Diversity Concerns Could Derail School Board Bill
Bill is scheduled for a committee vote Thursday but supporters aren't optimistic.
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A bill that would create a partially elected school board in Baltimore County could get a vote in a Maryland state Senate committee but the result may not be what supporters are hoping for.
"The prospects look very dim right now," said Sen. Bobby Zirkin, a sponsor of a Senate bill that would create a partially elected, partially appointed school board.
The bill is set for a vote in committee today, according to the Democratic senator from Owings Mills.
Zirkin made his comments Wednesday after learning that the chairwoman of the committee said the bill would likely die there rather than receive a vote on the Senate floor.
"I don't like the bill and neither does the committee," said Sen. Joan Carter Conway, who chairs the committee and represents Baltimore City.
Conway cited concerns about a lack of diversity that could result from the bill.
"Baltimore County only has one black councilman on the council and based on the population it should have more," Conway said, adding that the school board is more diverse because of appointments made by the governor.
Conway initially suggested on Wednesday morning that the bill might never come up for a committee vote.
But after a conversation Wednesday with Sen. Kathy Klausmeier, the chairwoman of the Baltimore County Senate delegation, Conway said the bill would be voted on in committee but did not initially give a date.
Conway told Republican Sen. J.B. Jennings, in the pressence of a reporter, that "local bills die all the time in committee."
Jennings, who represents Baltimore and Harford Counties, is a co-sponsor of the school board bill and a member of Conway's committee.
Initially, both House and Senate versions of the school board bill called for a fully elected school board. Zirkin later amended his bill to create a board with seven elected members and four appointed members.
Zirkin said he believed elections would continue to produce a diverse board but the appointments could be used to adjust for any real or perceived disparity.
The House bill passed earlier this week and was sent to the same Senate Committee where Zirkin and Jenning's bill awaits a vote. Conway has already indicated that she would not support a fully elected board such as the one contained in the House bill.
Currently, 20 of the 24 jurisdictions in the state have some form of elected school board. The school boards for Baltimore City and Anne Arundel, Baltimore and Wicomico Counties are fully appointed.
Two years ago, Jennings sponsored a bill that created a partially-elected school board in Harford County. He said the differences between that bill and the Baltimore County bill are negligible.
"Ninety percent of it is the same," said Jennings. "Why she (Conway) won't pass it is a mystery."
Cathi Forbes, an education advocate and Towson resident, learned that the bill was in trouble when she called Conway's office on Tuesday.
Forbes said an aide cited concerns about diversity and a letter from the NAACP opposing the bill based the "history of racial segregation in Baltimore County."
"As someone who has been in the trenches in education in Baltimore County, I don't see how an elected school board would be a bad thing," said Forbes, adding that she understands the concerns over maintaining a racially diverse school board.
"I would hope we would get diversity out of either of these bills," said Forbes.
Patricia Ferguson, president of the Baltimore County Chapter of the NAACP, was not immediately available for comment but in a Feb. 23 letter, Ferguson wrote that the organization opposed an elected or partially-elected school board citing concerns about diversity.
"The bill states that these newly established districts will meet certain criteria, including 'enhance the opportunity for minority representation,'" wrote Ferguson. "While it is easy to make such a claim on paper, and it may look politically correct, it cannot be assured, especially since Baltimore County is so segregated residentially already. You would literally have to gather-up segments of the minority population and physically 'place' them in areas of the county. Even then, parity on an elected Board would be doubtful. This matter is about the community as a whole and all people. These legislative actions could lead to many people from different segments in the community perceiving themselves as being disenfranchised and marginalized. Then, the proposed solution will likely become the problem."
Ferguson also said there was a lack of agreement among members of a school board task force last summer and said that group failed to hold any hearings in minority communities.
"This action, in itself, shows how it may appear that minorities are being included, when in actuality they aren’t," wrote Ferguson.
Matthew
1:01 pm on Thursday, March 29, 2012
This would make Sen. Carter a racist. Why "should" a person be elected based upon the color of their skin? Because Baltimore County has a population, that on a percentage basis, is more black than our school board, means nothing. The school board is not a demographic mirror. It is a collection of individuals who are decision makers and stakeholders.
Why would Senator Carter suggest that someone be chosen based solely upon the color of their skin? She should be censured by her colleagues for the inherent racist nature of her comments.
She should also spend her time worrying about her broken school system instead of prohibiting us for protecting ours.
Paul Amirault
1:21 pm on Thursday, March 29, 2012
Although I am staunchly opposed to an elected school board for many reasons other than "diversity", I could never find myself voting for Senator Carter if I was in her district. An absolutely shameless case of "quotas".
Let's see, we have 26% African Americans in the County and one African American council member, and we have a little over 50% women in the County. Now how many women are on the County Council? Two?
