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House of Delegate candidate Gayle Powell says that she is "sickened" by the dispute between Anne Arundel County Executive John Gary and the School Board. There is "obviously a big power struggle going on...We should not be playing politics with our kids' education." | |
| Powell, a Democrat running for Delegate from District 33 in the September 15 primary, said that, comparatively speaking, county schools are "pretty good" but are "deteriorating." The system has not kept pace with recent growth, and is now "overcrowded" and "underfunded." If elected, she will push hard for state funds to build a new high school in west county, she said. She is in favor of an elected school board, a change that would require amending state law. She said that the County Council should determine the total amount of money to be spent on education, but where and how it is spent should be left up to the School Board, where the greatest educational expertise is. Then, "we should hold the school board accountable," she added. School Board elections should be held on the same four year cycle as the races for governor, House of Delegates, and County Council to ensure a high voter turnout. Powell noted with dismay that, due to overcrowding, the first lunch period at Arundel High School begins at 9:20 AM. "How can kids learn with their stomachs rumbling by the end of the day because they ate lunch so early?" she asked. Large class sizes also mean less individual attention for students, and make it harder for teachers to deal with discipline problems, she believes. Back to Crofton Online. |
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