Comment on "Our say: Printed tax sale notices are irreplaceable"
Comment on editorial published in the Capital
Comment on Capital’s lobbying to preserve its large and harmful government subsidies
Comment published in the Capital
Democrats ask state to investigate School Board Nominating Commission
Cited in news article published in the Capital
Maryland Senate Testimony on Retention of Public Meeting Records by SBNC
Public testimony published by Maryland General Assembly
Greatest villain in the SBNC scandal? Surprisingly, the Capital
Published in eLighthouse.info
Comment on the Capital's reasoning about flawed procedural and electoral outcomes
Comment published in the Capital
The Capital’s Orwellian rewriting of "public documents"
With AACPS, the public record keeping is Orwellian in that "public documents" that later prove embarrassing are modified without any public notice of the change; that is, history is rewritten depending on the PR needs of the moment. Somehow, I'm surprised when the...
Comment on School board nominating panel doesn't do background checks
Comment published in the Capital
Did the Anne Arundel School Board Nominating Commission violate election law?
Op-ed published in the local opinions section of the Washington Post
AACPS's perfect record in denying the public timely access to politically sensitive employee compensation data
Public Information Act correspondence from Dec. 10, 2015 to Jan. 8, 2016 seeking FY2015 AACPS employee salary data; published in eLighthouse.info
Comment on the Capital's use of loaded language to describe SBNC commissioners
Comment published in the Capital
Comments responding to queries from an AACPS school board member and a former Maryland PTA president regarding SBNC procedures
Reply comments responding to comments published in the Capital
J.H. Snider's public testimony proposing SBNC procedural reforms
Public testimony published in eLighthouse.info
Comment in Capital article on new Maryland General Assembly open meeting legislation
Comment published in the Capital
Comment on Capital Article: "Public weighs in on proposed school budget"
Comment published in the Capital
Rauner's best route may be constitutional convention
Op-ed published in the State Journal-Register
Comment on Capital article on proposed reforms to the School Board Nominating Commmission
Comment on news article published in the Capital
Comment on Capital article on due process for AACPS student grievances
Comment published in the Capital
Comment on the Community College's public notice and PR regarding destruction of its tennis courts widely used by the community
Comment published in the Capital
Deterring government officials’ misuse of private email
Op-ed published in The Hill
Board, independent of Legislature, key to constitution fix
Op-ed published in the Times Union (NY)
Comment on Capital op-ed that uses the term "political" eight times to characterize the SBNC
Comment on op-ed published in the Capital
Redistricting jury should pick Florida's new plan
Op-ed published in the Sun Sentinel (FL)
Comment on Capital news article on CRASC leadership
Comment on news article published in the Capital
Public Information Act correspondence with the SBNC reveals a culture of secret law, secret electioneering, and stonewalling
Public Information Act correspondence with the SBNC from June 5, 2015 to November 12, 2015 published in eLighthouse.info
Hell Hath No Fury like the AACPS Response to a Request for Public but Sensitive AACPS Employee Compensation Data
Public Information Act correspondence from Aug. 7, 2015 to Oct. 28, 2015 seeking AACPS employee salary data; published in eLighthouse.info
Comment on Capital op-ed "Politicized unions pull the strings"
Comment published in the Capital
Comments on Coverage of the Center for Public Integrity Report Ranking Maryland's Public Access to Information as an "F"
Reader comments published in the Baltimore Sun and Washington Post
Comments on Capital's Coverage of Schuh's Emails to Student Advocates
Comment published in the Capital
Comment on the Frederick News-Post Editorial on Maryland's Redistricting Reform Commission
Reader comment in Frederick News-Post
Comments on the Capital's Posting of AACPS Salary Data Above $75K
Comments published in the Capital
Capital Coverage and AACPS Disclosure of the New Teachers Union Contract
Comments published in the Capital
Comments on the Capital's Editorial Concerning the County's Ethics Commission
Comment published in the Capital
Testimony calling for using a "redistricting jury" before Maryland’s Redistricting Reform Commission
Testimony before Maryland’s Redistricting Reform Commission, Laurel, Maryland, October 13, 2015, published in eLighthouse.info
Comments on the Capital's recent coverage of the School Board Nominating Commission
Comments published in the Capital
J.H. Snider’s presentation before the Joint Committee on Legislative Information Technology and Open Government, Amoss Hearing Room, Miller Senate Building, Annapolis, MD
Published in eLighthouse.info
Convention a basic N.Y. right
Op-ed published in the Albany Times-Union
Why an Anne Arundel public body can violate Maryland’s Public Information Act with impunity (plus some soon-to-be-front-page-news in the Capital — only the Capital doesn’t know it yet)
Published as commentary in eLighthouse.info
Shifting Tides: How Anne Arundel's shoreline became off-limits
Cite published in the Capital
The Lame Duck Anne Arundel School Board Nominating Commission’s Power Grab; Analysis of the Election Results; and The End of the "Jones" Commission?
