School & District Management

Prince George’s County School Board to Be Replaced Under New Md. Law

By Joetta L. Sack — April 17, 2002 2 min read
  • Save to favorites
  • Print

The Maryland legislature approved a measure last week to reconfigure the Prince George’s County school board and replace the superintendent’s post with a chief executive officer, a move that would force Superintendent Iris T. Metts to reapply for her job.

Under the legislation, a new nine-member board, to be named by the governor and the county executive, will take over the 132,000-student district June 1. The bill received final approval on the last day of the legislature’s 2002 session and had the support of Gov. Parris N. Glendening, a Democrat.

The move is intended to end a bitter struggle over who controls the Prince George’s County schools in suburban Washington.

State lawmakers representing Prince George’s County were deeply divided over the measure during the emotional floor debates, although the House of Delegates and the Senate approved the legislation by wide margins.

Sen. Nathaniel Exum, a Democrat, brought up the 1960s civil rights movement in urging his colleagues to oppose the measure: “When you take away the right of people to participate in their democracy and their ability to elect school board members, you’re taking away something that is very sacred.”

But other supporters, including members of the county’s legislative delegation, argued that the current elected school board had shortchanged students and was too immersed in political fights.

State schools Superintendent Nancy S. Grasmick said in an interview that a long sequence of issues and strained relations were hurting morale and support of the district: “There are challenges in that school system related to student achievement, and that has to be the focus, not adult behavior.”

Metts’ Future Unclear

Ms. Metts, a former secretary of education in Delaware, came to the academically ailing district almost three years ago to try to help its schools. But the district board, which claimed she had mismanaged funds and had refused to collaborate on important decisions, voted to fire her in February. (“Rift Over Schools Chief Leads Md. to Intervene,” Feb. 13, 2002.) Prince George’s County has consistently been one of the lowest-performing districts in the state.

As of last week, Ms. Metts had not given any indication of whether she would apply for the new job of CEO, district spokesman Tony Ruffin said. She could also ask for a buyout of her contract.

After the legislation was approved April 8, lawmakers began searching for candidates to send to Ms. Grasmick, who will review the applications and send her recommendations to Gov. Glendening and County Executive Wayne K. Curry.

The law stipulates that at least three new members of the school board would be educators, possibly from nearby universities; at least two would have business backgrounds; two would have management experience, preferably in nonprofit or government sector; and two would come from the community.

Related Tags:

A version of this article appeared in the April 17, 2002 edition of Education Week as Prince George’s County School Board to Be Replaced Under New Md. Law

Events

This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Mathematics Webinar
Engaging Every Learner: Strategies to Boost Math Motivation
Math Motivation Boost! Research & real tips to engage learners.
Content provided by Prodigy Education
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Student Well-Being Webinar
The Ripple Effect: Mental Health & Student Outcomes
Learn how student mental health impacts outcomes—and how to use that data to support your school’s IEP funding strategy.
Content provided by Huddle Up
Artificial Intelligence K-12 Essentials Forum How AI Use Is Expanding in K-12 Schools
Join this free virtual event to explore how AI technology is—and is not—improving K-12 teaching and learning.

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide — elementary, middle, high school and more.
View Jobs
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
View Jobs
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
View Jobs
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.
View Jobs

Read Next

School & District Management Food and Massage Coupons: How Principals Signal Their Appreciation for Teachers
Small gestures can go a long way this Teacher Appreciation Week.
5 min read
Image of a notebook page with "THANK YOU TEACHER" written with some doodles and smiley faces.
iStock/Getty
School & District Management Opinion How to Be a Focused Leader When There’s a Lot of Noise
Burnout, attrition, absenteeism, and disengagement are key issues for schools. Here's a path forward for educators.
3 min read
Screen Shot 2025 04 29 at 6.54.09 AM
Canva
School & District Management 'Go-Betweens' Are Invaluable to Principals. A Guide to Cultivating Them
A school leader's guide to creating and supporting a second-line leader.
2 min read
Wooden pawns on interconnected circles. Concept of interrelationships. 3d illustration.
iStock/Getty
School & District Management Quiz Quiz Yourself: How Well Do You Understand K-12 Leaders’ Social Media Habits?
Test your knowledge of how school and district leaders use social media—what platforms they prefer, how often they post, and getting their attention.