Melissa Schober

I'm sorry and wishing you the best, easiest, least side effects treatment and recovery.

I personally would not want board appointments contingent on the views of some senators who believe my trans kid should have to use a particular restroom. Other parents I talked to are worried more conservative members will try to hold up appointments over teaching AP African American Lit or DEIA

We have to meet state standards for graduation. Our plan to raze and rebuild schools under 21st Century was joint city-state. We are subject to the IAC for school construction. We have oversight by the state board of education and MSDE.

Why is the Senate more formally necessary than the community?

Already Baltimore has a CEO and a unique Board structure because of state involvement. To free ~$250m under the Bradford settlement the city had to agree to joint mayoral/gubernatorial appointments and had to agree to particular Board expertise.

My question to you: what does removing the community panel and replacing it with the entire Maryland Senate gain?

How is this more state oversight and how would that oversight be an improvement?

Historically, our board appointments were joint mayoral gubernatorial. In 2017, the bill to alter the process to mayoral appointment was enacted. A few years before that then Del Glenn's bill to add two elected members also passed.

I think it is wildly inappropriate to make confirmation of board members contingent on a vote of the Maryland Senate.

I do not support a process that removes the Community Panel from the appointments process and replaced them with senators who do not reside in Baltimore

About half of jurisdictions get 50% or more of their edu funding from the state. They are all wholly or majority elected school boards.

The senator seems to believe that Baltimore needs particular paternalistic oversight from Annapolis.

Why does he believe Baltimore residents are less worthy?

I don't know why @antoniohayes40.bsky.social introduced this bill beyond what hebsaid to the Banner

His argument - the city gets state money so the Senate deserves a greater role than families - doesn't hold up.

Four jurisdictions get a higher state share than Baltimore. Each elects their Board.

A single legislator wants to substantially and permanently deprive the community of a formal role in school governance.

Instead of residents and families, power would be held by the Maryland Senate.

Legislators from other jurisdictions would replace the voices of Baltimore families.

Just nine years ago @antoniohayes40.bsky.social sponsored the very legislation that created the Community Panel.

His current bill, SB 554, would eliminate it without explanation and without consulted parents, community, unions, young people, school admin or any other group names in the bill.

Letter: Cutting community out of schools is wrong We are current and former Baltimore City Schools families, teachers, school leaders, and community advocates who believe that the success of young people and schools requires more involvement in the classroom and at the ballot box, not less. Baltimore City stands alone in Maryland. We are the only jurisdiction with a supermajority appointed school board and the only one where members are expected to serve in a volunteer capacity. We are deeply concerned that Senator Antonio Hayes and the Baltimore City Senate Delegation voted to advance SB554 – a bill that would eliminate parent, student, union, elected, and disabled voices from the appointments process – without any notice. Indeed, the website and social media pages for the Senate Delegation have not been updated in over a year. As Senator Hayes noted, Baltimore City does rely on the state for the majority of its funding. But that is hardly unique. Four jurisdictions receive more

As Senator Hayes noted, Baltimore City does rely on the state for the majority of its funding. But that is hardly unique. Four jurisdictions receive more than Baltimore City and 13 others receive more than half their funding from the state. Under Kirwan, school funding is tied to student needs, not the governance whims of adults. Senator Hayes should know - he voted for the bill to change the funding formula. Despite Senator Hayes' apparent knowledge of the “points of strength” within our city and his pledge to “leverage our strengths to support the next generation,” on his campaign website, Hayes’ bill cuts out the anchor institutions and community organizations he previously lauded. Just nine years ago, then Delegate Hayes sponsored HB562, which removed the Governor from the school board appointments process and created the Community Panel to review nominees and make recommendations to the Mayor. Baltimore City families do not need the paternalism of Maryland Senate approval to govern our schools. Instead we deserve what every other community in the state already enjoys: direct democratic engagement. We regret that Senator Hayes and his colleagues do not agree.

Submitted the following to @thebaltimorebanner.com re SB 554 but no response from paper.

Signed by current/former PCAB, current legislative chair of ASCBC, current/former teachers, and a BTU field organizer.

Cc @zekecohen.bsky.social @mayorbmscott.bsky.social @antoniohayes40.bsky.social

The hearing on the bill is Wednesday before the Senate EEE and no electeds, including my own, have said if they'll support or oppose despite repeated calls and emails.

Emailed the city delegation and city council. Embry, Stinnett, Washington replied in some form.

