Zirkin Takes 'Insurance Policy' On School Board Bill
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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 Kamenetz's involvement in stymying 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, accused a union official of bullying tactics 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."
amdactivist
6:33 pm on Saturday, April 7, 2012
i wish he'd promote E-verify and put many of our unemployed back to work. Isn't that everyones goal to promote jobs? Yet all we see is kamenentz and others ribbon cutting on all the business's who hire illegals/mexicans.. Discrimination and against the law.. Welcome to Md.
johnny towson
6:41 pm on Saturday, April 7, 2012
Well said Mr. Zirkin. Glad to know you have a pair. "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."
Cathy Fialkowski
9:27 pm on Saturday, April 7, 2012
I sure didn't vote for Kamenetz.
Bryan P. Sears
8:09 pm on Saturday, April 7, 2012
See updated post for information on a second bill delayed because of the school board bill conflict.
moe green
9:00 pm on Saturday, April 7, 2012
Just offer Kevin some money. If it is enough, he will make all your problems go away.
Laurie Taylor-Mitchell
9:59 pm on Saturday, April 7, 2012
It is very interesting that Mr. Kamenetz has gone to these lengths to prevent six people from getting elected to the school board, particularly when he will have a major influence over the other five members that would be appointed. I'm sure that he could handle it. His underhanded way of trying to sabotage the democratic process, first by contributing so little to the public discussion with his opinion on the issue, and then trying to step in at the last minute with a letter to the Chair of Ways and Means two days ago, apparently asking her to kill the bill, is a huge disappointment.
Karl
1:21 am on Sunday, April 8, 2012
The letter to Chairwoman Shiela Hixon is dated February 16, yet the letter refers to Superintendent Dance's hiring, which didn't occur until March 27. Who's responsible for that 39 day disparity? Was the letter "adjusted" before it was distributed?
Randy Moroni
11:11 am on Sunday, April 8, 2012
Just curious - and know that I neither really care nor have a horse in the race, so I'm really just curious - why is it better to have half of the board appointed, versus all of the board elected? Absent other information, one would think that an elected board of education is in the best interests of local communities, as electing board members is really the only power resident have over the school board - I mean, why put nearly half of the control of the Board of Ed in the control of a politician?. I'm interested in hearing the other side of the argument. Thanks.
Paul Amirault
12:28 pm on Sunday, April 8, 2012
Delete
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.
Karl
6:43 pm on Sunday, April 8, 2012
Forgive me if I'm redundant. 100% elected is best. It is a consistent and thoughtful approach. However, those in power wanted 100% appointed. So there was a hybrid compromise. Because of limited time and lengthly legislative games we couldn't pursue 100% elected and a hybrid board at the same time. So we settled. A half loaf is better than none.
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.
Buck Harmon
8:35 pm on Sunday, April 8, 2012
Compromise over control...6 elected~ 5 appointed would be compromise...
Randy Moroni
10:21 pm on Sunday, April 8, 2012
Who would make the appointments for non-elected seats of a mixed board?
Bryan P. Sears
10:36 pm on Sunday, April 8, 2012
Randy: The governor would make the appointments.
Baltimore County Parent
11:10 pm on Sunday, April 8, 2012
Officially, the Governor makes the appointments. However, the way it works now is a state senator sends a list of recommendations to the County Executive and the County Executive chooses which recommendations to forward to the Governor. If the County Executive does not like any of the recommendations, he/she comes up with his/her own and forwards those to the Governor. This process was described in a Board of Ed meeting a few months ago by one of the current members. Anyone who thinks the current appointment process keeps politics out of the mix is mistaken.
Karl
11:13 pm on Sunday, April 8, 2012
In Baltimore County the Governor has run his short list of candidates by Executive Kaminetz for his acquiescence before the Governor made his appointments. He may be doing the same thing in the other three jurisdictions still saddled with appointed school boards. Is it the Governor's choice or a mutual decision?
Donna McDonough
11:59 pm on Sunday, April 8, 2012
I have to say that I am extremely disappointed in the county exec. The issue of elected vs. appointed is extremely complicated. Both have serious political implications, but as it is now, the board is accountable to no one. My whole family including husband and 2 children all attended and graduated from county schools, and I am currently a teacher. Besides a lack of accountability, there are few if any stakeholders involved in running the county schools. It has to be difficult for a group of people who aren't involved in the schools to make informed decisions about policies and procedures that affect thousands of students and teachers. A hybrid board could have teachers and parents through elections, in the mix. As it is, the likelihood of an ordinary person on the board is about impossible. And yes one could be out spent to get elected, but it's an unpaid position, so why do it. I may be naive, but anything has to be better than our current system. The lack of any connection to the system and the complete lack of transparency in this board is disturbing at least and our students and the county taxpayers deserve better.
Karl
2:00 am on Monday, April 9, 2012
I finally figured out why Kevin Kamenetz's letter to Shiela Hixon would be post dated.
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.
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Karl
2:04 am on Monday, April 9, 2012
I've been wondering why anyone would risk their credibility by clumsily post-dating a letter. The only motive I can imagine is that Kamenetz and/or Hixon wants to claim that he sent the letter last month, not just a few days ago. It appears they want to defend themselves from charges of legislative impropriety, because Kaminetz asked Hixon to hold up the bill AFTER Baltimore County Delegates and Senators had agreed to promote two bills, 100% elected and the other hybrid.
"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
Matthew
7:09 am on Monday, April 9, 2012
I'm very happy to see our county delegation standing up to Fred...I mean, Kevin Kamenetz.
Wildcat68
3:20 pm on Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Bring back Joe Bartenfelder. Just admit we made a mistake and let's get on with it. Kevin Kamenetz is the worst county executive I've ever seen. I like following politics and I know Jim Smith well. This would never have happened if Jim Smith was executive. Someone please run against Kevin Kamenetz. I will be your first volunteer.