The key to this meeting is that the commissioners as a group are proposing cuts that will have a real impact on children's education in this county. We need to pay attention to the entire process and step up and support the superintendant and the BOE and become vocal. I wonder if the citizens were to rise up and attend commissioners' meetings in droves, would we be able to affect change? I watched the entire meeting last night, and it was an important one. The ones coming up will be even more important.

Unfortunately these Commissioners have their own agenda, and they aren't exactly the most transparent bunch. They already have a problem following the states Open Meetings Act- I'm sure this is something they are going to try and figure out on their own, in a closed session to avoid public comment. I find it so interesting that Frazier's children did NOT attend public schools and yet she has so much to say about the school system. The parents need to wake up and attend the commissioners meetings, ultimately they hold the purse strings in this county.

"Guthrie announced that his staff has expertise in educating students, not closing facilities."
Is this not the same group that OK'ed cutting 40 buses and wreaked havoc on folks schedules?
S, you're right, parents need to wake up.

It is very important to remember the Manchester Valley High school is the problem. The previous board of commissioners wanted it built and it was built and now adds millions to the school budget that would be better served in the class room. No one wants to admit that it is the problem but the fact that it along with North Carroll High are half empty says a lot. If the enrollment projections hold those schools will remain way under capacity for the next 10 years. If you want to compare those 2 schools to Liberty...MVAL has about 220,000 square feet of so space for its approx. 600 studens and North Caroll has about 240,000 square feet of space for its approx. 600 students. Liberty as about 155,000 square feet of space for its approx. 1200 students.

Good decisions come as a result of experience....Experience, unfortunately comes as a result of bad decisions in many instances.
Having followed the ethically challenged decisions of this BOC very closely, I would have to agree that the real problems occur as a result of personal Commissioner agenda that does not seem to have the best interest of Carroll citizens first.
Carroll County communities are experiencing some very bad decisions while the BOC gains experience through repeated bad decisions. I still believe that most if not all of these decisions are politically motivated rather than public service related.
When meetings are full~ decisions are tabled until the meetings aren't full for one reason or another...bottom line ____ weak, inexperienced leadership prevails in Carroll. Blame it on public apathy.

This was an incredibly long meeting, but as a parent of CCPS children, I believe the dialogue between Superintendent Guthrie, Board of Education members and Commissioner Howard was necessary, informative and productive.

Where were Commissioners Roush, Frazier and Rothschild? So telling that that do not come to the meeting to hear the results of the study they requested. Mr. Guthrie did a great job defending education in Carroll County. However, I do not agree that the data compiled to date could be reused and handed off to a 3rd party consultancy to complete the presentation of options. The data collected cannot be re-used since it was based on a flawed study to begin with. Also, no consideration was given to social and economic impact within a community when you close a school or restrict. Those factors were not introduced. The impact to local business and property values must be measured. I say we do not spend another dime of tax payer money on a 3rd party firm to complete this study. If the entire BoE board does not agree with closing schools, then we are just throwing away money that could be invested in school facilities or green technology to help drive overhead costs down. If only 2 of 5 commissioners show up, why should we continue to appease them.

Thank you, Board of Ed and Mr. Guthrie for not giving in to pressure and recommending a school for closure.

This school board created the budget debacle through imprudent investment in MVHS with the former BOC's support. Nobody wants to own up to the colossal mistake, so we wait for a bunch of right-wing Tea Party nuts to cut our education system to the bone like everything else. Why do we need a consultant to conduct a real facility utilization study with logical data points like current and expected enrollments? We have Commissioner Rothschild, the smartest living person on the planet! He knows planning, climate science, fiscal planning, economic development and he's a patriot too! Surely education and facility utilization are mere child's play to our resident genius! I'm sure he and his sidekick Frazier can figure out how to cut enough from the schools to pay for a nice voucher program so Frazier can get some financial support from taxpayers to send her kids to Christian school!

Did Commissioner Shoemaker attend this meeting?

A point of clarification - Wednesday's meeting was a regular Board of Education meeting. It was not a joint meeting between the Board of Education and the Board of County Commissioners. Commissioner Howard was at the meeting, sitting on the dias in his capacity as the ex-officio representative of the County Commissioners to the Board of Education. This was not a meeting designed for Commissioner participation beyond that of Commissioner Howard's normal role as ex-offico. Any other Commissioner attending the meeting would have not been allowed to participate unless he/she asked to speak during the normal public comment portion of the meeting. Since this meeting was not an official meeting of the Board of County Commissioners and they were not invited by the Board of Education to participate, each individual Commissioner chose for him/herself whether or not to attend. Commissioner Shoemaker chose to attend the meeting and sat in the audience.
Roberta Windham
Carroll County Media Liaison

