Look, Ma, No Written Request

The standoff between Patch and the Baltimore County Public Schools system about the salary of a newly hired deputy superintendent is over.

Bob Barrett, the school system's executive officer for community outreach, released the figure to Patch this morning.

The Baltimore Sun first reported Foose's $214,000 salary, but school officials refused to release the number to Patch, citing a policy requiring a written request.

Patch verbally requested the information on March 11 but declined to file the Public Information Act request on the basis that state law does not cover answering a question, and no document was being sought.

Government employee salaries are public by law and the state attorney general frequently advises state and local government agencies to release the information upon request, according to an earlier interview with Robert McDonald, a deputy attorney general.

Patch did not file a request to receive the information released today.

Foose began her job earlier this month and "hit the ground running," making visits to schools around the county, Barrett said.

"She's really out there grinding and working hard," Barrett said.

Foose was present today when County Executive Kevin Kamenetz delivered his first budget to the County Council. Schools Superintendent Joe A. Hairston introduced her to reporters, including one from Patch, before the event.