Ann De Lacy. She is the most a qualified candidate, most knowledgeable about education and educational policy, and an experienced member of the Operating Budget Review Committee. I think it is wonderful that Howard County educator
is willing to continue serving her community in this capacity.

BOB BAllinger

ALL THOUGH YOU SHOULD ALLOW US TO PICK UP TO 3 PEOPLE BECAUSE WE ARE ALLOWED TO VOTE FOR 3 PEOPLE

I am concerned about Ms. De Lacy. Hearing so negative publicity - about smaller issues - like common courtesy, posting signs illegally, being "in bed with the union" (OK that one isn't so small). . And if these things are so visible - it makes me worry about what lies under the surface. Haven't made up my mind yet...but not leaning in that direction right now.

Please Please Please don't vote for Siddiqui or Giles! Remember that they believe that Turf Fields are more important than Roofs over our students heads.
Totally an abuse of our tax payer dollars, in collusion with our ludicrous County Exec. Where the Heck are their priorities? Completely Mis placed!

We are not voting on a glimpse, a self portrait. We are electing people from amongst us to carry our voice and make decisions in our best interest. These people have an obligation to have an open, ongoing discusssion with the public. Take all questions, hear all concerns. DeLacy has made herself available nonstop to everyone at Howardpubliced. Ballinger is also a member there. Gertler is, well at the public library but I believe he too would make himseelf available constantly. That leaves us with 3 candidates who have shunedinclusion of the public. Scott who spearheaded the charade to take away our vote and seek an appointment now wants our vote. Ciles and Siddiqui did not show up at the Elkridge forum which is ground zero for overcroding, no land for schools, exclusion and years of neglect which has brought us to busing/redistricting. They were silent at the BOE meeting when the redistricting plan was presented. The incumbants are responsible for allowing segregation in Howard county, responsible for our children who are sent to college with no skills and at HCC where 1,000 children go each year, 70% need remedial ed and only 13% graduate.

I challeng every candidate to participate in open discussion with the public from now until the election or step down.

I am supporting Bob Ballinger ! He talks about the issues and gives ways he hopes to fix them. He is not just talk. You can see his passion for education when he speaks. My vote on Nov. 6 is for Bob Ballonger.

I met Mr.Ballinger when he knocked on my door. He said he wasn't for teaching to the test and that Union President is always criticizing him so that earns my vote

I will be voting for Gertler, DeLacy, and Ballinger.

De Lacy gets my vote. She has unmatched experience of anyone running or currently sitting on the board in addition to wanting to change the direction of the schools and has an actual plan on how to do it. And how is "being in bed with the union" being turned against her and taking such negative connotations? The union endorsed THREE candidates, she being one of them. She was the union president for 6 years and isn't shy about it. She was a teacher for more than 30 years so she was a part of it. So I'm not understanding how having intricate knowledge of how the system works (or doesn't work) is all of a sudden a bad thing.

Anyone but Siddiqui! Pretty sure those of us living through the Ducketts Lane travesty won't be voting for ANY incumbents. Just get rid of them all ...

Who of these candidates are associated with or friends of ken Ulman? I wont vote for any of them that in that crowd. And which of them supports this constant redistricting crap?

@Greg G., I can tell you that Ann De Lacy was at every Area Adjustment 'Committee'/Redistricting meetings over the summer in protest of the redistricting and I don't think any of the other candidates can say the same. In addition, Scott is being helped along, in someway or another (undisclosed of course) by the Ulman camp. And @ EL, you can't believe everything you hear. I encourage you to do your own research or get in touch with the candidates themselves. See who responds the fastest and answers any questions, concerns or criticisms you may have. Happy voting!

DeLacy, Gertler, and Scott! (I think it's appropriate to mention all three in the comments part).

David Gertler may be the most refreshing and genuine person to run for BOA in my lifetime. So very smart with no false humility, I've been very impressed by him.

Ann delacy provides a critical bridge that the other candidates lack(and we have a gifted group of candidates!): decades of hands on experience with teachers, parents and school administrators.

She has seen the "fads" in education come and go. She knows what works, what doesnt work, what changes are truly important to consider, and which changes arent worth the time of our teachers and students and the dollars of our taxpayers here.

We are blessed to have a county relatively independent in fiscal means; thus, Howard can maintain what it does well, change what needs to be changed, expand opportunity to those who still need a helping hand, and maintain independence from unwarranted state, federal and foundation pressures that dont meet our kids and our county's particular needs.

Ann has the wisdom of the classroom teacher and the discerning critic who keeps what works, discards what doesnt and asks the tough questions that those who seek consensus for consensus sake wont or dont.

We have a seven person board: If there isnt room for at least one Ann de Lacy on a Howard School Board, then we are doomed to follow and not lead. That is not the Howard County way, in my opinion.

Bob Ballinger - hands down is the best candidate and gets my vote!!
I have met Ann DeLacy on several occasions. She is rude, arrogant and self-seeking.
I have seen her in action with the union, and she cares MORE about the union than the children.

