At each Baltimore County Board of Education meeting, CASE has three minutes to present information to the board in the interest of our organization. The following is a transcript from one of those meetings.

Chairman Gilliss, Vice Chair Stewart, Superintendent White, and members of the Board.

Two months ago, in my remarks to the Board I likened the state of BCPS to that of a boat trying to survive in a perfect storm. Two of the factors I mentioned to creating this situation were:

• Collateral damage because of political gamesmanship in an election year
• Clear ongoing divisiveness of the members on this Board

I suggested that the various stakeholders in Baltimore County were looking for leadership from this body. Since then, to your credit, after hours of public debate bordering on filibuster, the Board voted 8–4 to offer Ms. White the permanent superintendent position.

However due to continued political gamesmanship, and the divisiveness of several Board members who did not get their way in an overwhelming 2–1 vote, that contract was not approved in an unprecedented move by the State Superintendent. This was in partial part because of a social media campaign by Board members in a move that is extremely disappointing and smacks of partisan politics. As author John C. Danforth said: “The loudest voices we hear are those who advocate conflict and divisiveness.”

I believe we need to change that narrative. As the Executive Director of the Council of Administrative and Supervisory Employees which has gone on record as supporting Ms. White as the permanent superintendent at a 90% margin, I am asking this Board to appeal to the State Superintendent regarding her  decision. I would further request that you not ask for the decision to be reevaluated, but rather reversed.

I know that any appeal from this Board will require a motion and second thus opening the way for discussion before a vote is taken. I would ask that the members of the Board limit the discussion in consideration of the members of the community and hard working BCPS employees here tonight. First, there is really nothing new to discuss, and second, hours of bickering will not change the final vote, which will be 8–4.

This Board has 7 more months to serve the students, parents, staff and public. Isn’t it a shame that I feel comfortable predicting Board votes?

Casey Stengel said: “Getting’ good players is easy. Gettin’ ‘em to play together is the hard part.”

You are the leadership for Team BCPS.  You are all good players. We need you to play together.

Thank you,

Tom DeHart
CASE Executive Director

At each Baltimore County Board of Education meeting, CASE has three minutes to present information to the board in the interest of our organization. The following is a transcript from one of those meetings.

Members of the Board,

In October 1991, a confluence of weather conditions combined to form a killer storm in the North Atlantic. Caught in the storm was the sword-fishing boat Andrea Gail. This experience where about everything that could go wrong, did, was characterized in the movie: The Perfect Storm.

I would suggest that the Baltimore County Public School system is in the midst of a confluence of factors which is creating our own “perfect storm”.

• Recent criminal guilty pleas by high ranking system officials that has eroded both public and school board confidence and has seemingly created distrust of all, as a result of the actions of a few.
• Collateral damage to our school system as a result of the political war of words between the governor and the county executive
• Some local politicians taking potshots at the school system leadership to garner votes in this election year
• No shortage of inaccurate information on posts and blogs
• A lame duck School Board with clearly apparent divisiveness on many issues
• An interim superintendent while the Board searches for a permanent superintendent

There are more, but you get the idea…

Tonight, you will discuss and vote on a technology contract. Did you get necessary information in a timely fashion? Do you ignore the open, transparent, and representative process that was used to choose the product and vendor? Do you just flat out distrust the BCPS staff? Only you know the answers to this.

Here is what I know: The online platform is how business is conducted in BCPS today. Grading and reporting, parent communication, and curriculum access all require this technology.

And just as important, this contract is a social justice issue. Students of all socio-economic levels deserve the same access to technology.

Leadership during a perfect storm is difficult at best. Indecisiveness and poor decisions can prove costly, and spoiler alert: The captain of the Andrea Gail made poor decisions that proved disastrous.

The students, parents, teachers, and administrators are looking for leadership from this Board. You are all smart people…figure it out, and please use your remaining tenure to work collaboratively for the entire Baltimore County community.

Thank you.

At each Baltimore County Board of Education meeting, CASE has three minutes to present information to the board in the interest of our organization. The following is a transcript from one of those meetings.

Chairman Gilliss, Vice Chair Stewart, Superintendent White, and members of the Board.

The Peer Assistance and Review (PAR program) is a highly successful program partnered by TABCO, CASE, and Baltimore County Public School’s HR department.

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At each Baltimore County Board of Education meeting, CASE has three minutes to present information to the board in the interest of our organization. The following is a transcript from one of those meetings.

Chairman Gilliss, Vice Chair Stewart, Superintendent White, and members of the Board.

Last month I addressed the Board, and quoted a widely recognized belief that leadership matters. Tonight, I would like to add that leadership is learned.

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At each Baltimore County Board of Education meeting, CASE has three minutes to present information to the board in the interest of our organization. The following is a transcript from one of those meetings.

Good evening Chairman Gilliss, Superintendent White, and members of the Board.

I want to remind the Board that CASE represents 577 BCPS employees, including principals, assistant principals, supervisors, coordinators, and pupil personnel workers. They are the public face of the system daily. These are the folks who are in the trenches, and are the level of leadership that is integral to making the system work. I say this because leadership matters.

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