Board of Education Meeting: Arundel Middle Safety, Elementary Transfer Issues

Parents and students expressed concern for the safety at Arundel Middle School, and pressed the board to consider adding another assistant principal for stability.

Comptroller Evaluates Glen Burnie Park Elementary Needs

Comptroller Peter Franchot visited the school Thursday to assess its new roof and a need for expansion.

Comptroller Peter Franchot visited Glen Burnie Park Elementary School on Thursday morning to tour the school and assess its needs, after the Maryland Board of Public Works approved more than $270,000 to help replace the school's roof. The school, built in 1962, was renovated in 1992 and 2007, but the roof had been only patched together for repairs until it was replaced in 2012, according to Anne Arundel County Public Schools (AACPS) spokesperson Bob Mosier. "This is my favorite school system in the state," Franchot said once he walked in the doors at Glen Burnie Park Elementary. "It has a history of frugality." Franchot's visit comes as the Anne Arundel County Council prepares for consideration of a more than $1 billion budget request from…

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Board Urges Tweaks to School Safety Bill

Members of the Anne Arundel County Board of Education say they don't like the idea of using casino money to fund school safety and mental health programs.

Legislators Move to Create Elections for County School Board

After a failed attempt in 2012, members of Anne Arundel County's delegation are trying again to make the county's school board an elected office.

Members of Anne Arundel County's Statehouse delegation are trying to convert the county School Board from an appointed position to an elected one. The governor appoints School Board members that are vetted for him by an 11-member School Board Nominating Commission. Once appointed, new members are subjected to a retention vote during the next general election. "The Board manages regulations around Anne Arundel County schools and control 53 percent of the taxes that every Anne Arundel county taxpayer pays," said Del. Nic Kipke (R-Pasadena). "The bill that we introduced ... is that all the School Board be elected by the people." Sen. Bryan Simonaire introduced two bills to Maryland's Senate on Jan. 14. One proposes amending the state's …

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School System Dispute Over $5M Settled with County Coffers

Councilman warns school officials there will be retaliation next budget season.

A $5 million feud between the Anne Arundel County Council and the Anne Arundel County Board of Education appeared to be settled Monday by withdrawing the needed funds from the county's reserves. That didn't sit well with Councilman John Grasso (R-2nd District), of Glen Burnie, who again threatened the school system with cuts during the next budget session. "I hope they're watching tonight, because I'll tell you what, you can bet I'm going to have one heck of a large appetite next year—$5 million worth," Grasso said. "And I'd assume that most of my colleagues will pretty much want to show who's running the show, and it's not them." Earlier this month, the council sparred with a school system representative over a $5 million bill the council…

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Board Approves Pay Bump for Non-Teachers

School system custodians, cafeteria workers, administrators and secretaries are all set to receive the same 1.25 percent salary increase as AACPS teachers.

The Anne Arundel County Board of Education approved a 1.25 percent mid-year pay increase for all non-teaching staff members Wednesday morning. The board’s decision to increase salaries for all Anne Arundel County Public Schools (AACPS) workers comes three weeks after they approved similar salary increases for teachers on Sept. 19. School staff members are now set to receive a pay bump in the middle of the current work year, which varies depending on the position held. For the current school year, employees will only technically receive a 0.62 percent increase, but then receive the full 1.25 percent for the next year.   The agreement between the school system and employee bargaining units for support staff, secretaries and administrators …

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School System Could Seek Graduation Site in County

The president of the school board asked for the formation of a committee to seek a site for graduations. Currently, many ceremonies are held in Baltimore and Prince George's counties.

The president of the Anne Arundel County Board of Education said he'd like to find a place in the county to hold high school graduations. Andrew Pruski requested the formation of a committee to determine how to hold more graduation ceremonies in Anne Arundel County each May. Currently, many graduation ceremonies are held outside of Anne Arundel County, at sites including the campus of UMBC and Showplace Arena in Upper Marlboro.  “Anytime we can keep tax dollars, and keep people traveling in Anne Arundel, we should do that,” Pruski said. “It’s not a decision or a move, but a look to the future." Pruski said that Sen. Ed Degrange (D-Glen Burnie) has indicated support for a county graduation site. Board member Salon Webb asked that the ad hoc…

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School Board Elects Pruski as Next President

The at-large school board member received the unanimous support of the board. Teresa Birge was elected as vice president.

The Anne Arundel County Board of Education has unanimously elected Andrew Pruski as its next president. The board voted 8-0 in support of Pruski, who joined the board in 2009. He will replace Patricia Nalley. Pruski is a Gambrills resident and works as an assessment supervisor with Baltimore County Schools. The board also unanimously elected at-large member Teresa Birge to serve as vice president for 2012-2013.

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Amy Leahy

11:03 am on Friday, July 13, 2012

Ronald - just a question: What do you think the schools are supposed to do? My answer: Educate our children. Ronald: Who do you think should have the most say in their kids education? My answer: Their parents. Roanld - because we do not have an elected school board they are not answerable (as you seem to believe) to ANYONE. Your ignorance is showing if you think the county appoints school board …   more ›

Anne Arundel Delegates Vote To Support Elected School Board

After the delegation voted 9-3 to support the bill, it now heads to the Maryland House of Delegates' Ways and Means Committee for a hearing.

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 …

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Town Hall Meeting To Tackle Teacher Pension Shift

Teacher pension shifts, salary raises and Maryland's maintenance of effort requirements are on the town hall's agenda.

Ray Leone, president of the Anne Arundel County Council PTA, will join elected officials and educators Monday in a town hall meeting to discuss Maryland’s education issues. Policymakers and more than 100 teachers throughout the state will gather in Annapolis to address public school funding, the maintenance of effort law and more. Leone said one of the biggest topics on the table will be Gov. Martin O’Malley’s proposed teacher pension shift from state to county governments. The immediate legislation would cost more than $240 million throughout the state. The shift would cause Anne Arundel County $20 million alone in its first year and more than $30 million in the second year, Leone said. “No matter what side you fall on, $20 million is …

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Amy Leahy

11:15 am on Monday, March 5, 2012

The legislation would empower the state to seize local tax revenue and redirect it exclusively to inflate school budgets — mainly meaning teacher salaries, pensions and benefits. It would do so even if it meant overriding voter-adopted property tax limits or raiding funds for police, fire departments, libraries, parks and transportation. http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.…   more ›