Elections Mean Changing Priorities

With elections around the corner, much of the country waits in anticipation. Early voter turnout has already surpassed previous years in several states. November 6th will bring change, or lack thereof, across the nation. Sure, several important and divisive elections in the Senate and House will be determined (in which many former teachers are running), but so will other less thought about positions such as school board members. Baltimore County will have its first ever election: 7 districts are up for competitive election. Up until now, all school board seats in Baltimore County have been appointed by the governor. Candidates and endorsements can be found here.

School boards play a crucial role in determining the mission, values, and priorities in a school district. They select, manage, and supervise the superintendent, and create an environment in which he/she can thrive. At least, that is what they are meant to do. See here for more info on school boards. Baltimore County has faced scandal in recent years, and has yet to appoint a permanent superintendent. Next week will bring a very different board with a new direction, which will be determined by the newly elected officials.

Perhaps these newly elected officials may take a stance on an issue that has gained attention in the media recently: integration. The issue has been on the media circuit more recently but has made appearances in previous years as well. Take this Washington Post article from 2013. The Baltimore Sun did a four part series in the Spring of 2017 which can be found here. Of course, the series was done when former superintendent Dallas Dance was still in office. He had briefly discussed the possibility at one time but was soon after tried and convicted of ethics violations. Challenges abound the County Executive and County Council positions as well. However, new leadership means new priorities and if the conversation can get started again, Baltimore is ripe with opportunity.

Next Week: Election follow-up with integration spotlight on Dallas Independent School District. Stay tuned!