INSIDE THIS ISSUE DECEMBER/JANUARY 2019 A free publication serving Owings Mills, Pikesville, Randallstown, Reisterstown, Windsor Mill, Woodlawn and Catonsville 6 Schools’ star ratings 12-13 County transition continues PHOTO: KENNY BROWN PHOTO: Members of the Baltimore County Board of Education were among the county elected officials sworn in at the inauguration ceremony held Dec. 3 at Towson University’s SECU Arena. The board held its first meeting the following week and unanimously selected Kathleen Causey as chair and Julie Henn as vice chair, two incumbents who have been vocal in their opposition to make Verletta White the permanent superintendent of Baltimore County Public Schools. 14 Sport team successes How Will New School Board Tackle Superindent Search, Other Issues? Search for superintendent and school construction are among the top issues the Board of Education must address with eight out of 12 new members. PART I members from nine names submitted superintendent that led the system Now that a new Board of by the Baltimore County School in an interim capacity for more than Education has been sworn in and is Board Nominating Commission. 18 months because the state twice under leadership that has not been Aaron Plymouth, a community leader blocked the board’s majority decision supportive of appointing Verletta in the northwest area, chaired the to make her permanent. 17 White to a permanent superintendent commission. Now, with a newly elected Applying for college role, inquiring minds what to know Together, with the student school board chair and vice chair, what impact the board’s actions will representative, the hybrid school a national search for a permanent have on the direction of Maryland’s board will work to set policy, approve superintendent will take center stage. third largest school system. a more than $1.6 billion-dollar budget Discussions about the Students As a result of legislation that took and manage the 174 school facilities in and Teachers Accessing Tomorrow Be among the first to effect last year, voters elected seven a system of 113,000 students—roughly (STAT) technology program have be in the know. Sign up board members to represent each two-thirds of them non-White and 40 resurfaced, and complaints about for news updates from of the councilmanic districts, and percent African American—27,000 overcrowded schools, downe, Gov. Larry Hogan appointed four teachers and staff, and a Dulaney and Towson High are back nwvoicenews.com. continued on page 10 Page 2 Northwest Voice December/January 2019 From the Publisher, Kenneth Brown The Purpose and Politics of the Baltimore County Board of Education I was fortunate enough to attend Baltimore leading the new board. respectfully call out a troubling issue. At their County’s inaugural ceremonies to observe some of In her remarks, Causey welcomed the new meetings, the board will randomly select up to 10 our elected officials sworn into office. Among these board members and pledged to keep students and people to speak for three minutes on an issue. If you officials were members of the Board of Education. teachers first. She wasted no time appointing Henn sign up to speak before the board, your remarks That was unique for two reasons: The school board to chair the board’s ad hoc search committee for a should be factual, succinct and well researched. now includes members elected by you, the citizens superintendent. You should have a request or call to action for the of Baltimore County, and school board members So why did Causey name Henn chair of the ad board. (Don’t just complain, offer a reasonable were, for the first time in history, sworn in on the hoc search committee? It’s like a prosecutor taking recommendation.) continued on page 20 big stage. Originally, they were to be sworn in before over the role of judge in the same case. If this is to the start of their first meeting on Dec. 4 in the be a fair board with a fresh start, someone who has Greenwood building. I’m glad they got their due. not taken a stand in the superintendent battle would Now, it’s time to get down to business. Like a have been a sensible choice to lead the ad hoc search blended family, the board will go through growing committee. With so many new members, it should pains getting to know each other, understand not have been difficult. complex issues and make decisions that matter. We have to understand what it means to us. The It is most essential that the school board sets board is going to determine decisions and programs politics aside and works with each other, the that will affect our leadership, parents, schools superintendent and their communities to improve and our students. We have to stay on top of their school achievement. One of the most important debates, decisions and actions. The Northwest Voice is a privately-owned tasks ahead is to appoint the right superintendent to Education is the most important investment community newspaper founded in 2005 to continue the important work that needs to be done. society makes to a community. It’s the surest path inform, entertain and inspire, as well as share Before each meeting, the board holds a closed to the American dream for people of every race news of interest to the northwest Baltimore session to discuss confidential matters, such as and background. Successful graduates contribute County communities of Owings Mills, Pikesville, personnel and legal issues. It was apparent that to society. Unsuccessful students carry a cost to Randallstown, Reisterstown, Woodlawn, Windsor before the first meeting on Dec. 11, the board took society. Mill and Catonsville. the opportunity to discuss and select who would be If you look at the state’s new star ratings for the chair and vice chair. And guess who they are? schools, most of Baltimore County’s high schools, Readers are welcome to comment and respond to Kathleen Causey and Julie Henn, two holdovers middle and elementary schools earned three articles. We reserve the right to edit for clarity and who were first appointed by Governor Hogan then and four stars. Five schools in the northwest and length, as well as to publish them online, in print or re-elected in November. southwest received just two stars (See page 7 for not at all. Anonymous letters or those that cannot The vote to select Causey and Henn as chair and the list.) These are our schools and our children. be verified will not be published. The opinions of vice chair was not unanimous behind closed doors. Think about how we can work with the Northwest readers and guest columnists are not necessarily But when board members took the official vote in Education Advisory Council, chaired by Clifford the opinions of the Northwest Voice. Unsolicited the public session, they projected a unanimous Collins, and Southwest Education Advisory Council material will not be returned. and united front. So much for transparency! This to be informed and help our schools. We know move was about looking unified to the public, and I that school board members should represent all Publisher: Kenneth C. Brown, encourage our leaders to make sure the community children, and realistically and practically that each [email protected] is clear on where they stand with the issues and comes with their own priorities and their own Writer-Editor: Janet Anderson, their comments and votes. biases. They are no different than most of us. [email protected] These two, as we say, have history. They were But if we allow politics to consume our board— Creative Director: Lori Kirkpatrick among a handful who were adamant that the as it did when the state withheld funding from the Photographer/Circulation Manager: previous board should conduct a national search county for air conditioning when the Governor and George E. White for a superintendent (they lost that motion); that our former county executive, Kevin Kamenetz, got Advertising: Kenneth C. Brown, Verletta White should not be the permanent into a war of words, and when state stepped in to superintendent (both voted against her selection, block the school board choice as superintendent— [email protected] twice); and that the state was within its power to we will pay the price. Even before that, when P.O. Box 47266 overturn the school board’s 8-4 decision to name former superintendent Dallas Dance began making Windsor Mill, MD 21244 White the superintendent. decisions that parents did not like about the Phone: 410-508-1424 After Causey took her seat as chair, with Henn Hereford Zone, the attacks began. Web: nwvoicenews.com beside her, the optics were unsettling. To their If education is as important to you as you say Email: [email protected] credit, each appear to be well prepared at meetings it is, I urge you to put in the time to pledge your and have asked staff and presenters good questions. support, voice your concerns and offer solutions. If No reprints or copies without express permission. However, now we have two of the most vocal and you don’t care about your community why should © 2017 Northwest Voice critical people against the White administration anyone else? There may be times when you must STATE-OF-THE-ART DENTAL OFFICE IN WINDSOR MILL Page 4 Northwest Voice December/January 2019 Giant to Open The Maryland Grocery at Mill Station General Assembly After closing its supermarket at the and bargain retailers, and exciting Convenes Jan. 9, in Annapolis. Milford Mill location earlier this entertainment and dining options,” year, Giant Food will occupy 66,450 said David Jamieson, Kimco’s chief square feet at Mill Station, the new operating officer.