O'Hare Changes Position on Elected School Boards

A member of the county school board who was told she will not be reappointed said she has changed her position on the need for an elected school board.

Meg O'Hare, a Carney resident, has opposed any form of elected school board since she was first appointed by Gov. Robert Ehrlich in 2006.

"Henceforth, I am a firm advocate for an elected school board," O'Hare said. "It can't get any more political than it is now."

O'Hare said she was informed Friday by a representative of Gov. Martin O'Malley that she will not be appointed to a second term on the school board.  Her term expires next month.

"I did put in for reappointment but I didn't think I would be," O'Hare said.

The issue of creating an elected or a hybrid elected-appointed board has been debated over the past five years by legislators in Annapolis. A work group of delegates, senators and other community leaders will hold public hearings this summer in an attempt to resolve the issue of how school board members should be selected.

As for the switch in her position on elected school boards, O'Hare said she has grown concerned with the appointment process and what she said was an attempt by county government officials to influence the board.

"I'm just telling the truth about what I've seen in my five years on the school board," O'Hare said.

O'Hare said that in her second year on the board she and other members were asked to meet individually with the county executive (James T. Smith Jr. at the time) about budget issues as the board was about to approve its request that is sent to the county.

"That's the kind of sneaky stuff [the county] does," O'Hare said.

Also of concern is a recent trend of appointing politically connected members to the board, O'Hare said.

"The good ol' boys system is eager to get their hands on the school system," O'Hare said.

Still, O'Hare said she has enjoyed her time on the board as is most proud of policies enacted by the board "that ensure that all children, no matter where they live in Baltimore County, have the same educational opportunities."

Singled out? Superintendent Joe A. Hairston and the county schools system is scheduled to appear before the County Council as annual budget hearings conclude. The appearance isn't unusual but it is interesting that the schools system is the only department on the agenda for the day—atypical in my 10 years of covering the budget. Liz Bowie at The Baltimore Sun highlights some of the issues that are sure to come up.

Belated birthday wishes to Pat van den Beemt, longtime reporter for Patuxent Publishing Co.'s North County News. She turned 62 on Saturday.

Another hat in the ring. Sean Tully blogs on North Baltimore Patch that Baltimore City Councilman .

In case you missed it, the state on who is responsible for a $54 million shortfall in expected revenue. Last week, the council learned for the first time that the shortfall was, at least in part, attributed to a .

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