Testimony Before the SBNC on June 24, 2015 published in eLighthouse.info
Preparing for New York’s Next Constitutional Convention Referendum
Op-ed published in the Gotham Gazette (NY)
The position of chief “PR officer” should be cut from the AACPS budget
Testimony before the Anne Arundel County Council on May 18, 2015 published in eLighthouse.info
eLighthouse Report: AACPS Thumbs Its Nose on Maryland’s Vague and Meaningless Ban on Using Government Resources for Political Activity
Special report published in eLighthouse.info
AACPS Superintendent Arlotto’s Speech to the PR Association of America
This satire compares AACPS’s and Hillary Clinton’s email retention policies (Hint: Clinton’s compares favorably.); published in eLighthouse.info
The Clinton email scandal: a double standard?
Op-ed published in the Baltimore Sun
Stop the Anne Arundel Nominating Commission's Undemocratic Practices
Commentary published in the Anne Arundel Patch
Update on the Anne Arundel County School Board Nominating Commission
Article published in eLighthouse.info
Board’s student member lacks independence
Op-ed published in the Capital
Record number of school board applicants compete for Anne Arundel County seats
Op-ed published in Watchdog Wire
Gov.-elect Hogan faces K-12 test
Op-ed published in the Capital
School governance can be fixed
Op-ed published in the Capital
Constitutional Convention records speak for themselves
Op-ed published in the Warwick Beacon
Constitutional Convention and the out-of-state-money bogeyman
Op-ed published in the Providence Journal
Constitutional Convention purpose? Democratic reform
Op-ed published in the Valley Breeze
1787: Vote No Against Convening a National Constitutional Convention
Op-ed (a satire on the current debate on whether to call a state concon) published in the GoLocalProv
R.I. handbook shows blatant bias
In the Internet Age, Rhode Island style voter information handbooks have become a First Amendment archaism, in the way the government-imposed Fairness Doctrine became after Americans got access to dozens of TV channels. It has become absurd to let a single politician...
R.I.’s poor preparation for convention
In another case of the fox guarding the chicken coop, Rhode Island’s bipartisan preparatory commission has been a failed experiment in explaining to the public the advantages of constitutional convention over legislature-initiated democratic reform. Rhode Island’s...
Will Incoming Anne Arundel County Schools Superintendent Arlotto Be A Maxwell Clone?
Op-ed published in Watchdog Wire
Is anything less than true e-voting adequate for today’s post office challenged youth?
Maryland’s absentee voting technology for the June 24 statewide primary assumes U.S. Post Office skills and resources that the newest generation of young voters not only lack but are not anxious to acquire. My son, a rising sophomore in college who is attending an...
Maryland Transportation Authority Gets An "F" For Customer Service
MDTA service compares to failed Maryland health exchange. One day in late May 2014, my wife drove back to Maryland from Connecticut through seven toll booths that use E-ZPass: two in New York, three in New Jersey, one in Delaware, and two in Maryland. Unbeknownst to...
