Residents at Odds in School Board Debate

On Oct. 11, the  on proposed legislation that could restructure the school board to become a mix of appointed and elected members. The issue has created debate over the county's changing demographics and whether those changes are reflected on the board.

The state bill, which is sponsored by Del. Frank Turner (D-Howard) and still in the process of being drafted, is of Howard County's state delegation.

Many in the community have expressed their opinions online:

• "Instead of focusing on the need of our students, naked self-interest has too often become the order of the day, advancing personal agendas over community needs." —TJ Mayotte in “" on Patch
• "Our HCPSS staff only needs a compass to point them in the right direction, which is the job of elected representatives." —Heather Cindric,
• “Has anyone considered that this commission may have been formed to assure candidates for superintendent that their primary responsibilities will not be ‘defendant’ and ‘chaperone’? … If it ends up making our board a better functioning system, the goal has been met.” —Blogger HoCo Rising in a post entitled “School Panel Proffer” 
• “Yes, if we would all just hug our 'Choose Civility' bumper stickers, then we could all join hands and sing kumbaya…Progressive leftists such as Ulman seek to expand the role and control of government in our lives.” –Bill Bissenas commenting on “School Panel Proffer”
• "There may be some adjustments to make in the process, but radical changes to our right to choose our school board members or who is serving at the electorate’s discretion on the board is not a path Howard County should take." –Howard Johnson in "" on Patch
• “The current system is fine. A few changes to open up the election process and to have the board engage in more outreach would be on target. No need pacify a few loud voices that want to force their social agenda on the larger community.” —JH
• One article about the Board of Education Study Commission's Sept. 12 public hearing got , a thread that user/instructor "Concern Parent" said (s)he used as fodder for a critical thinking course. 
• A survey on Elkridge Patch showed that the  would like school board members to earn their seats by vote (as of Sept. 27).

What do you think about the proposal to adopt a school board modeled on a mixture of elected and appointed members? Take the .