Sad Senator.
M. Sullivan
1:49 pm on Thursday, March 29, 2012
It certainly is funny how Sen. Conway, an elected official, can spout off such blatantly racist opinions and not be chastised by the press or her colleagues. She says "Baltimore County only has one black councilman on the council and based on the population it should have more," Well, if there were two black councilmen, that would be 28.6%, which is higher than the 26.1% of blacks in the county population. Of course, it seems that if the County Council were 100% black, that would be OK with Sen. Conway, based on her opinions.
Matthew
2:15 pm on Thursday, March 29, 2012
It is so disappointing that an elected official can be so openly bigoted and no one cares. The fact that her illogical, racist agenda impacts me, and not her, just exacerbates the situation.
Freddy
2:18 pm on Thursday, March 29, 2012
I for one am sick of the entire racist agenda of these politicians and race baiters.
Buzz Beeler
2:36 pm on Thursday, March 29, 2012
Matthew you raise some interesting points.
Has anyone ever questioned the NBA about diversity? Not that I know of. The fact is 82% of players in the NBA are black. I would guess the owners agenda is in the end result of winning.
Human nature being what it is, this topic of diversity will always be at the forefront of our lives.
JDStuts
2:54 pm on Thursday, March 29, 2012
I love her Wikipedia page:
In 1999 Conway was arrested and charged with hindering a law enforcement officer after a six-year-old girl was struck by a vehicle in front of her office and she allegedly refused to provide space for the paramedics to work on the child.
Buzzwasafuzz
5:05 pm on Thursday, March 29, 2012
Let's get a few things straight, the person above "Matthew", is not the one and only "Matt". These are in fact two different people. With that said, "Matt" is now the name listed above. Buzz, you may refer to me as Yo Daddy, and nothing else.
To the subject at hand, lack of diversity is a valid concern. I'm not even sure why we are having this discussion. Buzz, you are an idiot for comparing the NBA to the school board, really? That's like saying, well, the NHL doesn't have diversity, why should the school board? As usual, your logic is flawed.
johnny towson
8:21 pm on Thursday, March 29, 2012
Robert, please do not reduce these boards to personal and adolescent exchanges. These boards are a value component of our community.
Buzz Beeler
6:20 pm on Thursday, March 29, 2012
Nice name. Where is my quote where I compare the two?. You criticize me for mentioning the NBA and you reference the NHL. Let's see what is the term for that? Ah yes, a double standard.
I feel like I'm talking to my self, however the term diversity is not limited to politics as in the school board, the council, but rather to a whole bunch of stuff.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diversity
"Buzz, you may refer to me as Yo Daddy, and nothing else." But that is not your name.
"Baltimore County only has one black councilman on the council and based on the population it should have more," Conway said,", is it me or is the diversity issue more complex than just the school board or is Sen. Conway using the council as an example of diversity in the same way I used an example?
Eastsider
9:04 pm on Thursday, March 29, 2012
Buzz,
I have made my 2nd attempt to Congressman Cummings since he was one that brought to light the diversity issues to the hiring and promotional issues in Baltimore County Fire and Police. In my email to him I brought up about investigation of professional sports, Miss Black America as well as other issues. It has been just about a month and no reply so today I sent off another email. Doubt if I will get an answer EVER.
Buzz Beeler
9:33 pm on Thursday, March 29, 2012
Eastsider this may shed some light on the topic.
http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2012-03-12/news/bs-md-co-justice-investigation-follow-20120312_1_african-american-fire-department-black-candidates
An interesting quote from the article. "It's still a good-old-boy network … They're going to hire people who look like them," said Oliver, A Democrat, calling on County Executive Kevin Kamenetz to "take a stand, saying, 'I want it corrected and I want it corrected now.'
http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2011-10-24/news/bs-md-co-oliver-folo-20111024_1_county-charter-councilman-oliver-charter-rule
It's different when the shoe is on the other foot like in another case.
http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2011-11-16/news/bs-md-co-oliver-profile-20111116_1_leronia-josey-councilman-kenneth-oliver-billy-chase
I always focus on the issues as I see them and I think the county is going out of it's way to find "qualified applicants."
Here is another blog I did on the Sun Talk Board where I received some interesting responses.
http://talk.baltimoresun.com/showthread.php?t=314571
The bottom line is that it all adds up to accountability.
Steven The Greek
10:14 pm on Thursday, March 29, 2012
Bobby Zirkin is for elected school board and voted against raising the income tax. Finally a moderate democrat. It's about time we found one out there.
Baltimore County Parent
11:55 pm on Thursday, March 29, 2012
Is Senator Conway referencing this letter from the Baltimore Chapter of the NAACP to justify saying SB407 is a bad bill? If you read the NAACP letter, it only mentions an all-elected school board as being potentially harmful to diversity. After this letter was written, SB407 was amended to become a Hybrid School Board bill to answer all of the NAACP's concerns!