‘Dark money’ drives R.I. constitutional convention votes
Rhode Island’s campaign finance disclosure law explains its purpose in high-minded democratic terms: “the source of political spending is vital information for voters,” as it “allows voters to properly weigh speakers and messages based on their affiliations.” That’s a...
Big Surprise at Meeting to Select New AACPS School Board Members
To select a new school board member by July 1, the Governor will have to claim emergency appointment powers despite no emergency. There is usually nothing more predictable and unexciting in Anne Arundel County politics than the appointment of school board members. I...
Is the AACPS School Board Embarrassed by the Incoming Superintendent’s Compensation?
More than six weeks after the Board offered George Arlotto the superintendent position, it still has not disclosed his compensation. More than six weeks ago the Anne Arundel County Public School System (AACPS) School Board offered George Arlotto the position of...
On Landmark Media (the Capital’s Owner) Cashing Out
Since January 2008, Landmark Media has been trying to cash out its investment in the Capital-Gazette, but could not get the price it wanted. Finally, on May 1, 2014, more than 2,000 days since it was placed on the market, Landmark Media announced the sale of the...
Expected $2.4 Million ‘Signing Bonus’ For Chosen AACPS Superintendent
Op-ed published in Eye on Annapolis
R.I. needs a constitutional convention
This November, Rhode Islanders will vote on whether to convene a constitutional convention. Throughout most of American history, state constitutional conventions were a regular occurrence. But not one has been approved during the last 30 years, the longest stretch in...
How the Next Superintendent Will Really Be Selected
We have recently observed Russia’s “democratic” takeover of Crimea. As a democratically elected Crimean parliament holds a democratic referendum to join Russia, the stage-managing has been superb. However, AACPS has demonstrated its ability to stage manage even more...
Our Highly Politicized Board of Education
Members of our Board of Education love to pretend that they are above politics; that such behavior is reserved for County Council, General Assembly, and other public officials. As for themselves, they claim all they care about is what’s best for Anne Arundel County...
Court Likely to Let Leopold Run for Public Office
In January 2013, a local court convicted former County Executive John Leopold on two counts of misconduct in office. In addition to requiring him to serve jail time, it banned him from running for elective office for five years. In September, Leopold appealed the...
Two General Assembly Bills to Democratize the AACPS School Board
Last Wednesday the Maryland Senate’s Education, Health and Environmental Affairs Committee held hearings on two bills to create a more democratically accountable system for selecting school board members in Anne Arundel County. One bill focused on fixing the...
Explaining the Capital’s Inane Political Reporting
Campaign finance articles are a staple of good journalism, as campaign contributions may signal to the public more credibly than campaign promises the type of interests a politician will represent once in office. But good campaign finance reporting requires that a...
More Misleading Education Reporting From The Capital
Yesterday the Capital ran a story on the results of the superintendent survey designed to elicit feedback on the characteristics the public wants in its next public schools superintendent. From November 22 to December 12, 2013, AACPS encouraged the public to fill...
The public, not the courts, should decide
Snider, J.H., The public, not the courts, should decide, Baltimore Sun, December 16, 2013. In countries such as Russia and Iran, the public can vote in elections, but the elections are often viewed as less than fully democratic because the courts can eliminate...
Superintendent Search Update: AACPS Answers Capital’s Criticism
Last summer the Capital criticized AACPS for a lack of public involvement in the interim superintendent search (see Capital-Gazette Takes On AACPS ). AACPS promised to address that issue in its search for the next fulltime superintendent. It has now taken its first...
Getting What We Pay For: Are our school board members underpaid?
How much is a school board worth? Should we apply to the Anne Arundel County Board of Education the maxim that “you get what you pay for”? Regular school board members earn $6,000/year (the president earns $8,000/year) to oversee an operating and capital budget of...
