Anne Arundel, Wicomico School Board Selection Changes May Be Decided in November

In Anne Arundel, The Court of Appeals will hear a dispute over a law that changed the composition of the school board nominating commission, in Wicomico, voters will have a referendum. 

As reported by the Capital, The Court of Appeals will hear in November a dispute over a law that changed the composition of the government body that recommends Anne Arundel County Board of Education candidates to the Governor. For more information about the case, see the Capital Gazette‘s coverage.

Also this November, Wicomico County voters will be deciding whether to alter the selection of their school board through referendum. According to the Delmarva Now,

Choices for Wicomico voters are:

  • Retain the current system of seven members appointed by the governor
  • Choose a board with five members elected by district, with two additional members elected as at-large representatives
  • Choose to have five board members elected by district, and two additional members that are appointed by the Wicomico County Council.
  • The measure also would establish a school board nominating commission or task force or other potentially necessary infrastructure.

For background, see Wicomico County Considers an Elected School Board and Wicomico elected school board question going to referendum.

As described by the Department of Legislative Services, in 2014,

The composition of the local boards of education varies, with 5 to 14 members serving three- to five-year terms. Seventeen counties have elected school boards, three counties have school boards that are appointed or jointly appointed by the Governor, and four counties have combined elected and appointed boards, including several unique arrangements. Twenty-two boards have student members, but only seven boards allow student members to vote on matters excluding collective bargaining and other personnel and budgetary decisions.

Here is a chart from the 2014 Department of Legislative Services publication, Education in Maryland, showing the composition of local school boards:

For more information, see Education in Maryland from the Department of Legislative Services.