Capital Article

Huang, Cindy, Students elect Glen Burnie junior as nominee for school board, Capital, April 15, 2016.

Snider Comments

Snider

I’m glad that Cindy decided to report on how the three students were nominated to compete at today’s election. But at today’s election I also encouraged her to report on the five individuals who served on the nominating commission (“interview panel”) to select the three nominees to the Board of Education. Unlike the members of the adult nominating commission, the names of these individuals have never been released publicly. And despite numerous requests, both CRASC and AACPS officials have so far adamantly refused to release this information. It’s time that this information was released publicly, just as the public is told who serves on the nominating commission for the adult members of the Board of Education.

AbbyGrace

@Snider I surmise that because they are minors the AACPS refuses to release their names or anything else about them? Baloney.

Snider

@AbbyGrace Yes, that was the initial argument used by AACPS staff. But I have now replied on numerous occasions: Okay, so if you won’t release the names of the students on the interview panel, then release the names of the adults. In response to this argument, they have still refused to provide the information. At the SMOB election on Friday, I asked the CRASC President, CRASC 2nd VP, CRASC Secretary, and both the Capital’s student handler and my student handler for the names of the interview panelists, and they all refused to provide it. The AACPS staff were adamant that they not provide it, and I feel sorry for the kids that they are being forced to hide this basic electoral information from the public.  My request for the information was also discussed at the CRASC Executive Staff meeting on April 13.  Eventually, AACPS/CRASC will be forced to make the names public (their position cannot withstand public scrutiny), so I believe their political strategy is to withhold the names as long as possible, preferably until the public has already lost interest in the issue or, at the very least, beyond my op-ed deadline (which passed last Friday).