Capital-Gazette Takes On AACPS
In the last few weeks, the Capital-Gazette ( Capital ) has flipped from years of mindlessly repeating AACPS talking points to a critical stance, including a news story with multiple, competing sources. How well did it do? Consider, first, where it is coming from. ...
School Board Pays Maxwell $4,582/Day In July; Maryland Taxpayers Pay Perkins $410,018 Signing Bonus on Top of $249,735 Annual Salary
The Anne Arundel County Public Schools (AACPS) Board of Education has been generous to outgoing superintendent Kevin Maxwell for his last month of employment ending July 31, 2013. Excluding his health benefits and the increase in his pension, which is paid for by the...
Poll: Media Coverage of Superintendent Maxwell
Superintendent Kevin Maxwell's last day in office is tomorrow, July 31, 2013. On August 1, 2013, he takes over the helm of the Prince George's County Public Schools. The Anne Arundel County Public Schools (AACPS) spends a large fraction of County taxes and receives a...
Maxwell’s Political Legacy: Not Pretty
After more than seven years at the helm of the Anne Arundel County Public Schools (AACPS), Superintendent Kevin Maxwell will resign and become head of the Prince George’s County public schools, effective August 1, 2013. What is his AACPS legacy? Many encomiums have...
Understanding The Capital Gazette’s Political Biases
My Ph.D. is in the field of political communications, and I’ve worked in various capacities covering media policy, including as an American Political Science Association Congressional Fellow in Communications and Public Policy, a Senior Research Fellow at the New...
Maxwell’s Unreported $1 Million Signing Bonus with Prince George’s County, Courtesy of Maryland Taxpayers
Prince George’s County has hired Anne Arundel County Public Schools(AACPS) Superintendent Kevin Maxwell for a reported annual salary of $290,000, a $33,000 year increase on his $257,000 current salary from AACPS. (See Capital , Baltimore Sun , and Washington...
Governor to reappoint two incumbents to AACPS school board
In the next few days, Governor O’Malley will reappoint two incumbents, Andrew C. Pruski (Board President) and Teresa Milio Birge (Board Vice President), to the Anne Arundel County Public School System (AACPS) Board of Education. One can make this prediction with...
Anne Arundel’s Next Superintendent Should Restore Integrity to School Board Elections
Op-ed published in Eye On Annapolis
AACPS School Board Nomination Applications Due May 24
This year the School Board Nominating Commission (SBNC) of Anne Arundel County must nominate candidates for two seats on the Anne Arundel County Board of Education. Candidate applications are due by the close of the business day on May 24. Hearings for the...
Shame On Maryland’s State Board Of Elections
Have you observed how a politician often answers a reporter’s question that he doesn’t want to answer? Instead of truthfully replying that he doesn’t want to answer the question, he may pretend to answer the question while in fact answering another question that puts...
The Leopold case: bad behavior, vague crimes
Source: Snider, J.H., The Leopold case: bad behavior, vague crimes, Baltimore Sun, January 29, 2013. This type of conduct is common among elected officials, but the applicable rules are ambiguous and rarely enforced. Circuit Judge Dennis M. Sweeney today found Anne...
In the Dark About Early School Buses
Snider, J.H., In the Dark About Early School Buses, Education Week, January 4, 2013. Lots of apps, such as Transit Stop, iNextBus, and Embark DC, now let you track public-transit schedules. But they are restricted to public transit used by adults. Why can’t a similar...
Guest Commentary: Maryland manipulates ‘majority’ vote
Some vote counting scandals receive front page news coverage and shock the world; others remain invisible. Such is the difference between Florida’s 2000 presidential election and Maryland’s 2010 referendum to convene a state constitutional convention. Both involved...
Anne Arundel County’s Undemocratic Nov. 6 School Board Election
Three school board candidates are on the Nov. 6 ballot. In 2007, Maryland’s General Assembly created a new system for selecting school board members in Anne Arundel County. An 11 member commission would nominate at least two candidates from which the governor would...
