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Rushern Baker

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Report: Nearly 160 Apply for School Board's Open Seats

The applicants are vying for four open seats on Prince George's County Board of Education, county officials told The Washington Post.

Interest in being on the Prince George's County Board of Education has peaked since County Executive Rushern L. Baker III's legislation passed to expand the school board and appoint the chief of the school district. According to The Washington Post, about 160 people applied for the four open positions on the school board. Baker's education liaison, Christian Rhodes, told the Post that applicants vary from active parents, CEOs, university professors and civic leaders. Read more about the school board applicants on The Washington Post.

Friday, April 26, 2013

Prince George's Schools Interim Superintendent Resigns Early

The interim superintendent said his last day would be June 3.

Prince George's County Public Schools Interim Superintendent Alvin L. Crawley has announced his resignation, effective June 3, the school board reported late Thursday. "“It is with mixed emotion that I submit my letter of resignation," Crawley told the Board. "I have enjoyed my tenure as Interim Superintendent of Schools and appreciate the support of our Board, staff, parents, students, and members of the community. I am very proud of the accomplishments we have achieved during my tenure.” Crawley was a finalist for superintendent of schools, however, he and the two other finalists decided to withdraw, citing significant changes in the school system's structure. Those changes were a part of County Executive Rushern L. Baker III's plan to …

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Baker Travels to Japan to Celebrate UMUC Asia Commencement

The county executive will deliver the graduating class's commencement speech.

Prince George's County Executive Rushern L. Baker III left today for Okinawa, Japan, to be the University of Maryland University College (UMUC) Asia campus' commencement speaker on Saturday, according to a statement from Baker's office.  “I am excited that the University of Maryland University College selected me to deliver the commencement address for the Asia campus in Okinawa," Baker said in the statement. "UMUC is one of Prince George’s County’s major educational institutions and my trip there highlights the international impact that Prince George’s County businesses, institutions and people are having throughout the world." He will be speaking at 3 p.m. Japan Standard Time on April 20. “UMUC has been on the cutting-edge of distant …

superrichard04

12:40 pm on Thursday, April 18, 2013

What a waste. Surely UMUC could have reached out to someone else other than Baker. Wonder how much his pockets are being lined for taking this trip and speaking???   more ›

Monday, April 15, 2013

Baker on Bombing: 'We Remain a Nation of Heroes and Patriots'

The Prince George's County executive extended his 'thoughts and prayers' to the victims of the deadly explosions.

Prince George's County Executive Rushern Baker released the following statement in response to Monday's bombing at the Boston Marathon: Today our country grieves again. The thoughts and prayers of the residents of Prince George’s County are with the victims this evening, their families, the participants and spectators at the marathon, and the City of Boston. I grew up in Springfield, Massachusetts, which is not too far from Boston, so I know how much Patriots’ Day means to the people of that region. Marked with the annual running of the Boston Marathon, this is a day of local celebration, pride, and unity that is shared with the national and international community. Today, we witnessed moments after this attack, public safety officials and…

Red White and Blue

11:51 am on Friday, April 19, 2013

I have to give big thumbs up to Rushern Baker, I really think he is making a difference in politics and the county of PG. It is nice to see what seems to be a smart, honest county executive it is the first in about 50 years, keep up the good work Mr. Baker and keep trying to take over the school board, fire every one of them and it will do nothing but improve the schools and lives of all children…   more ›

Monday, April 8, 2013

O'Malley Praises Baker's School System Involvement

The governor says a plan to give Prince George's County Executive Rushern Baker more control over the schools system "is a good thing."

Gov. Martin O'Malley had nothing but praise for a bill that gives Prince George's County Executive Rushern Baker more power over the school system. "I think it's a good thing," O'Malley said while speaking to reporters Monday afternoon in the waning hours of the 2013 General Assembly session. The powers granted to Baker in the bill surpass any other Maryland county executive. The bill passed Saturday in the House of Delegates gives Baker broader powers over the selection of the next superintendent of the Prince George's County Public Schools system. The legislation gives the county executive the ability to select the next superintendent of the $1.7 billion schools system from a list of three names provided to him by a search committee. It …

Lynn

6:41 pm on Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Remember when our ELECTED school board was removed back in early 2000's? THAT was when Rushern Baker was a delegate and head of the PG delegation. He was hiding in his office when we went to Annapolis to protest. The state put in their appointees...Big improvement...NOT! When Wayne Curry and his bunch of AAA's (Affluent African Americans) took over the county with their elitist atttitude and UN- …   more ›

Baker Gains More Control Over Schools

New legislation gives the Prince George's County Executive expanded powers over the public school board of education.

