"Do Something" Lobby Gets Their bill
Well the folks who want to "Do Something" about the School Board Selection Process have a bill now that the County House Delegation has agreed to back a bill that would create a new nominationg commission as well as require members to stand for a "competency election" similar to that used for district and appeals court judges at the end of their term.
Well, "something" has been done. But what does the bill accomplish? What the bill does is create a new level of goverment to suggest to the Governor candidates for School Board selection. The power is still in the Governor's hands. Nor is there anything to prevent the current School Board Nominating Convention from continuing to meet, screen potential members, and provide the Governor with a list of candidates of their own.
The "competency election" is a farce. The election will be an yes/no vote on the existing board member in order to allow them to serve another five years. Does anybody truly think that a sitting board member will be turned out of office? Can anybody remember the last time a sitting District or Appellate court judge was voted out of office? These elections usually send the judges back with a total of 85-90 percent voting yes.
One could argue that by passing the current bill, the Delegation has actually decided to give less power to the people than the current system.
I am not sure if words can adeuqately express the disappointment I have with the Delegation over this decision. They have put change for the sake of change ahead of a meaningful public policy reform. They can now tell the voters that they have "done something" to address the problem, but this "reform" of the selection process does nothing but further consolidate the decision making authority over our county school board with the Office of the Governor and away from the people. And while Governor Ehrlich has made good selections to the board to date, we would all be comfortable if the selection process were closer to the people the Board's decisions directly effect.
Well, "something" has been done. But what does the bill accomplish? What the bill does is create a new level of goverment to suggest to the Governor candidates for School Board selection. The power is still in the Governor's hands. Nor is there anything to prevent the current School Board Nominating Convention from continuing to meet, screen potential members, and provide the Governor with a list of candidates of their own.
The "competency election" is a farce. The election will be an yes/no vote on the existing board member in order to allow them to serve another five years. Does anybody truly think that a sitting board member will be turned out of office? Can anybody remember the last time a sitting District or Appellate court judge was voted out of office? These elections usually send the judges back with a total of 85-90 percent voting yes.
One could argue that by passing the current bill, the Delegation has actually decided to give less power to the people than the current system.
I am not sure if words can adeuqately express the disappointment I have with the Delegation over this decision. They have put change for the sake of change ahead of a meaningful public policy reform. They can now tell the voters that they have "done something" to address the problem, but this "reform" of the selection process does nothing but further consolidate the decision making authority over our county school board with the Office of the Governor and away from the people. And while Governor Ehrlich has made good selections to the board to date, we would all be comfortable if the selection process were closer to the people the Board's decisions directly effect.
posted by Brian Griffiths at 9:42 PM
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