Group of Baltimore parents, students, and activists demands an elected school board

Saying Baltimore's students are being "robbed" of an adequate education, a group of parents, students, and activists has rallied to demand an elected school board. The group is calling for board members to be elected every two years, paid an annual salary of $70,000 to work full time, and be required to have children who have been enrolled in city public schools continuously from the elementary grades on. The current board is appointed jointly by the mayor and the governor, but the parents feel it does not represent their interests. "We can't hold the school board accountable for any decisions they make," says James E. Williams Sr., a leader of the newly formed Parents Organizing Parents (POP). "They have a record of making bad decisions for our children." He points out that the board only recently began posting its public session agendas and other materials online, something that's routinely done by suburban school districts. Mr. Williams also charges that most board members do not have children enrolled in the city schools, and those who do live in the city's more affluent communities. Governor Robert L. Ehrlich Jr., has not taken a position on the issue, while Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley, Gov. Ehrlich’s opponent in the upcoming governor’s election, has not commented on POP’s demand. However, the composition of the city school board has been an issue in the gubernatorial race because the governor has refused to reappoint three members who are supported by Mayor O'Malley. In addition, the governor and the mayor have yet to fill two vacancies on the board created by resignations this summer-even though the law requires them to fill those positions within 60 days.