UPDATE: The Harford County delegation voted UNANIMOUSLY to support the amendments creating a blended school board. Del. Dan Riley, who had abstained from voting on the all-elected board, voted in favor of the amendements. Del. Mary-Dulany James was absent from the vote.
An amended version of Senate Bill 306 passed by the state senate today (Tuesday) would establish a nine-member Board of Education in Harford County with three members appointed by the governor and the remaining six members elected in-district.
The amended elected school board bill, SB 306, received a favorable report from the Senate’s Education, Health and Environmental Affairs Committee on Friday and received local courtesy today in the state senate, passing on second read.
There were no questions in the senate, and no further amendments in Tuesday’s action. A third reading of the bill is scheduled for Thursday.
With the first hurdle of senate approval out of the way, Sen. Barry Glassman cautioned today, “Still have my work cut out on House side.”
If you would like to read our previous articles about the elected school board, please see the following links:
- Ekey: Elected School Board Needed To Take Away Superintendant Haas’ “Rubber-Stamp”
- Support of an Elected School Board: A Letter to Mary-Dulany James
- The Elected School Board Stunt of the Week
- “A Republic, If You Can Keep It” – Part II
- “A Republic, If You Can Keep It” – Part I
Well, it’s a compromise, but it’s better than the PNC, right?
Should be interesting for the county council members. Wonder if they were back a candidate over another in the district, or if they will stay out of the fray?
I’m also assuming that the school board member will actually have to live in the district they represent?
Each board member would have to reside in the district they represent. That was in the orignial bill. As for appointed members, there is new language that encourages the governor to ensure that the school board reflects gender, ethnic and racial diversity.
What makes everyone so certain that MDJ will let it go through the house? $5 says she stops it dead in it’s tracks since she didn’t get PNC.
SB 306 just passed 45 to 0 in the senate!
The Senate of Maryland unanimously voted in favor of SB 306 today. This is a major victory for Harford and for our senators.
Now it’s on to the delegates, right? Wonder what MDJ will do…
My money is on “dead on the vine….”
Even a copmpromise is better than the status quo. I am very pleased.
The Harford County delegation voted UNANIMOUSLY to support the amendments creating a blended school board. Del. Dan Riley, who had abstained from voting on the all-elected board, voted in favor of the amendements. Del. Mary-Dulany James was absent from the vote.
This morning the delegation moved to comport our bill with the one that got through the Senate. Senators Harris and Glassman did all of the hard work. Hopefully we can live with 6 elected and 3 appointed by the Governor.
I would like to personally acknowledge Dan Riley for stepping up and putting his constituents before politics. He obviously kept to the word given by MDJ that HB 806 was only a fall back if SB 306 didn’t make it out of the senate. The absence of MDJ also speaks volumes.
Thank you to all of our State Delegates who have worked hard to keep this issue alive and moving forward!