A service of Salisbury University and University of Maryland Eastern Shore
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Elected School Board Plan Draws Fire from Salisbury Mayor

biopic

Mayor Jim Ireton and Wicomico’s NAACP Chapter president Marty Ashanti said they opposed legislation in Annapolis that would allow for an elected school board in Wicomico County.

During a state Senate hearing the Salisbury official said there has been little community input with only one public hearing on the proposal.

If approved the measure would present the question of an elected school board to the voters during the general election next year.

The Salisbury Daily Times reports that County Council member Marc Kilmer who supports the legislation claimed the community had spent a lot of time discussing an elected school board.

Ashanti said that she felt the County Council did not like not being able to reign in the board of education so they want to make a political change.

The legislation also drew opposition from Kevin Johnson a member of the county Education Association board of directors.

Under the legislation five members of the board would be elected every five years.

Another two board members would be appointed by the county executive while a student member would serve a one year term.

Don Rush is the News Director at Delmarva Public Media. An award-winning journalist, Don reports major local issues of the day, from sea level rise, to urban development, to the changing demographics of Delmarva.