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 Arundel County's school board process are likely dead this year and through the next election in 2014, but the local House delegation still wants to study options for changing it.

Despite staunch opposition in the Senate, the county House delegation decided yesterday to study the school board set-up in the interim between this General Assembly session and next year's.

"There is a lot of will in this delegation to make some changes," said Del. Bob Costa, R-Deale, the chairman of the body. "We need to sit down with everyone involved. … We can do this over the interim and come back with a real bill."

County delegation to Maryland General Assembly passes SBNC reform bill

The Capital reports that the Anne Arundel County delegation to the Maryland House of Delegates has approved a bill to add electoral features to the School Board selection process:

The county's House delegation has approved a bill requiring appointed members of the Anne Arundel County Board of Education be subject to contested elections.

The 8-7 party-line vote was held during a meeting Friday. Del. Tony McConkey, R-Severna Park, the bill's sponsor, said it would allow more representation from different parties on the board but opponents saw it as a way to further politicize what is supposed to be a non-partisan appointment.

The legislation will now head to the county's five-member Senate delegation for consideration.