SB 222
Department of Legislative Services
Maryland General Assembly
2020 Session
FISCAL AND POLICY NOTE
Third Reader - Revised
Senate Bill 222 (Senator Beidle, et al.)
Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Ways and Means
Anne Arundel County Board of Education – Annual Meeting and Election of
Officers
This bill requires the Anne Arundel County Board of Education to hold its annual meeting
on (or as near as possible to) the first Wednesday in December. At the annual meeting, the
bill requires the school board to elect a president and vice president from among its elected
members. The president and vice president serve a one-year term. The bill also enables an
individual who fills a vacancy to be elected to serve as president or vice president. The bill
takes effect July 1, 2020.
Fiscal Summary
State Effect: None.
Local Effect: The bill does not materially affect Anne Arundel County Public School
System finances or operations.
Small Business Effect: None.
Analysis
Current Law: Generally, each local school board must hold an annual meeting on (or as
near as possible to) the second Tuesday in July. However, in the counties below, the annual
meeting is held as follows:
Allegany County: on the second Tuesday in January;
Montgomery County: on or before January 10;
Prince George’s County: on the first Monday in December;
St. Mary’s County: following the first Monday in December; and
Washington County: in December (on or before the 16th day).
Except as otherwise specified, each local school board must elect a president and a
vice president from among its members by means of an individually recorded vote.
Background: The Anne Arundel County Board of Education is 1 of 19 elected
school boards in the State. There are 4 hybrid school boards and 1 appointed school board.
Appendix – Local Boards of Education shows the selection methods, terms of office, and
membership of the 24 local boards of education.
Additional Information
Prior Introductions: None.
Designated Cross File: HB 287 (Anne Arundel County Delegation) - Ways and Means.
Information Source(s): Anne Arundel County Public Schools; Department of Legislative
Services
Fiscal Note History: First Reader - January 31, 2020
rh/hlb Third Reader - March 15, 2020
Revised - Amendment(s) - March 15, 2020
Analysis by: Eric F. Pierce Direct Inquiries to:
(410) 946-5510
(301) 970-5510
SB 222/ Page 2
Appendix − Local Boards of Education
Number of
School System Members Term Means of Selection1
Allegany 6 4 years E 5 from county at large
1 student (nonvoting, one-year term)
Anne Arundel2 8 4 years E 7 from councilmanic districts
1 student (one-year term)
Baltimore City3 10 3 years A 9 from city at large
1 student (one-year term)
Baltimore4 12 4 years A/E 4 from county at large (appointed)
7 from councilmanic districts (elected)
1 student (one-year term)
Calvert 6 4 years E 2 from county at large
3 from commissioner districts
1 student (nonvoting, one-year term)
Caroline 7 4 years A/E 3 elected from school board districts
2 appointed from county at large
2 students (nonvoting, one-year term)
Carroll 11 4 years E 5 from county at large
5 commissioners ex officio (nonvoting)
1 student (nonvoting, one-year term)
Cecil 6 4 years E 5 from commissioner districts
1 student (nonvoting, one-year term)
Charles 8 4 years E 7 from county at large
1 student (nonvoting, one-year term)
Dorchester 7 4 years E 5 from councilmanic districts
2 students (nonvoting, one-year term)
Frederick 8 4 years E 7 from county at large
1 student (nonvoting, one-year term)
Garrett 6 4 years E 2 from county at large
3 from commissioner districts
1 student (nonvoting, one-year term)
SB 222/ Page 3
Number of
School System Members Term Means of Selection1
Harford 11 4 years A/E 6 elected from councilmanic districts
3 appointed from county at large
1 superintendent ex officio (nonvoting)
1 student (one-year term)
Howard 8 4 years E 2 from county at large
5 from councilmanic districts
1 student (one-year term)
Kent5 6 4 years E 5 from county at large
1 student (nonvoting, one-year term)
Montgomery 8 4 years E 2 from county at large
5 from school districts
1 student (one-year term)
Prince George’s6 14 4 years A/E 9 elected from school board districts
4 appointed by county
1 student (one-year term)
Queen Anne’s 7 4 years E 1 from county at large
4 from commissioner districts
2 students (nonvoting, one-year term)
St. Mary’s 6 4 years E 1 from county at large
4 from commissioner districts
1 student (nonvoting, one-year term)
Somerset 5 4 years E All from commissioner districts
Talbot 9 4 years E 7 from school board districts
2 students (nonvoting, one-year term)
Washington7 8 4 years E 7 from county at large
1 student (nonvoting, one-year term)
Wicomico8 7 4 years E 5 from councilmanic districts
2 from county at large
Worcester 10 4 years E 7 from commissioner districts
3 students (nonvoting, one-year term)
SB 222/ Page 4
1
A = Appointed by Governor, except in Baltimore City, where board is appointed by the Mayor;
E = Elected; and A/E = Combined appointed by Governor and elected board, except in Prince George’s
County.
