UPDATE (8:05 p.m.)—A vote on a state bill that would allow County Executive Kevin Kamenetz to consolidate some school system functions into existing county operations was delayed in the Senate late Saturday.
The delay, called for by Sen. Bobby Zirkin, appears to be in retaliation for an effort to bring a partially-elected school board to Baltimore County.
"I have concerns about the bill," said Zirkin.
Concerns about the passage of the partially-elected school board?
Before Zirkin could answer, Sen. Jim Brochin interrupted and called Zirkin's procedural move "an insurance policy."
"There's a number of issues involving the school board and if the county executive wants to discuss them then he should come down here and discuss them with the delegation," said Zirkin. "If he wants to go around the legislative process, that's certainly his prerogative."
Kamenetz has expressed his opposition about the partially elected school board to Del. Sheila Hixson, a Montgomery County Democrat and chair of the House Ways and Means Committee. The House bill creating a board with six elected and five appointed members was amended by the Senate and needs approval of Hixson's committee and the full House by Monday at midnight in order to become law.
Meanwhile, Kamenetz would like to see his consolidation bill pass. Earlier this week, a county lobbyist, in a letter, in holding that bill up in committee.
Zirkin laid the blame for the delay of the school board bill squarely on Kamenetz, a fellow Democrat.
"He's (Kamenetz) unfortunately putting his own interests and power before that of the people of Baltimore County," said Zirkin. "It is what it is. This is who we elected."
UPDATE: In the House of Delegates Saturday night, Del. Wade Kach delayed a vote on another bill Kamenetz wants—a bill that would limit the amount of time a car can be parked in a designated handicapped space around the Old Courthouse in Towson.
Asked if the delay was tied to the school board bill, Kach replied: "Absolutely."
"There are other things we can do, too," said Kach, a Cockeysville Republican. "We'll do them all."
Kach called the school board bill "the most important item we have down here. Nothing else is even close."
Paul Amirault 12:26 pm on Sunday, April 8, 2012 Randy, as I am a voice that says don't elect the school board, my opinion is biased. That said, our point of view is simple, the most qualified candidates are not ones that show up through the election process. A well funded candidate may/will have the ability to run a successful campaign. This could be an NEA union candidate or a highly religious candidate, both with an agenda they wish to pursue. Those for elections believe let the electorate decide, we in opposition say that will result in many unqualified candidates. A very small % of the electorate will decide who runs the schools. The only qualification necessary to run for Board of Ed will be paying the small filing fee. In my opinion, the Board of Ed which has the responsibility for nearly a billion dollars of our money and the education of over 100,000 children should have more on their resume' than "I paid the filing fee". In my view the Board of Education should not be political.
Some people fear that the board salary is so little crackpots (Another way to say people not like us.) with an agenda we don't like will be elected to the school board. (Everyone has an agenda, including me. That's why I'm responding to your question.) Baltimore County is already rife with crackpot politicians and Kamanitz appointees with agendas. And increasing the salary won't attract better candidates, only more. Why not allow more crackpots join the political fray? Politicians do not have an exclusive right to choose the crackpots they want. So let's help Democracy prevail over those who would thwart our public quest for an equitable society. For those who hide behind the NAACP, more minorities will be on an elected board than presently are on an appointed board. The only way minorities are denied their fair share of Democracy is through appointments and gerrymanding. And we all know who uses those methods to promote people like themselves.
Here is the email I sent to my delegates and senator. I hope they will send someone to get copies. You may want to forward my email to your legislators too. A post-dated letter and a refusal to make the letter available by fax or Internet compound the issues. It's not pretty. The Coalition for an Elected School Board in Baltimore County has asked me to provide the Kamenetz letter to Hixon. "Why can't you just fax it to me?" Here's my response: "I've told you all I can say without divulging my source. I had my hip replaced last Monday. I'm not going to Annapolis tomorrow to get a copy of the letter for myself. I can say that the letter is dated February 16, 2012. In the letter Kamenetz refers to the hiring of new Superintendent Dance, which occurred on March 27. ... See More
"Regardless, I don't have a copy and I won't ask my source to risk exposure. Anyone of you can go to Hixon's H & W office and get a copy tomorrow. Who knows, maybe they will have changed the letter date again. If they do that, I WILL get the post-dated copy, which office personnel handed out Saturday". Incidentally, H & W office personnel said they would not Fax or email the letter to anyone. One must go to the office to get a copy. I believe that's another infraction of the Maryland Code. Truly Yours, Karl