Pr. Geo.'s School Board Back To Single Member Districts
The Prince George's County Board of Education will be divided into nine single-member districts under a bill signed into law this week by Gov. Martin O'Malley (D).
The law returns the county's school board to the way it used to be, with each member representing one district. The system was dissolved in 2002 by state legislators fed up with constant bickering. At first the state appointed the board members, and then, in 2006, county voters elected five members representing districts and four at-large members.
Under the new law, the four candidates who win the greatest percentages of the vote in their districts in the 2010 election will serve four-year terms. The remaining five winners will serve two-year terms. When those five seats come open again in 2012, the winners of that election will serve four years. The result is to have roughly half the school board come up for election every two years.
Supporters of the old system said it forced board members to rise above parochial concerns to consider the interests of the entire county. Opponents argued it confused constituents and required candidates to run for election across the county, giving an advantage to candidates able to win the backing of state legislators.
Despite running into opposition in past legislative sessions, the bill passed both houses of the General Assembly with relative ease this year.
"Obviously, we're delighted that we've finally gotten back to where we should have been all along," said David L. Cahn, co-chairman of Citizens for an Elected Board, which had lobbied for the change for years. "The return to nine single-member districts means that the school board will be directly accountable. Each member will be directly accountable to the voters in his or her community."
-- Nelson Hernandez
By Anne Bartlett |
May 15, 2008; 10:09 AM ET
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Posted by: PG'er | May 15, 2008 10:46 AM
In Montgomery County we have 1097 school administrators who earn more than $100,000 each for a school year of 8 1/2 months. The union is getting 30% salary hikes. We need small school board districts to break the backs of the aforementioned greedy pigs.
Posted by: We need this in Montgomery | May 15, 2008 11:03 AM
I am sure no school employee earns enough money to deal with children of the person who wrote the nasty, unnecessary message above.
Such behavior spans generations.
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Posted by: Alopro | May 18, 2008 2:48 AM
Will this mean narrow-minded squabbling about school locations and local interests? Or a rep who will know one's local situation and schools? Hopefully, the PG County Council is NOT the model. Most of the Council's nine members write bills of interest only to their districts and favorite developers. And he other eight members roll over and vote, out of courtesy and the expectation that other eight will return the favor. A number of the members are extremely defensive of their initiatives, and self-righteous and even vindictive if another council member raises doubts (like it might not be right for the county as a whole...).
The only time they really get together and think While County is when they are bashing Jack Johnson or passing some meaningless resolution or rolling over on some big mega-deal, like National Harbor. I hope the by-district school board is able to keep the good of all our children in mind, not just the one's in their backyard.
Posted by: towards_light | May 19, 2008 3:36 PM
CORRECTED VERSION-
Will this mean narrow-minded squabbling about school locations and local interests? Or a rep who will know one's local schools and situation?
Hopefully, the PG County Council is NOT the model. Most of the Council's nine members write bills of benefit only to their districts and their favorite developers. And the other eight members roll over and vote, out of courtesy and the expectation that other eight will return the favor. A number of the members are extremely defensive of their initiatives, and self-righteous and even vindictive if another council member raises doubts (like it might not be right for the county as a whole...).
The only time they really get together and think "whole county" is when they are bashing Executive Jack Johnson or passing some meaningless resolution or rolling over on some big mega-deal, by one of the ruling developers like The Michaels Company or Peterson. I hope the by-district school board is able to keep the good of all our children in mind, not just the one's in their backyard.
Posted by: towards_light II | May 19, 2008 3:40 PM
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And who says politicians aren't involved in the educational process?!?