Spending on ballot questions highest in Maryland’s history
Spending exceeds not only all previous ballot questions but all previous ballot items of any kind, including gubernatorial elections. According to data compiled by iSolon.org and VotersEdge.org from the Maryland State Board of Elections website, ballot issue...
On gambling vote, what is meant by a 'majority'?
Legislature applies different interpretations according to its self-interest. What type of majority is necessary to approve Maryland's Nov. 6 ballot referendum to expand gambling? Maryland's Constitution says: "a majority of the qualified voters in the State" (Article...
AACPS Creates Online Video Archive of BOE meetings
At long last, the Anne Arundel County Board of Education enters the YouTube age. In February 2009, Anne Arundel County Public Schools (AACPS) began broadcasting select Board of Education (BOE) meetings covered under the Maryland Open Meetings Act (notably excluded...
MD General Assembly Releases Beta Legislative Website 2.0
Website omits allowing constituents to easily track the roll call votes of their representatives. On July 18, 2012, the Maryland General Assembly’s Joint Committee on Transparency and Open Government released a beta version of the General Assembly’s next generation...
AACPS.net blog replaced by articles in local news outlets
AACPS.net was a blog focusing on coverage of the Anne Arundel County Public Schools; specifically its core democratic institutions: the Anne Arundel County School Board Nominating Commission and Anne Arundel Countywide Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC). Its posts...
School Board Nominating Commission Elects All Who Apply
The Governor will choose among the nominees by July 1. This year the Anne Arundel School Board Nominating Commission (SBNC) had to fill two Board of Education (BOE) seats, one at-large and one representing Legislative District 21. Nominees were elected on May 29,...
Four Candidates, Two Open AACO Board of Education Seats
Anne Arundel County's School Board Nominating Commission receives applications for the two open seats on the Board of Education. The Governor must choose among the candidates by July 1, 2012. This year the Anne Arundel County School Board Nominating Commission (SBNC)...
Maryland’s General Assembly is Not Above the Law
Maryland’s Constitution mandates a referendum every twenty years on whether to call a constitutional convention. This mandate is an extension of article 1 of the Declaration of Rights, which provides that the people of the state “have at all times, the inalienable...
How to fix Maryland’s D-minus in corruption
Op-ed published in the Washington Examiner
Wrap-up on Maryland's 10 Year Redistricting Cycle
Maryland's Congressional and General Assembly gerrymanders greatly differed in the press coverage they received. Does that mean the General Assembly gerrymanders were less of an outrage? Every 10 years Maryland state government goes through two redistricting cycles,...
Here’s why Maryland politicos must convene a constitutional convention
Source: Snider, J.H., Here's why Maryland politicos must convene a constitutional convention, Washington Examiner, March 11, 2012. Maryland's Constitution stipulates that every elected official must take an oath of office to "support the Constitution." But for...
AACO School Board Nominating Commission Sets Agenda for Filling Two Vacancies
Governor O'Malley appoints commissioners for new four year terms; commissioners will accept applications until April 27, 2012 for two school board seats, one in District 21, the other at-large. On the evening of Feb. 22, 2012 the Anne Arundel School Board Nominating...
It will take a con-con to untangle Maryland’s gerrymanders
The U.S. Constitution mandates that states redraw their political districts every decade, based on the latest population census data. Maryland’s General Assembly is currently considering new districts for itself. Maryland’s redistricting process allows incumbent...
State ignores voters on constitutional convention
Majority voted in favor of con-con in 2010, yet it hasn't been convened. Many laws aren't enforced, including requirements that you pay payroll tax for baby sitters and clean your sidewalk after a snowstorm. But enforcing the Maryland Constitution, especially in...