I have met Ann as well, and I can tell you she cares passionately for the welfare of the students above all else. She recognizes that students learn differently and that the schools need to nurture that rather than ignoring it and treating everyone the same. If she is elected, she will base every vote on what is best for the students. She has a passion for education I have seen in no other candidate.

Leslie, unfortunately I have not seen that side of Ann. I can only base my opinion on what I have actually seen - and it isn't positive for our children.

Ann DeLacy has lots of signs up on public lands (median strips, etc.). I don't think I've seen a single sign of hers in the yard of an actual supporter.

Siddiqui, Giles, Scott. The least "tainted" by HCEA endorsements.

I'm not certain I'd say that Siddiqui and Giles are untainted, remember they danced to the county Executive's tune in spending our precious few dollars on turf fields while schools have leaky roofs.
They are definitely under the control of the CE.

H.R. Pufnstuf, you are incorrect. And note that these laws were nullified two years ago. It is shameful that a local blogger did not do his homework before making reckless and factually incorrect statements about laws relating to sign placement.
http://www.carrollstandard.com/politics/nobama-2012/8980-howard-county-nullifies-sign-code-restrictions-on-political-signage

Let me make it clear that even though she pretends to be an agent of change, there could not be anyone who supports the "status quo" more than Ann De Lacy and her campaign.

It is sadly comical how we are debating the issues and the candidates, most of them have found some sort of benefit in their silence. Do we really want our children's future to rest on what has deteriorated to a coin toss? These people need to be publicly vetted and with so much discussion about technology in our schools there is no reason for these 6 candidates not to make themselves available from now until the elections in any of the available public venues such as Howardpubliced, Explorehoward, Patch or any other. The people we elect have an obligation to engage in public discussion. We had a very poor turnout in the primary with a lot of groups exploiting the public for their personal gain. We lost some very good candidates, Mr. Andrews has been discussing issues for over 2 years and Mrs. Kornreich has been at the very front of the discussion on overcrowding and the disparity between the east and west since befor the 2010 elections yet here they both are still fighting for our children. Where are the candidates?

I agree with some of your sentiments Jack, but let it be noted that some candidates have made themselves more widely accessible than others. De Lacy is all over HowardPublicEd and has been visible at every BOE meeting and redistricting committee meeting. If people want to talk to her, she is readily available always at public forums.

While being at the BOE meetings may be a good thing, I think the general population really doesn't care about the message board howardpubliced. People were getting fed up with that place and jumping ship for a while.

And serious question....how did Ms. DeLacy try to stop the race to the top thing? I have seen/read this a few times but would like to know the details. thanks.

I am not the person to answer your very thoughtful question about Race To the Top, but I can say this: Ann is out in the community every day. She has served as a judge for the Simulated Congressional Hearings several years in row, she is on her local village board, she regularly volunteers at her local elementary school, she is beginning her 8th year on the Operating Budget Review Committee, she attended every AAC meeting, she has attended every candidate forum, she attends school and community events throughout the County and much, much more. She was doing this well before her campaign for BoE and will be doing it long after, because that is fundamentally who she is. Nearly every time I go anywhere with her, former students approach her, often telling her how much she meant to them. I have also witnessed many conversations Ann has had with teachers who express gratitude for her leadership of the HCEA, and for specific challenges she helped them address.

I can only speak for myself, but I was drawn to Ann's campaign in large part because she is the real deal. I know that win or lose, she will always be community minded and will always be looking for ways to work for the common good.

Back to Howardpubliced and RTTT you will find a discussion on the next grant due Oct 30

in the face of frankenstorm's approach, board chair french has called a special board meeting monday morning (see below) to address a grant proposal which staff has been feverishly working on under dr. foose's direction in an effort to meet a federal deadline for submission by november 1. considering the wx forecast, i can't in good faith urge people to venture out tomorrow morning to attend the board's special meeting, but, i do encourage you to consider watching the proceedings on cable.

the purpose of the meeting is to consider and vote on a grant application for funds to address opportunity and achievement gaps that currently exist in howard county public schools for hispanic and african american students, students receiving special education services, students living in poverty, and english language learners. the proposed methodology will use, inter alia, technology to "dissolve the false divisions between 'school' and 'life' by extending instruction into the students’ homes and communities."

i look forward to the presentation and discussion of this ambitious proposal.

allen dyer

The problem here is lack of public awareness and input just as before. This is why DeLacy and so many others raised concern over it.

Now as to Howardpubliced, I don't care where the discussion is. I only care that it takes place. It is real clear the majority of people who want the job of governing over our children's future either have nothing to say or they do not care what we have to say on the issues.

GEEZ really I would like to clean house.. I dont like anyone they all seem to have an agenda.. not in the interest of education or children.. sorry to say..I think the whole Board of education needs a serious over haul.. like everyone is fired and lets conduct some interviews and select better candidates that dont have so much at stake.. like a pension or underlying motives..