The Pri nce Ge orge’s Pos t A C ommuniTy newsPAPer for PrinCe GeorGe ’s CounTy Since 1932 Vol. 80, No. 6 February 9 — February 15, 2012 Prince George’s County, Maryland Newspaper of Record Phone: 301-627-0900 25 cents Obama's Education Reforms Leave Md. Education Leaders Encouraged, Wary President Called for Increasing Grants, Reducing Proposed Student Loan Rates, Doubling the Number of Work-study Jobs By Tim EBnER classes that need support. Capital News Service middle-class Americans are also looking for ways to sup - WASHinGTOn - maryland port their sons and daughters," education leaders mostly said Freeman A. Hrabowski, praised President Obama's president of the University of comments on education in his maryland, Baltimore County. State of the Union speech, but Hrabowski also said he they worried about his mandate agrees with Obama's education to keep higher education costs priorities. affordable or face funding "i was encouraged by his repercussions. emphasis on affordable higher "This was in many ways a education. He was very clear PHOTO CREDIT: PAUL S. HENDERSON (1899-1966) PAUL HENDERSON PHOTOGRAPH COLLECTION MARYLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY Thurgood Marshall, who became the first black U.S. Supreme Court Justice, receiving National Association for the piece of the speech that was that our future depends on edu - Advancement of Colored People Life Membership Plaque from Carl Murphy, Editor of the Baltimore Afro-American news - strong on the rhetoric and weak cation," Hrabowski said. paper in 1956. This and other historic Henderson photos will be exhibited at the Maryland Historical Society on February 23. on the how-to," said Don Kettl, mickey Burnim, president of dean of the University of Bowie State University, said maryland's School of Public that the reforms would reduce Civil Rights History Photos & Panel includes Reads Policy and nonresident senior the number of students drop - fellow at the Brookings ping out of school to raise Drug Store, B lack Panthers and "The Wire" Feb 23 institution. money for tuition costs. in the address, Obama called Yet it was the president's mcKeldin-Jackson Oral History Project viving members of the widely publicized sit- for increasing grants, reducing lack of specifics in the address By PRESS OFFICER (1969-1977) in a Black History month event in at Read’s Drugstore in Baltimore, will proposed student loan rates and that left maryland education Maryland Historical Society on February 23 from 6-8pm. There will be a reveal the impromptu nature of the 1955 doubling the number of work- policy experts wary. anel discussion and accompanying exhibi - rotest. The event is free and open to the pub - study jobs to keep higher edu - "So let me put colleges and Baltimore, maryland (January 12, 2012) – p p cation accessible to the middle universities on notice: if you The maryland Historical Society (mdHS) tion. The panelists will discuss their personal lic. Parking is free. For further information: class. will explore the Paul Henderson Photograph affiliations and expertise with the civil rights "The president understands Collection (ca. 1930-1960) and the struggle in maryland in relation to the collec - tions. Dr. Helena Hicks, one of only three sur - See HISTORY, Page A 7 it's not just the lower-income See EDUCATION, Page A 5 New Method State of the State a Prelude to Maryland Schools Test of Tracking Tough Legislative Session Ahead Evaluating Teachers on Student Debt By DAVE nYCZEPiR Student Performance Capital News Service Unveiled ties - supporters said feedback AnnAPOLiS - Gov. By Tim EBnER from teachers has been posi - Facelift Designed to martin O'malley made his Capital News Service tive. Help Students case for job creation and But teachers' unions said same-sex marriage COLLEGE PARK - close monitoring of the new Determine Eligibility Wednesday, promoting his maryland schools are moving program will be needed as it is for Loan Forgiveness most ambitious agenda to closer to overhauling the way expanded to other counties at date in his sixth State of the that they evaluate teachers, the end of this school year. By ROB BOCK State address. putting more emphasis on stu - While each district can Capital News Service O'malley stressed his dent performance and test develop its own evaluation administration's goal of scores. model, it must comply with a WASHinGTOn - An easier, growing the middle class and The new evaluation system state law passed in 2010 that more intuitive method of track - family-owned businesses, is currently being tested in sparked a complete overhaul ing student debt information labeling this year's budget a Baltimore City and six coun - of the system. was unveiled in a roundtable jobs budget. PHOTO BY JAY BAKER AT ANNAPOLIS, MD. ties, and will be expanded to Teacher evaluations