Severna Park Split Into Three Legislative Districts
The Governor’s Redistricting Advisory Committee has released its legislative plan. Its prior Congressional redistricting plan was a partisan gerrymander; this one is a pro-incumbent gerrymander. The U.S. Constitution mandates that every 10 years the Federal government...
Maryland’s Congressional Redistricting: Let’s Make it Transparent and Accountable
Should voters pick their reps or vice versa? Since reps get to do the picking, Snider calls on the Governor's Redistricting Advisory Committee to make its process more transparent and accountable. On Aug. 30, 2011, I testified in Annapolis before the 2011 Governor’s...
The public comments regarding the proposed Board of Education Policy to gut the Countywide CAC
Citizen comments briefly published on AACPS website
School Board Nominating Commission Update for 2011
Governor expected to make decision on nominees by July 1, 2011; bombshell announced in closing remarks at May 17 meeting. During the last four years I have closely followed the development and implementation of the Anne Arundel School Board Nominating Commission...
My written comments to the School Board regarding its proposed rewrite of the CAC regulations
To Whom It May Concern: Setting aside the question of what one might think about the substance of the Board’s proposed CAC regulations, they do have the advantage of honesty. Under the previous regulations, the Board and Administration made a pretense,...
SBNC reform bill dies in the Maryland General Assembly
SBNC reform bill dies in the Maryland General Assembly The Capital reports that the Maryland legislature has rejected a bill to codify the laws regarding the SBNC and to add some electoral features to the school board selection process: The chances of changing Anne...
The Chair’s "Weekly" Letter to Members
[This is a compendium of Jim Snider's periodic messages to Anne Arundel Countywide CAC members. The original was posted on Anne Arundel Countywide Citizen Advisory Committee, 2010-11] To: Countywide CAC Discussion Forum Members From: Jim Snider, Chair, Countywide CAC...
Can we strengthen the parents' voice in education?
On Oct. 28, Tom Frank, chair of Anne Arundel County's Countywide Citizen Advisory Committee, resigned. "I was under the impression that the role of the CAC was to meet with a representative of each school, other interested parents and citizens, and to bring their...
Give Marylanders the constitutional convention they voted for
In an Oct. 21 gubernatorial debate with Republican challenger Robert Ehrlich, Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley was asked if he supported convening a constitutional convention - a "con-con" - in Maryland. He replied: "If that's what people want to do, then that's what we...
A Historic Year for State Con-Cons
2010 marks a historic year for state constitutional conventions (con-cons). On November 2, 2010, four states (Maryland, Michigan, Montana, and Iowa) have referendums on the ballot asking voters whether they want to convene a state con-con. Never before in U.S. history...
Constitutional Convention: The road to term limits in Maryland
Could this be the year when the anti-incumbent mood in Maryland results in legislative term limits? If so, there is only one way it could happen: via the statewide ballot item on Nov. 2 to convene a state constitutional convention (con-con). A common refrain by...
It’s the Public’s Data: Democratizing School Board Records
Op-ed published in Education Week
‘Troublemaker’ fights secrecy in government
News article published in the Capital
SBNC Update: Wrap-up for 2010
Introduction & Summary On May 11 and 12, the Anne Arundel School Board Nominating Commission (SBNC) interviewed candidates for District 30 and District 31. On May 17 the SBNC heard testimony on behalf of the candidates and then voted for two nominees for each...
SBNC Update, Including a Bombshell
Since my last School Board Nominating Commission (SBNC) update, there have been three major events: 1) The candidate application deadline passed (April 30) 2) Two field hearings were held (April 12 and April 19) 3) The Attorney General issued a legal...
Maryland’s fake open government
Op-ed published in the Washington Post
SBNC Update
The Anne Arundel County School Board Nominating Commission (SBNC) met to discuss administrative matters on Monday, March 1 at the Anne Arundel Community College. Attendance Ten of the eleven commissioners were present. Commissioner Wayson has so far missed the two...
