Post by FamousDave on Feb 2, 2008 21:47:36 GMT -5
Elected Harford school board gets delegation’s backing
www.examiner.com/a-1196545~Elected_Harford_school_board_gets_delegation_s_backing.html
Annapolis - Harford County's school board would be fully elected under a bill passed Friday by the county’s State House delegation. Under the bill, which needs approval from the state legislature, six of the seven board members would be elected by council district every four years, and one would be elected at-large.
Three members would first be elected in 2012; the other four, in 2014.
“We have the support of the Harford County Council; 1,000 signatures were collected last year in favor of an elected board,” said Delegate Susan McComas, R-District 35, the delegation’s chairwoman.
She said the elected board has the support of community groups, including those in Edgewood and Joppatowne, and two of the county’s biggest PTAs.
Sen. Barry Glassman, R-District 35, introduced a near-identical bill in the State Senate.
“I think it's what's best for Harford County,” said Delegate Wayne Norman, R-District 35. “Though just because I voted for an elected board doesn't mean that they're not currently doing a good job.”
Members of the delegation approved the bill, 6-2. Delegates Mary-Dulaney James and B. Dan Riley, both D-District 34A, abstained.
James said she preferred her proposal to create a nominating commission so parents and interest groups could have a say in choosing whom the governor appoints.
A bid to create a “blended board” of six elected members and three appointed ones failed in last year's General Assembly.
But McComas said the all-elected board would have a better shot.
“The blended board was more of an animal the state had never dealt with,” she said. “We thought maybe we needed to do something the legislature was more familiar with.”
Board members, appointed by the governor, have opposed an elected board. Elections would bring more politicking into the process, they say, and running by council districts would pit one board member against another in promoting schools from each district.
www.examiner.com/a-1196545~Elected_Harford_school_board_gets_delegation_s_backing.html
Annapolis - Harford County's school board would be fully elected under a bill passed Friday by the county’s State House delegation. Under the bill, which needs approval from the state legislature, six of the seven board members would be elected by council district every four years, and one would be elected at-large.
Three members would first be elected in 2012; the other four, in 2014.
“We have the support of the Harford County Council; 1,000 signatures were collected last year in favor of an elected board,” said Delegate Susan McComas, R-District 35, the delegation’s chairwoman.
She said the elected board has the support of community groups, including those in Edgewood and Joppatowne, and two of the county’s biggest PTAs.
Sen. Barry Glassman, R-District 35, introduced a near-identical bill in the State Senate.
“I think it's what's best for Harford County,” said Delegate Wayne Norman, R-District 35. “Though just because I voted for an elected board doesn't mean that they're not currently doing a good job.”
Members of the delegation approved the bill, 6-2. Delegates Mary-Dulaney James and B. Dan Riley, both D-District 34A, abstained.
James said she preferred her proposal to create a nominating commission so parents and interest groups could have a say in choosing whom the governor appoints.
A bid to create a “blended board” of six elected members and three appointed ones failed in last year's General Assembly.
But McComas said the all-elected board would have a better shot.
“The blended board was more of an animal the state had never dealt with,” she said. “We thought maybe we needed to do something the legislature was more familiar with.”
Board members, appointed by the governor, have opposed an elected board. Elections would bring more politicking into the process, they say, and running by council districts would pit one board member against another in promoting schools from each district.