Buck, surely you are not implying that Shoemaker is a hypocrite? This couldn't be the same Shoemaker who was for eminent domain and wasting over $300,000 of taxpayer money on the public taking of private land, that is now a steadfast Property Rights nut? Puh-lease...these Commissioners ethics are completely for sale to the highest bidder. They have already made a decision to cut funding of schools and are simply searching for anything that would give them the justification to do so. Funny that Howard is just now waking up to this reality. Shoemaker only cares about himself and his area and will never take personal responsibility for any mistakes he's ever made. In fact, he probably thinks he's never made one. The other 3 long ago decided to screw the schools, as they have no skin (kids in public schools) in the game. All they care about is cutting government, regulation and taxes and of course, taking care of their friends and supporters. It's the Tea Party way.

Condense the students and give us a chance for a privately run charter school....we'll see how great the education system is when it has some real competition. And school vouchers.....Citizens want choice.....are you listening Commissioner Howard??? CHOICE!!! you know, something that represents a conservative value system....you did run and promise citizens a smaller government, did you not???

Vouchers would most likely have to have government strings attached. I'd say provide a fair dollar value in tax incentives for those that choose home or private schooling. An opt out of the public system...without strings attached..

That sounds better Buck Harmon...but I don't think the government is going to let go that easily. Charter schools and vouchers are a great way to provide competition and choice which always improves results. If they really care about kids they would allow another option.

While this is all very entertaining, the real focus should be on the Open Session of the Board of Commissioner's meeting which took place the day after the school board meeting. The school closing/school funding discussions begin 1hr/45min into the meeting. Take a look... Very clear that certain County Commissioners - yes the same that didn't bother to attend the school board meeting - plan to punish the system.

http://carrollcountymd.iqm2.com/citizens/SplitView.aspx?Mode=Video&MeetingID=1702&AgendaID=1571&FileFormat=pdf&Format=Agenda&MediaFileFormat=wmv

I'm happy to know you find parents and children having a choice as to how their tax monies are used with respect to education to be "entertaining". But I must say it is expected....Here's the skinny Kelli Nelson.....these Commissioners, ALL OF THEM, promised smaller, more efficient government....It appears only a few keep their promises....education is the single biggest expense in the budget and has room for improvement....competition by way of school vouchers or charter schools are the way that many local governments are headed to IMPROVE education, not hinder it. the system (education) is punishing CHILDREN and TEACHERS who wish to learn and teach....it needs a serious overhaul and like it or not, there will be a huge fight to widen the choice with respect to tax dollars and education. Society is suffering greatly from this bloated, out of control, inefficient and ineffective system. Bravo to the commissioners who realize this.

I agree Kelli! I watched the BOC meeting and was shocked by Commissioner Rothschild and Rousch's response to the school board meeting. They have already decided that they want schools closed, despite the results of any current or future survey. Commissioner Howard was right when he said that the several of the Commissioners are overstepping their bounds with the school board. The school board was ELECTED to make all decisions regarding CCPS. They should be the ones to decide whether a school should be closed and they should not be threatened by the BOC to close a school or be have their funding reduced. The BOC needs to focus their attention on economic development in CC. This will attract more residents to our county and increase our tax base, ultimately increasing our school enrollment. Parents of CC: it is time to make your opinions known to ALL of the commissioners...and attend the meetings! They need to know that we are watching and we are NOT happy.

Let's take that comment, "The school board was elected to make all decisions regarding CCPS. They should be the ones to decide whether a school should be closed and they should not be threatened by the BOC to close a school or have their funding reduced", a step further.......who pays the elected school board members and the elected BOC? Citizens pay them.... and there are many who want this area of government improved and reformed....I'd be happy to put these issues up for a countywide vote..and you are right....we ARE watching...and there are just as many unhappy citizens on the opposite end of your table Erin and Kelli...

listen, stop with the condescending comments....For me, one of my two children had to attend a magnet school in a neighboring county at my expense because here was nothing offered here in this county for them. the other child did attend the public high school and was accepted in the Information and Technology program to become Cisco certified at the Carrer tech and was taught by a teacher who had not obtained his Cisco certification. My son and another student ordered the Cisco manuals online and went chapter by chapter and taught themselves...prior to their senior graduation both young men applied at Carroll Community College to take the Cisco certification exam and passed...but it was their effort that made that happen. I'm certain it looked wonderful on the resume for the school system but it was not one deserved. I would've loved the opportunity for my children to have a choice. They were lucky that I put them ahead of all of my own personal wish list items to give them the education they worked hard for...I want that now for my grandchildren. And their parents having remembered their experience want the same...CHOICE!!!!