SBNC Update: Review of the SBNC's first meeting preparing for the 2010 electoral cycle
On Monday, January 25 the SBNC met. Eight of the eleven SBNC commissioners showed up as well as six audience members, including myself, the Capital reporter, a school board member, and two potential candidates. The first order of business was to approve the minutes...
School Board Nominating Commission (SBNC) Update
The first meeting of the School Board Nominating Commission of Anne Arundel County (SBNC) for the 2010 election cycle will take place on Monday, January 25, at 7:00 pm at Anne Arundel Community College, West Campus (Arnold) in CADE 219. This year the second term of...
Maryland's Ballot Surprise
Voters in November will have a rare opportunity to shape the state's constitution. This November, Marylanders will have a once-in-a-generation chance to shake up the political process. Yet few know about it, and even fewer are talking about it. Maryland's Constitution...
Is the SBNC illegal?
[Note: On October 21, 2008, this post was emailed to all elected officials representing Anne Arundel County in the Maryland legislature and in the Anne Arundel County Council] Dear Anne Arundel County Elected Official: It has come to my attention that Anne Arundel...
SBNC Update: Leahy and Pruski Nominated
On the evenings of July 28 and July 29, the Anne Arundel School Board Nominating Commission (SBNC) met to seek a replacement for the seat vacated by former school board member Tricia Johnson. On July 14, the SBNC announced it would hold hearings to seek a replacement...
School Board Nominating Commission Update
As you probably know by now, school board member Tricia Johnson has been appointed to the County Council, thus opening up a seat on the school board for a 4 year term. The School Board Nominating Commission (SBNC) has announced in a press release that it will accept...
Critique of the guest column published in the Capital expressing adulation for the SBNC
Concerning the May 10 guest column in the Capital expressing adulation for the Anne Arundel County School Board Nominating Commission, I have never been able to figure out the Capital’s conflict of interest disclosure policy. Sometimes it discloses trivial, obvious...
Democratize School Budget Data
Op-ed published in Education Week
SBNC Update
As many of you undoubtedly know by now, the Anne Arundel County School Board Nominating Commission (SBNC) on May 27 nominated three candidates for the School Board. Ten candidates initially applied for the position, two dropped out, and several others only made a...
SBNC Update
The School Board Nominating Commission’s deadline for candidate applications to serve on the AACPS Board of Education was April 1. As you probably know by now, ten people applied for the position: Shaun M. Brady of Davidsonville Kevin L. Jackson of Edgewater Michael...
Public School Systems Should Post Compensation Data Online
While researching a policy paper arguing that public schools were losing an opportunity to recruit topnotch teachers by downplaying, even degrading, the economic rewards of teaching, I asked my local school district how much a senior teacher (not a beginning or...
Open government rhetoric versus reality
Op-ed published in the Washington Examiner
Need Teachers? Show Them the Money
Op-ed published in the Washington Post
School Board Nominating Commission (SBNC) Update
The School Board Nominating Commission of Anne Arundel County will hold field hearings “to solicit the public's opinion on education issues facing their specific district, the Commission's process and procedures, and qualities necessary for a successful Board of...
Follow-up: Is the School Board Nominating Commission (SBNC) illegal?
[Note: On January 24, 2009 this post was emailed to all elected officials representing Anne Arundel County in the Maryland legislature and in the Anne Arundel County Council] Dear Anne Arundel County Elected Official: On October 21, 2008 I sent you an e-mail...
SBNC and BOE TV Updates
SBNC UPDATE On January 12, 2009 at 7:00 pm, the School Board Nominating Commission (SBNC) will hold its third meeting of the coming appointment cycle for the AACPS Board of Education. The SBNC uses these low profile hearings to discuss critical procedural issues. At...
School Board Nominating Commission: What does it take to win?
