UPDATE: House Bill Could Pave Way for Elected School Board

Updated (7:28 p.m.)— This story was updated to reflect new information about the day the bill will be voted on and to correct the number of government appointees.

A bill proposed by Anne Arundel County state delegates seeks to change the composition of the county’s Board of Education from one that is appointed to a hybrid board that would be mostly elected.

The board currently has nine members. Eight are appointed by the governor and the ninth is a high school student elected by student government representatives.

House Bill 367, sponsored by Delegate Steven Schuh (R-Anne Arundel 31st District), could pave the way for a new, hybrid board. The revised board would consist of three members appointed by the governor and five elected by citizens in each legislative district in the county.

The 15 Anne Arundel County members of the House of Delegates will meet at 9 a.m. Friday to present the amendment to House Bill 367. They were scheduled to vote on the item, but due to absences, the vote has been postponed until next week.

The revised bill proposes a hybrid board to replace the appointed board over time. If the bill becomes law, the current appointed members would complete their terms, and then be replaced by elected members, who would serve no more than two four-year terms.

The original bill called for only two at-large elected members. 

Julie Dettor, the education advisor for the Broadneck Council of Communities, has testified before delegates on the bill before. Dettor said she believes the bill has bi-partisan support, and is hopeful this will pass through the full house and senate.

If the amendment is approved next week, it will move on to the house’s Ways and Means Committee before being presented to the full Maryland House of Delegates.

The Anne Arundel County Delegation meeting will be 9 a.m. Friday in room 142 of the Lowe House Office Building at 6 Bladen Street in Annapolis.