2
Chapter 473 of 2017 restructured the Anne Arundel County Board of Education from a nine-member
appointed board to an eight-member elected board consisting of seven elected members (one from each of
the seven councilmanic districts on a nonpartisan basis) and one student member. The terms of the elected
members are staggered; four members were elected at the 2018 general election and three members will be
elected at the 2020 general election. In this manner, the elected board is phased in. The members elected in
November 2018 serve a six-year term, while the members elected in 2020 serve a four-year term. Thus,
beginning in 2024, all members must stand for election.
3
Chapter 593 of 2017 repealed the role of the Governor in making appointments to the Baltimore City Board
of School Commissioners; it also repealed the Governor’s role in filling board vacancies and removing
board members. As a result, board members are appointed solely by the Mayor of Baltimore City until the
appointed/elected board established by the legislation is executed at the 2022 general election. Chapter 593
also established the Baltimore City Public School Board Community Panel (which the Mayor must
convene) and specified its membership. The purpose of the panel is to select nominees to be recommended
to the Mayor as qualified candidates for appointment to the board (including candidates for vacancies). If
the Mayor elects not to appoint a member or to fill a vacancy from a list submitted by the panel, the Mayor
must reconvene the panel to submit additional names of qualified candidates. Beginning with the
2022 general election, the board will be restructured as a hybrid board with two members elected from the
city at large, nine members appointed by the Mayor, and one student member. Elected members will serve
a four-year term whereas appointed members will serve a three-year term.
4
Chapters 480 and 481 of 2014 restructured the Baltimore County Board of Education from a 12-member
appointed board (including 1 student member) to a 12-member board consisting of 4 at-large members
appointed by the Governor, 7 nonpartisan members each elected from one of seven councilmanic districts,
and a student member. The elected members were elected at the general election in November 2018 and
serve four-year terms. In addition, Chapters 480 and 481 established the Baltimore County Nominating
Commission. Generally, the commission is responsible for submitting to the Governor at least two names
for each vacancy on the board. The commission consists of 19 members of the county and must reflect the
diversity of the county. Except in extraordinary circumstances, the Governor must appoint members to the
board of education from the list the nominating commission provides.
5
Although not in statute, the Kent County Board of Education reports that there is a nonvoting student
member of the board and that he or she does not attend closed sessions.
6
Chapter 147 of 2013 altered the membership of the Prince George’s County Board of Education by adding
four appointed members to the existing elected board. The county executive appoints three members with
certain experience requirements, and the county council appoints one member who must be a parent of a
student in the county school system. If a seat held by an elected member becomes vacant, the county
executive must appoint a qualified individual for the remainder of the term, with the appointment subject
to rejection by a two-thirds vote of the county council.
7
Although not in statute, the Washington County Board of Education reports that there is a student member
of the board and that he or she can only concur on votes and must abstain from certain matters.
8
Chapter 169 of 2016, subject to referendum, required the restructuring of the Wicomico County Board of
Education. In the 2016 general election, the county approved a fully elected board option, with
five members each elected from one of the five councilmanic districts and two members elected from the
county at large. Members were elected at the general election in 2018 and serve four-year terms.
Source: Annotated Code of Maryland, Education Article, Sections 3-101 through 3-1405; Local Boards of
Education
SB 222/ Page 5
Statutes affected:
Text - First - Anne Arundel County Board of Education - Annual Meeting - Date: 4-107 Education
Text - Third - Anne Arundel County Board of Education – Annual Meeting and Election of Officers: 4-107 Education