Only Ramos and Parker on the City Council replied. But not Bullock, who chairs the Education Committee. Not the Mayor.

Will you oppose @zekecohen.bsky.social @mayorbmscott.bsky.social?

This picture should appear next to the definition of schadenfreude.

Budget hearing yesterday and today. I am exhausted.

Sorry for your loss.

Have you seen this petition yet? Cutting community out of Baltimore City Schools is wrong

Missed the sign on to oppose a bill that would cut community voices off from school governance?

Not too late to sign here ahead of March 11 hearing before the Maryland Senate Education, Energy, and Environment Committee c.org/YWPbb2Nbhz

Please share.

Hamantaschen and... Hurricanes?

Big Freedia, Queen of Bounce, as Esther?

Chloe Zhao adapts The Round House by Louise Erdrich. I would buy out The Charles out of sheer joy.

Cc @onetjesse.bsky.social @elipousson.bsky.social @bmorebaker42.bsky.social @disnazzio.bsky.social @mskerrygraham.bsky.social @carolsott.bsky.social @adversary.bsky.social @baltimoredsa.org

Have you seen this petition yet? Cutting community out of Baltimore City Schools is wrong

Missed the sign on to oppose a bill that would cut community voices off from school governance?

Not too late to sign here ahead of March 11 hearing before the Maryland Senate Education, Energy, and Environment Committee c.org/YWPbb2Nbhz

Please share.

Me, all day:

Yay! As someone who used to do the DC commute I know what a huge deal this is. Gently, try to rest. The temptation to fill all that time with activities is large.

Baltimore City folks, writing a letter on the shenanigans with SB554. If you want to sign on, pls email me Melissa dot Schober at Gmail.

@antoniohayes40.bsky.social says City Schools needs to have board members overseen by the General Assembly because most of our funds come from the State.

4 other jurisdictions get more from the state than Baltimore City. 14 of the 24 jurisdictions get more than half their funding from Annapolis.

Note: that chart is older, before Baltimore started electing members. Even so, we now have two electeds and the rest remain appointed making Baltimore City the ONLY jurisdiction in the entire state to have a supermajority appointed school board.

Four other jurisdictions get *more* funding from the state than Baltimore City Schools: Caroline, Somerset, Wicomico, and Allegany @antoniohayes

Each of those jurisdictions has a fully elected Board.

Why does Baltimore City deserve less?

ALT:

@antoniohayes40.bsky.social says the Gen Assembly should have more control over City schools because most funding comes from the state.

The funding was approved under Kirwan, a bill *you* voted for. Money follows need: poverty, disability, English learners.

Paternalism for the poor, I guess.

The Complainant alleges that the Task Force to Study Compensation and Student Members of the Baltimore City Board of School Commissioners (the “Task Force”) violated the Open Meetings Act (the “Act”) by failing to make an agenda available before a meeting. The Task Force acknowledges the violation. “[B]efore meeting in an open session,” the Act requires “a public body [to] make available to the public an agenda: (i) containing known items of business or topics to be discussed at the portion of the meeting that is open; and (ii) indicating whether the public body expects to close any portion of the meeting . . . .” § 3-302.1(a)(1).1 As for when the body must make the agenda available, the Act provides that, “[i]f [the] agenda has been determined at the time the public body gives notice of the meeting . . . , the public body shall make available the agenda at the same time the public body gives notice . . . .” Id.(a)(2). If, however, the “agenda has not been determined at the time the public body gives notice of the meeting, the public body shall make available the agenda as soon as practicable after the agenda has been determined but no later than 24 hours before the meeting.” Id.(a)(3). The Complainant and the Task Force agree that, before a January 27, 2024, meeting, the Task Force failed to make available to the public an agenda at least 24 hours before the meeting. To avoid such a problem in the future, the Task Force pledges to set an agenda, and make it available, by the time it provides notice of a meeting, with the understanding that the agenda may later change. See § 3-302.1(e) (“Nothing in this section may be construed to prevent a public body from altering the agenda of a meeting after the agenda has been made available to the public.”).4 This Opinion is subject to the acknowledgement and announcement requirements of § 3-211.

Among many, many others.

The Community Panel is transparent, @antoniohayes40.bsky.social because I filed a complaint and the Open Meetings Compliance Board ruled in my favor. 12 OMCB 98

And the panel to study compensation did not operate in the open either.