Testimony for HB1324/SB981

This was presented today when the bill to allow a straw ballot in November, 2012 to determine whether we should elect our school board in Wicomico County had its hearing. I wrote this on behalf of the Wicomico County Republican Central Committee, although their imput led to a minor change from my original.

Testimony in favor of HB1324/SB981:
Wicomico County – Board of Education – Selection of Members – Straw Ballot

Presented by: Members of the Wicomico County Republican Central Committee
March 23, 2011

Ladies and Gentlemen of the House and Senate:

We, the undersigned members of the Wicomico County Republican Central Committee, rise in support of allowing the voters of Wicomico County to determine who best represents them when it comes to educational matters.

In our view, having the Governor appoint members of a board which oversees nearly half of all County operating expenditures – not to mention millions more tax dollars supplied by the state and federal governments – is a relic of the past and not suitable for Wicomico County’s needs. While we as a Central Committee are involved in the current system as part of the selection process and take this task seriously, we would willfully give up that portion of our duties in order to let a much larger group of citizens decide who best could represent their wishes on a future Wicomico County school board.

Over the last several years, we on the Central Committee have made an effort to convince our County Council that the present system needs to be revamped. Finally, in February, the Wicomico County Council listened, agreed, and asked our local representatives to bring forth a bill addressing this to the General Assembly. Now that the bill is a reality, we would like to thank this bipartisan group of sponsors for placing HB1324/SB981 onto the General Assembly’s docket. Its passage would allow our county to take another step down the road to joining nineteen other Maryland jurisdictions and thousands of others nationwide where the will of the people is expressed, in part, by those who they elect to their school board.

Opponents of an elected board make a good point about the prospect of a lack of diversity on the board. We share their concerns about its makeup, and believe that a system reflective of the current Wicomico County Council makeup – with five districts, including one majority-minority district, and two at-large seats – would alleviate their concerns about certain groups not having a place at the table.

Moreover, it is our belief that the school board elections should be non-partisan, which will allow greater participation among those unaffiliated with either of the two principal parties.

While these details lie beyond the scope of the legislation presented today, we believe that passing this bill this year will allow the maximum time for all those involved to hash out a solution which addresses the concerns of groups both in favor of keeping the current system and those who desire change, while remaining consistent with the county charter.

The General Assembly involves itself in education in countless ways – everything from helping to determine per-pupil funding and setting standards to figuring out how to satisfy the concerns of teachers who stormed Lawyers Mall last week to ask their pensions remain intact. By many accounts, the educational system you have helped to create is considered among the best in the nation.

But with that responsibility comes accountability. Every four years, the members of the General Assembly have to pass a test of their own, with the voters turning in the final grade on whether members are worthy of being re-elected. And while it’s obvious our side has its differences with the majority of those who sit in this room today, the bipartisan support of our local delegation shows that the same model of accountability reflected in both the Maryland Senate and House of Delegates could be present in our school board if Wicomico County voters wish it to be.

It is with this in mind that we humbly ask that HB1324/SB981 be passed and sent to Governor O’Malley for approval this year. Give us the best chance possible to do right by the children of Wicomico County.

Respectfully submitted,

Members of the Wicomico County Republican Central Committee:

Dave Parker, Chair
Joe Collins, Vice-Chair
Bob Laun, Treasurer
Michael Swartz, Secretary
Dave Goslee, Sr.
W. Blan Harcum, Sr.
Mark McIver
John Palmer
Ann Suthowski

Author: Michael

It's me from my laptop computer.

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