are discussion at the University of To balance that budget, Governor Martin O’Malley delivers the State of the State the rest of the state in June. used to determine pay increas - maryland, Baltimore campus the governor has proposed Address. Supporters of the new sys - es and promotions. Tuesday, giving a much-needed $800 million in spending cuts tem, including Gov. martin Right now, the state rates facelift to a muddled system and reductions this year, but year leaves fewer and fewer for those he's dubbed O'malley, said the change was teachers on the basis of princi - designed to help students deter - his new job creation initia - responsible options for bud - maryland's higher earners. necessary because maryland pal observation, professional mine eligibility for loan forgive - tives would require new taxes get cutting." in addition, O'malley did not have a statewide experience and the quality of ness. on everything from income to O'malley got a lukewarm believes he can double the teacher evaluation system that their course material. Rep. John Sarbanes, D- gas. Cuts alone won't do it reception from Republican flush tax yield by switching took student performance into As the changes take effect, Towson, and U.S. this year, he said. critics. most households over to a account. continual review will be need - Undersecretary of Education "in fact, to achieve bal - "it shows he is totally out consumption-based fee struc - Under the new system, half ed to ensure that each district martha Kanter unveiled the ance over the last three years, of touch with maryland fam - ture. of a teacher's evaluation score develops a sound evaluation "Student Debt Repayment we have relied almost entire - ilies," Sen. David Brinkley, "Along these lines, my will depend on student perfor - model, said Betty Weller, vice Assistant," a new way for those ly on cuts," O'malley said. R-Frederick, said. "it was not Republican predecessor mance and the other half on president of the maryland working in public service to "But with 84 cents of every so much a state of the state as called the 'flush tax' one of professional development. State Education Association, determine if they are eligible for dollar we invest allocated to a state of his policies and his his most important accom - in the seven districts where the state's largest teachers amnesty on some part of their public education, public safe - politics." plishments while in office." the new evaluation models are union. student loans. ty, and public health - and One of O'malley's pro - O'malley said. "By allowing being tested - Baltimore city with one of the smallest state posed increases would cap and Baltimore, Charles, Kent, government workforces in income tax deductions and Prince George's, Queen See DEBT, Page A 3 the country - every passing phase out certain exemptions See STATE, Page A 5 Anne's and St. mary's coun - See TEACHER, Page A 3 INSIDE A Go for Off Shore Wind Farms Gov. Christie Distorts Histor y First Time Homebuyers Movie Review Earth Talk A federal environmental assessment, In recent weeks, outrageous state - To spur home sales and help homebuy - Haywire You know, when someone Dear EarthTalk: conducted by the Bureau of Ocean ments targeted at minority citizens ers with down payments and closing decided that mixed martial arts cham - Energy management, has deemed have come out of the mouths of a costs, SECU is participating in two pro - pion Gina Carano should be a movie I was horrified to read recently that there would be no significant envi - number of conservative politicians grams offered by the Federal Home star, it would have been easy to show - our oceans are actually becoming ronmental impact to moving ahead – everything from the assertion that Loan Bank (FHLB). case her fighting skills in some brain - acidic, that the continued burning FHLB’s First-Time Homebuyer Program with wind energy projects in the African Americans prefer food less, slapped-together action flick. of fossil fuels is changing the chem - provides low and moderate income Atlantic Ocean off the coast of stamps over pay checks to the claim homebuyers with up to $7,500 in match - Why waste a good screenplay and a istry of our seas. What’s going on? maryland, Virginia, Delaware and that “black people” are using “other ing funds for down payment and closing good director on someone who might -- Kim Richardson, new Jersey. people’s money” to get ahead. cost assistance. Business, Page not be a good actor? San Diego, CA Community , Page A3 Opinion, Page A4 A5 Out on the Town, Page A6 Features, Page A7 A2 — February 9 — February 15, 2012 — The Prince George’s Post Towns and N eighborS In and Around Morningside-Skyline Neighborhood Events by mary mcHale 301 735 3451 Dr. Mudd’s last grandchild Volunteer of the Year award. 3611 Stewart Road, Forestville.