Matthew
5:31 am on Friday, March 30, 2012
Well, I for one am happy that the NAACP is making policy for BCPS... Joking, obviously.
This whole ordeal stinks. Who suffers? The kids in my classroom.
Perhaps we should start appointing US Senators...they aren't really reflecting national demographics. And that is, after all, the most important thing. The hell with allowing democracy to rule.
DARRELL HAMMERBACKER
7:29 am on Friday, March 30, 2012
Carter represents Baltimore City and we all know who runs their school Board and we all know how many Rocket Scientist come out of City Schools.What was their Graduation numbers?Carter need's to retire and preferably out of the State
Reader
9:29 am on Friday, March 30, 2012
Diversity, blacks code word for "we have to make sure there are enough blacks on the board". Oh no, certain African Americans aren't racists. Give me a break.
Chillin
9:42 am on Friday, March 30, 2012
It's a simple practice utilized by black leaders for getting what they want, pull the old race issue and all the honkeys cower in the corner. You can't blame the honkeys for cowering though. It's either cower or loose your head.
With the Brother student population rate at 28%, why argue the diversity of the School Board. With this rate, the schools are doomed anyway. Even the most ideal School Board model won't fix the County schools, nor will it stop its imminent downward spiraling future. Parents of Balto. Co. would be best serving their young children by scrimping and scraping together enough money to enroll their kids in private schools where this crap doesn't come to the discussion. Let the Brothers have their Co. schools and see if they can do better than they have with the City Schools. After all don't we all deserve a second chance, or three, or four...
K Blue
10:44 am on Friday, March 30, 2012
(sigh) to all of your comments. Diversity is very important on any board (whether its intellectual diversity, experience diversity, etc.); what is happening here though is that the legislators holding up this legislation from a floor vote must believe that only minority members are capable of adequately representing minority interests, and I dont buy that for a second. This County is chock full of individuals capable of representing all interests regardless of race, ethnicity or sex, and I take offense to these out-of-county legislators who are too blind to see this as they fall hook-line-and-sinker for the easy out.
K Blue
11:31 am on Friday, March 30, 2012
Is Sen. Conway incapable of representing white or male constituents?
Is Sen. Pinksy incapable of representing his female constituents?
Its all rubbish. I really wish these legislators would stop perpetuating racial division in this County. The hybrid bill should pass. There is no logical reason why it should not. The diversity issues are addressed in the revised bill. On the flip side, if the bill doesnt pass and the Governor (or the County Executive) were to pick all white males for appointment, there is no recourse. We have a gubernatorial election coming up relatively soon (as well as County Executive election) and anything could happen. Perhaps if this County ended up with an all-majority appointed board, the NAACP and Sen. Conway would not be so quick to discount the practical merits of this bill.
Ed Riesner
9:59 am on Friday, March 30, 2012
I thought the mission of the school board was to advance the education of ALL the students regardless of their race. Forgive me for being stupid but isn't education (in and of itself) colorblind? If the school board was more responsive to the voting population wouldn't the issue of race be a non-factor?
Buzz Beeler
10:50 am on Friday, March 30, 2012
Sometimes I wonder if we just don't get it. Mother Nature does and there is no political discourse in that mix.
Seems not much has changed in the complexities on this issue of race.
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/breaking/bs-md-trayvon-martin-reaction-20120329,0,5251080.story
Josephine Hlatki
8:06 am on Saturday, March 31, 2012
As long as the black white issue continues there will always be segregation. I have many black friends and they think like a person, not a color, same with whites. In fact, my black friends are insulted by this garbage. Can't our legislators move into this Century and give blacks and whites some credit for thinking like people and not colors. Sheesh!
Eastsider
9:16 am on Saturday, March 31, 2012
Josephine, I have countless black friends think the same way. Want to be treated equally, hired equally and promototed equally based on who is best for the job and not thier skin color or sex...But you still have the other ones still living in the past of you owe me this due to what happened to my people years ago....
Josephine Hlatki
9:27 am on Saturday, March 31, 2012
Yes, it's a shame that still goes on. It's passed down through generations of ignorance and hate. I guess we'll never really be rid of racial hatred by some on both sides. It's insulting to blacks to know they are hired only because of their color. I take pride in the fact that I got my job because of my qualifications, knowing that any advancement I make is also based on that.
Chillin
9:32 am on Saturday, March 31, 2012
Their was no good reason for Conway to throw the race diversity arguments into this matter. I think she just threw it in the mix to retain her credibility as a sista with her brotha constituents. When there is no real basis for a race argument some black leaders throw the race issue into the discussion just for a litmus test to see who retracts. It's also an easy way to the headlines and free campaigning.