Blog post published in Citizens for an Accountable School Board
Maryland Attorney General's Office Rules That School Board Nominating Commission Violated The Law
Blog post published in Citizens for an Accountable School Board
Reflections on key developments concerning the School Board Nominating Commission since its March 25 public meeting
Blog post published in Citizens for an Accountable School Board
Reflections on key developments concerning the School Board Nominating Commission since February 20, 2008
The following are my reflections on key developments concerning the School Board Nominating Commission (SBNC) that have occurred since February 20, 2008. These include the second meeting of the SBNC, the SBNC’s publicly released application for school board...
Second Complaint File with Maryland's Open Meetings Compliance Board
Post published in MyAACPS.net
School board nominating process taking shape
School board nominating process taking shape No limits on number of candidates sent to governor By ELISABETH HULETTE, Staff Writer Published February 21, 2008 The new committee that will select county school board members is placing no limit on the number of...
Complaint alleges the School Board Nominating Commission violated the Maryland Open Meetings Act
Today I filed a complaint with Maryland’s Open Meetings Compliance Board concerning the Anne Arundel County School Board Nominating Commission. The Commission is subject to the Open Meetings Act and discussing the bylaws of the Commission is not an exempt topic for...
School Board Nominating Commission Meets For the First Time; Decides to Hold Secret Hearing to Discuss its Bylaws
Blog post published in Citizens for an Accountable School Board
Governor Announces Appointees to School Board Nominating Commission
Newspaper: Capital Title: Officials name school appointees Date: November 6, 2007 ANNAPOLIS - Officials yesterday announced the appointments to the county's first School Board Nominating Commission, part of a revamped process to appoint and retain members of the...
Post mortem on the school board reform legislation
On April 9, the school board reform bill passed through the legislature with virtually no opposition. Capturing what I believe was the general sentiment of the Anne Arundel delegation to the General Assembly, the Capital reported that the Speaker of the Assembly,...
In last minute decision, House amends school board reform bill to undercut position of student member of the board; hearing on amended bill set for 1pm tomorrow
In the last few weeks, legislation on school board reform moved quickly. On Thursday, March 22, the Senate approved SB324 and the House held a public hearing on HB1114. On Saturday, March 24, an amendment to the House bill was introduced, and then on Monday, March 26,...
Report on today's House Ways and Means Committee hearing on HB1114
This afternoon I attended the House Ways and Means Committee hearing on HB1114, the bill to change Anne Arundel County’s system of appointing school board members. The event was labeled a “hearing” on the Maryland General Assembly website and on the agenda distributed...
Critique of the Washington Post's "spin" on the school board reform bill
Yesterday the Washington Post ran a news report on the school board reform passed by our Maryland Senate delegation and currently being considered by our House delegation. The headline reads: “School Board Bill: No Election, but more Say for the Public.” In case...
America’s Million-Dollar Superintendents
Op-ed published in Education Week
The Superintendent as Scapegoat
Op-ed published in Education Week
Independent board should regulate PEG access
Op-ed published in the Capital
Best way to pick school board: Informed voters
Op-ed published in the Capital
Should School Choice Come Via the Internet?
Op-ed published in Education Week
Is it Time for an E-Congress?
[Presented to a meeting of a Congressional caucus concerned with continuity of government after 9/11] Good afternoon. I'd like to take my time with you this afternoon to outline some of the pros and cons of creating an e-Congress as a security measure in the face of a...
Time for policy to end gridlock on the streets
WASHINGTON - The National Governors Association reported recently that the annual cost to society of traffic gridlock is $72 billion in wasted time and fuel as well as 4.3 billion hours stuck in traffic. And gridlock is getting worse. Politicians know that traffic...
Education technology clashes with teachers
Published in USA Today
EDUCATION WARS: The Battle over Information-Age Technology
Title: Education wars: the battle over information-age technology Authors: Snider, James H. Source: The Futurist. May-June, 1996, Vol. 30 Issue 3, p24, 5 p. photograph Publisher Information: World Future Society Publication Year: 1996 Subject Terms: Education --...
