Message to School Board: Fix Issues or Resign

Howard County Education Association (HCEA) President Paul Lemle's comments to the Board of Education Thursday night were short and to the point.

In addressing a perceived lack of civility among board members, he encouraged them to seek help to fix their problems, and to consider resigning if they aren't willing to do so.

"We cannot and will not accept a board whose interpersonal disputes substitute for the official business of the Howard County Public Schools," he said at the Feb. 23 school board meeting. "You did not choose each other; you were chosen by the electorate to represent our interests and reflect our community."

Lemle was speaking on behalf of both the education association and the PTA Council of Howard County.

The two organizations are asking the school board to pursue some sort of outside assistance with its internal conflicts among members.

HCEA and the PTA Council are suggesting seeking the services of the Mediation and Conflict Resolution Center at Howard Coummunity College, the Maryland Association of Boards of Education or a private expert in parliamentary procedures to help run meetings with more civility.

Lemle is not pointing the finger at any individual member and instead said each one is responsibile for the board's behavior.

Chaun Hightower, president of the PTA Council, told the Howard County Times that the tone of the school board has to change if it is to achieve its mission.

Sandra French, chair of the Howard County Board of Education, told the Howard County Times that she could not speak for other members, but that she would be open to participating in "some sort of mediation."

Lemle's letter, in its entirety, to the Board of Education:

Good evening Madame Chair and members of the Board of Education.

My name is Paul Lemle, and I am serving as president of the Howard County Education Association. 

The Howard County Education Association (HCEA) respects the critically important role the Howard County Board of Education plays in the education of our children.

We cannot, and will not, accept a Board whose interpersonal disputes substitute for the official business of the Howard County Public Schools. You did not choose each other; you were chosen by the electorate to represent our interests and reflect our community.

While each of you come with unique perspectives and ideas, we expect you to handle disagreements in a businesslike, reasonable, and respectful manner.

To that end, we suggest the following, all of which can be done privately without violating the provisions of Maryland’s Open Meetings Act:

• Mediation and Conflict Resolution Center at Howard Community College. The
Center has offered its assistance at no cost other than your time. Your member,
Tomi Williams, is familiar with the program and has been trained as a mediator,
though he should not be called to serve in this capacity for the Board.

• Maryland Association of Boards of Education. At your request, MABE is well
suited to offer unbiased assistance in the areas of Board responsibility and
relations. This assistance is also without cost.

• Training or assistance at meetings from a parliamentarian. Misunderstandings on rules of order are frequently a source of unnecessary conflict on the Board.

Finally, it is our belief that each member of the Board of Education must take individual responsibility on this issue.

We make no distinction among you; each member is to blame for the behavior exhibited by the body. HCEA holds you in high regard as individuals, and we believe you hold yourselves in high regard, as you should.

We also believe, however, that you hold each other in contempt. This dichotomy is an inherent contradiction; the two states cannot coexist.

If you are unwilling to address personal animosity toward your fellow member, you must consider stepping down from this Board, in the name of the public service for which you were elected.

This statement is not intended to disparage you. It comes from our Association’s deep seated belief that public servants should meet a higher standard and bear greater responsibility than most citizens.

Thank you.