'How Can They Be Trusted?' Reader Asks of School Board

When the Board of Education forbade board member Brian Meshkin from in its Feb. 9 meeting over the phone and then reversed its decision, the discussion on the topic was not over.

While the school board was in session, citizens were questioning its leadership.

"If the other board members are incapable of having a run-of-the-mill conference call, something that is commonplace in modern business, how can they be trusted to make the right decisions regarding our children's education...?" asked Don March, on the Elkridge Patch Facebook page.

As the school board prepared to cast its votes near the end of its evening session on the controversial , tempers flared.

Meshkin accused some of his fellow board members of deliberately attempting to keep him from the meeting and suggested that the members may have changed their minds about his participation only after discovering that he was thinking of voting in favor of the proposal.

At the board's Jan. 26 meeting, a motion to approve the middle school proposal deadlocked in a 4-4 tie, causing the board to postpone action for two weeks with the hope that additional compromise could be worked out between school administrators and educators.

Meshkin at that time joined members Allen Dyer and Cindy Vaillancourt and student member Tomi Williams in opposing the motion to approve the proposal.

Meshkin voted for the amended proposal Thursday, which passed 5-3, but not before accusing some board members of trying to "disenfranchise" him and lying to him about electronic participation in meetings being "illegal."

On Monday, school board Chairwoman Sandra French said she was sorry about the way the board meeting ended.

"I really regret what happened," French said. "I wish we could have remained focused on the monumental task we had at hand."

The task at hand included nothing less than an overhaul of the county's middle school curriculum and daily schedule and the controversial elimination of separate reading classes.

Many comments posted on Columbia Patch over the weekend called out board members for a perceived lack of civility and likened the board meeting to an episode of reality TV.

"The behavior of some members of the BOE at last night's meeting was certainly not a lesson in civility," Ann Delacy, a school board candidate, wrote. "It was more like an episode out of the Jerry Springer show."

One Elkridge Patch reader said she was not surprised by the board's behavior.

"It seems par for the course with 4 of the members," wrote Jill Bateman on the Elkridge Patch Facebook page. "They are extremely exclusive, in my opinion. Those of us who have the interests of each child in our hearts are marginalized and treated like we are less than intelligent, caring, educated parents."

On Ellicott City Patch's Facebook page, a reader asked "who these board members are working for—our students or their own egos."

Another said, "Wow. There's something serious going on behind the scenes here."

Howard County Education Association President Paul Lemle said Monday he believes the board's lack of civility and infighting is impairing its ability to do its job.

"They're openly attacking each other publicly, privately, you name it," Lemle said. "Their personal animus is interfering with their judgment and their ability to govern."

Lemle said the problems can be addressed, but only if the board agrees to try to find solutions.

"I do think this is fixable—by elections and resignations and a very serious determination to follow rules, listen to disagreements and respect each other," Lemle said. "They need parliamentary help, they need conflict resolution help and they need legal help, and they have demonstrated their unwillingness to seek that kind of help."

Lemle said his organization is considering drafting a resolution asking the board to seek that assistance.

French said she "respectfully disagrees" with Lemle.

The board will pursue legal advice in regard to the specific issue of electronic participation in meetings, and the group will revise its procedure formally at either a board retreat or future meeting, she said.

In the meantime, she said it has been her goal since becoming chairwoman in December to run more efficient and civil meetings.

"Do I think we have improved? Yes," she said. "Do we have room for more improvement? Yes, we do."

Watch the board's Feb. 9 meeting here.

Ellicott City Patch editor Brandie Jefferson and Elkridge Patch editor Elizabeth Janney contributed to this article.