From Christina McIntyre, president, Bel Air High School Student Government:
This Thursday, March 1, I will be testifying on Senate Bill 816 (HCPS partial student voting rights) at 1:00. The current student representative on the Board of Education, Tony Cofrancesco, and also Ms. Krchnavy from the Board and Mr. Lloyd from the County Executive Office will be testifying as well. Students from the Harford County Regional Association of Student Councils will be attending the hearing to express the support of HCPS students.
Over the past month, we have obtained the near-unanimous support of the Harford Delegation. We gave a presentation to the County Council and obtained unanimous Council support. We also gave a presentation to Mr. Craig and obtained his support as well. Attached is the student written testimony for SB 816. If you would like to view the bill, here is the link: http://mlis.state.md.us/2012rs/billfile/HB1213.htm. This will connect you to HB 1213. The language of SB 816 is currently being changed to match that of HB 1213.
Thank you,
Christina McIntyre, President
Bel Air High School Student Government
The students of Harford County Public Schools SUPPORT Senate Bill 816 which would grant the student member on the Harford County Board of Education the same rights and privileges as an appointed or elected member, with the exception of voting on certain matters and attending executive sessions of the Board of Education addressing these certain matters. Matters the student member is restricted from voting on are geographical attendance, acquisition and disposition of real property and matters pertaining to school construction, employment of architects, donations, condemnation, consolidation of schools and transportation of students, appointment and salary of a county superintendent, employee discipline and other related appeals, budgetary matters, appointment and promotion of staff, collective bargaining for certificated and noncertificated employees, student suspension and expulsion, and school calendar and curriculum.
Senate Bill 816 ensures that student representation is applied to the policies and decisions made by the Harford County Board of Education but limits this application of student representation to content appropriate for the student vote. Factoring the student voice into board policies and decisions through the applied student representation provided by a partial student vote expresses the value that Harford County Public Schools places upon the interest and needs of the students they serve. A partial student vote advances the Board of Education from considering the student voice to implementing the student voice, advancing the capability of the Board to make decisions and create policies that correspond to student interests and needs. Applied student representation through the partial voting rights of the student member empowers students to actively engage their education. Enacting this legislation to permit applied student representation will enable the Harford County Board of Education to better serve the students of Harford County Public Schools.
For these reasons the students of Harford County Public Schools respectively urge a FAVORABLE report on Senate Bill 816.
Why should a student get a vote when there is no teacher-representative with or without a vote?
Susan that is a very interesting question… It seems everyone gets a say in the direction of our schools except for the ones who actually get us there.
Is anyone bothering to actually read the letter and then take a look at the Crime Report? I did and I am astounded! Our Sheriff either has twice the resources he thinks he has or he intentionally goes to these events and lies! I would like to know what David Craig thinks of having his argument for the County not being burdened with the teacher’s pensions resting on this misinformation. I have an idea, shift the teacher’s pensions to the County and take the money from the Sheriff’s budget since he already has more than he needs.
Tax Payer,
I think you have obviously commented on the wrong post… This has to do with students getting voting rights at the board and not the shift in pensions or crime.
Sorry, This was suppose to be posted under another story.
Taxpayer: Post your opinion on the right page and you’ll see that plenty of readers will agree with you. I’m not trying to be sarcastic with the first part, I’m just saying that we want to read your opinion but not too many will find it on this thread.