Anne Arundel Delegates Vote To Support Elected School Board

Anne Arundel County's delegates in Annapolis voted 9-3 Friday to support a bill that would add elected officials to the county school board.

The legislation, House Bill 367, calls for establishing a "hybrid" school board with a five-member majority elected by county residents for the first time. 

Currently, the nine-member Anne Arundel County Board of Education is one of four districts in the state whose positions are entirely appointed by the governor.

Sponsored by Del. Steve Schuh (R-District 31), House Bill 367 would maintain three governor-appointed seats and reserve one board position for a student member. 

House Speaker Michael E. Busch (D-District 30) did not attend the voting Friday morning. Below is a breakdown of how the delegates voted.

For: 

• Del. Pamela G. Beidle (D-District 32)
• Del. Ronald A. George (R-District 30)
• Del. Herbert H. McMillan (R-District 30)
• Del. Steven R. Schuh (R-District 31)
• Del. Cathleen M. Vitale (R-District 33A)
• Del. Tony McConkey (R-District 33A)
• Del. Robert A. Costa (R-District 33B)
• Del. Don H. Dwyer Jr. (R-District 31)
• Del. Nicholaus R. Kipke (R-District 31)

Opposed:

• Del. Theodore J. Sophocleus (D-District 32)
• Del. Mary Ann Love (D-District 32)
• Del. Joseline A. Pena-Melnyk (D-District 21)

Absent:

• Del. Michael E. Busch (D-District 30)
• Del. Benjamin S. Barnes (D-District 21)
• Del. Barbara A. Frush (D-District 21)

The bill now heads to the House of Delegates' Ways and Means Committee and, if passed, it will proceed to the full House for a vote.