore, MD 21214
(410) 238-0025
e-mail: patmcdee@comcast.net
Maryland State Senate
ANDREW P. HARRIS
Republican, District 7, Baltimore County & Harford County
James Senate Office Building, Room 320
11 Bladen St., Annapolis, MD 21401
(410) 841-3706, (301) 858-3706
1-800-492-7122, ext. 3706 (toll free)
e-mail: andrew.harris@senate.state.md.us
fax: (410) 841-3750, (301) 858-3750
A belated thank you to anyone who voted for me as the Best of Bel Air blog. After just a few months of writing, I was surprised to even be a blip on the screen. I'm going to try to be a little more faithful in my writing with the holidays/strep throat behind me.
Our new poll question is about voting. Do you think your vote still makes a difference or are you staying home on Feb. 12?
Speaking of trying to elect officials, there's been renewed interest in the elected school board issue. I'm surprised that some are still saying the voters (I'm paraphrasing) can't be trusted to elect a school board because if they voted for someone the candidate might have an ax to grind, or here's a thought, might be accountable to voters. In The Aegis article last week legislators said they weren't sure what their constituents thought about the matter.
So if you'd like to make your thoughts known about anything, I thought this might be a good time to review Abingdon's elected officials. Abingdon is gerrymandered, so doublecheck your precise district by clicking here. Find Your District
Council District B: Veronica Chenowith
410-638-3520 Council Office
410-877-7034 Home Office
vlchenowith@harfordcountymd.gov
Maryland State Legislative District 7
RICHARD K. IMPALLARIA
Republican, District 7, Baltimore & Harford Counties
House Office Building, Room 310
6 Bladen St., Annapolis, MD 21401
(410) 841-3334, (301) 858-3334
1-800-492-7122, ext. 3334 (toll free)
e-mail: rick.impallaria@house.state.md.us
fax: (410) 841-3598, (301) 858-3598
J. B. JENNINGS
Republican, District 7, Baltimore & Harford Counties
House Office Building, Room 319
6 Bladen St., Annapolis, MD 21401
(410) 841-3698, (301) 858-3698
1-800-492-7122, ext. 3698 (toll free)
e-mail: jb.jennings@house.state.md.us
fax: (410) 841-3598, (301) 858-3598
PATRICK L. McDONOUGH
Republican, District 7, Baltimore & Harford Counties
House Office Building, Room 310
6 Bladen St.
Annapolis, MD 21401
(410) 841-3334, (301) 858-3334
1-800-492-7122, ext. 3334 (toll free)
e-mail: pat.mcdonough@house.state.md.us
fax: (410) 841-3598, (301) 858-3598
P. O. Box 24640, Baltimore, MD 21214
(410) 238-0025
e-mail: patmcdee@comcast.net
Maryland State Senate
ANDREW P. HARRIS
Republican, District 7, Baltimore County & Harford County
James Senate Office Building, Room 320
11 Bladen St., Annapolis, MD 21401
(410) 841-3706, (301) 858-3706
1-800-492-7122, ext. 3706 (toll free)
e-mail: andrew.harris@senate.state.md.us
fax: (410) 841-3750, (301) 858-3750
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
No Vote, No Voice
Maybe someone can explain this to me: why don't we elect the school board? I've heard some locals say that ordinary voters can't be trusted with such an important task.
That's silly. With that rationale, no one could vote for anything.
When I was a reporter, I covered a school board for many years. The superintendent went through an arduous process -- her salary was publicized before it was ever voted on. She went through a yearly review. School board members, who were voted in by their neighborhoods, with 2 at-large members, were accountable for their votes.
Recently I've heard some argue that an elected school board gives the "squeaky wheels" too much say in how schools are run or where they're located. It's usually these citizens who are speaking on behalf of their neighbors, who should, indeed, have a say about something as important as new county schools.
I'm not talking about dictating specific curriculuum. But here's an example of something that wouldn't have happened if the public had a voice: the block schedule. This was implemented with no data and no way to collect data to rate its effectiveness. And whether it's true or not, the community perception is that the school board demoted one of the few who was keeping track of the effect the block schedule had on test scores and student progress.
I contacted the school board during the last redistricting process and received the equivalent of a pat on the head and "don't worry. It's not really all that bad." What incentive did this member have to offer me any more? I'm not saying that all school board members are self-serving, I'm just saying, shouldn't we be the ones telling them just how long they're going to serve?
That's silly. With that rationale, no one could vote for anything.
When I was a reporter, I covered a school board for many years. The superintendent went through an arduous process -- her salary was publicized before it was ever voted on. She went through a yearly review. School board members, who were voted in by their neighborhoods, with 2 at-large members, were accountable for their votes.
Recently I've heard some argue that an elected school board gives the "squeaky wheels" too much say in how schools are run or where they're located. It's usually these citizens who are speaking on behalf of their neighbors, who should, indeed, have a say about something as important as new county schools.
I'm not talking about dictating specific curriculuum. But here's an example of something that wouldn't have happened if the public had a voice: the block schedule. This was implemented with no data and no way to collect data to rate its effectiveness. And whether it's true or not, the community perception is that the school board demoted one of the few who was keeping track of the effect the block schedule had on test scores and student progress.
I contacted the school board during the last redistricting process and received the equivalent of a pat on the head and "don't worry. It's not really all that bad." What incentive did this member have to offer me any more? I'm not saying that all school board members are self-serving, I'm just saying, shouldn't we be the ones telling them just how long they're going to serve?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
