Report: County Executive Seeks More Control of Public Schools
The Prince George's County Executive is pushing for legislation that would put him in charge of the school system's budget and more, reports NBC4.
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Prince George’s County Executive Rushern Baker wants to take a more active role in the county’s public education system.
Baker thinks he has the solution to fix the county school system, and is pushing for legislation that would give him more control over the Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS) budget and superintendent hiring process, reports NBC4.
"My proposal is an effort to make our schools stronger by using all the resources the County government has to offer so that our children and families have the tools they need to be successful,” said Baker in a statement, according to NBC 4.
Baker told the news station that his plan would give the superintendent more autonomy and the school system more resources.
Currently, PGCPS's budget is managed by a nine-member elected Board of Education.
PGCPS are currently interviewing three finalists for the superintendent of schools position. The position was vacated last year when former superintendent William Hite left after six years in the position to take the top education job with the Philadelphia school system. The school system has had five different superintendents in the past ten years.
superrichard04
3:49 pm on Monday, March 18, 2013
Baker is a fool. He doesn't even have control of Prince George's County, let alone running his mouth about wanting to take charge of the school system. Prince George's County schools will always be at or near the bottom of the academic totem pole along with Baltimore City school system. Why? Because of what you have in the school system. No County executive can fix that problem. It is what it is. Prince George's County schools will never come close to the academic peformance of the top tier school systems in Maryland.
Norman Jones
12:32 pm on Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Your prognostications come perilously close to suggesting something I hope you don't mean. I'll leave it unsaid - as should you. I remain hopeful, and optimistic about the potential embodied in our county public school children. They don't deserve to be written off.
Red White and Blue
3:49 pm on Monday, March 18, 2013
I think it is a excellent idea, the board has way too much power.
Norman Jones
12:32 pm on Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Our school board does not win any prizes in my book - All ambition and no talent! But adding Baker to the mix only compounds and deepens the same problem. We elect an independent School Board because that I what we (I, at least) want. Generalissimo Baker will have to content himself with 'Big frogging' in the pond given him by the electorate.
Bob Pettis
5:48 pm on Tuesday, March 19, 2013
I guess our County Executive needs more responsibility but shouldn't he be asking the good people of Prince George's County? Once again, running to Annapolis to back door the citizens. Do you really need a college degree to have input for public education? There are people with a degree I wouldn't ask for directions.........
Barbara J Miller
1:03 pm on Thursday, March 21, 2013
"The position was vacated last year when former superintendent William Hite left after six years in the position ... The school system has had five different superintendents in the past ten years."
Hite was not Superintendent for six years -- possibly two max. This is the problem the school system is having. We don't hire leaders with commitment to the system. They seem to just use it as a stepping stone to something bigger.