Health & Fitness
Want to Have a Voice in Severna Park Schools? Come Support the CAC Wednesday Night
There's a movement afoot that is designed to get rid of the citizen's right to have a say in our public schools. Between administrators, the BOE and unions, the parents will no longer have a voice.
It's that time of year when candidates are being vetted by the School Board Nominating Committee and both names will be presented to the Governor for consideration. Yes, I said both names. For there were only two people who applied for the job. The current seat holder, Vic Bernson has not even applied for his job. Vic was the last bastion of a conservative voice on the board, representing those people who don't wish to cookie cut everything the school administration wants.
Since the process by which we nominate our board members was changed by the voters a few years back, the number of interested people has dwindled pathetically. They know the methodology is flawed and that aplicants need not apply if they are not the right political party or don't think like the rest of the board members.
So now that the Riva Road administration and the school board are all of like mind and there's no dissent, the opportunity exists for corruption. With this trend toward centralization of power, they are free to make decisions without dissent. And now that the administration and the school board are working together, the next group of people under attack are the parents who make up the Citizens Advisory Committee.
Find out what's happening in Severna Parkwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Kevin Maxwell has actually stated he would like to see the CAC go away....that it's no longer needed. Never mind that there is a legal mandate since the 1970's for Anne Arundel County to have a Citizen's Advisory Committee, since we do not have an elected school board.
Tomorrow night, Wednesday May 18, the CAC Chairman Joanna Conti, will address the school board and the Superintendent regarding the future of the CAC. Dr. Maxwell wants to rewrite the policy regarding the CAC that will affect individual school's ability to be represented. His proposal would have the Board of Education appoint the members of the CAC after those interested people have applied and been approved.
Find out what's happening in Severna Parkwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
This takes all the power away from the citizens and puts it in the hands of the "insiders" - who are already running the show. We've seen the impact this kind of vetting process has had on the interest in our School Board members.
Come to the Carole Parham Building on Riva Rd. in Annapolis at 7 p.m. Wednesday to stand and show your support for the CAC and your kids.