The search process for a new Prince George's school superintendent candidate will begin anew in the next few months, this time with county excecutive Rushern Baker at the helm. Legislation passed by the Maryland General Assembly Saturday gives Baker the authority to select the next superintendent of the county's public schools, a position that will now be called the chief executive officer. The legislation, pending Gov. Martin O'Malley's signature, goes into effect on June 1. Under the new legislation, O’Malley will select a three-person search committee, which will then select three candidates for the school CEO position. Baker will select the new CEO from this list of finalists. The three original finalists, who were selected by the …

Dorothy Ginter

8:35 pm on Monday, April 8, 2013

The legislation gives the County Executive the right to appoint 3 new members, as well as naming the Chair and Vice-Chair of the BOE. It will be interesting to see just how the Board of Ed will be able increase the academic performance of the students, when the curriculum is really set at the State level through the State Superintendent of Schools and the State Board of Education as mandated …   more ›

Friday, April 5, 2013

Final Two Superintendent Candidates Withdraw

One candidate withdrew earlier this week, and now two more have left the search process, leaving the future of the county schools uncertain.

Prince George's County Public Schools announced Friday evening that the remaining two superintendent candidates have withdrawn from the search process, citing an uncertainty in leadership as a reason. Alvin L. Crawley, the interim superintendent, and Harrison Peters notified the Prince George’s County Board of Education of their decision to withdraw Friday. Dr. Eric Becoats, another finalist, withdrew on April 2.  The Board of Education issued the following statement: “All three candidates were considered for the position under the current PGCPS governance structure. However, due to the disruption that occurred with this process and the uncertainty of the leadership of the school system in the coming months, we accept and understand why …

tcmitssr

1:22 am on Monday, April 8, 2013

Wish list for School Superintendent - Michelle Rhee. We know we'd have excellence if she should, somehow, be convinced to take over the mess that this county's school system is now.   more ›

Monday, March 25, 2013

Baker Hosts Telephone Town Hall To Discuss Proposed School Takeover

The Prince George's County executive will discuss his plan with county residents Tuesday.

As the debate between Prince George's County Executive Rushern Baker and the school board about his proposal to take control of Prince George's County Public Schools is heating up, Baker is set to address the public in a telephone town hall Tuesday night. Baker and members of the school board testified in front of the Prince George's delegation about his proposal for Integrated School Governance of Prince George’s County Public Schools over the weekend. However, both parties remain at odds. In his testimony, Baker said there's a "dire" need for the county to end its below average school system performance and described how his proposal would improve school operations. Baker tweeted Monday, "Under proposal, CEX appoints education expert to …

superrichard04

3:24 pm on Thursday, March 28, 2013

Baker is a fool. He doesn't even have control of Prince George's County, let alone running his mouth about wanting to take charge of the school system. Prince George's County schools will always be at or near the bottom of the academic totem pole along with Baltimore City school system. Why? Because of what you have in the school system. No County Executive, no Board, no structural change nor a …   more ›

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

SPEAK OUT: Should Baker Have More Control Over PGCPS?

The Prince George's County Board of Education has decried the move saying it is unnecessary and reduces public oversight.

The Prince George’s County Board of Education (BOE) released a statement Monday declaring its opposition to County Executive Rushern Baker’s recent move to gain more control over public schools, saying the proposed legislation falls short of reform and is an unnecessary distraction. If passed, Baker claims the legislation would give autonomy to the superintendent and more resources to the schools. It would also give him more control of the superintendent hiring process and the proposed $1.7 billion Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS) budget. But the nine-member elected BOE argues that the bill would reduce public oversight and does not recognize student achievement: Do you think Prince George’s County Public Schools would be …

NewPGCPSMom

12:11 pm on Friday, May 3, 2013

As a resident with a child that attends a PGCPS school, I absolutely welcome a county takeover. The alleged nepotism and corruption that continues to surround this board and some of the leaders in Upper Marlboro is appalling. The status quo should not be allowed to continue.   more ›

Monday, March 18, 2013

Report: County Executive Seeks More Control of Public Schools

The Prince George's County Executive is pushing for legislation that would put him in charge of the school system's budget and more, reports NBC4.

Prince George’s County Executive Rushern Baker wants to take a more active role in the county’s public education system. Baker thinks he has the solution to fix the county school system, and is pushing for legislation that would give him more control over the Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS) budget and superintendent hiring process, reports NBC4. "My proposal is an effort to make our schools stronger by using all the resources the County government has to offer so that our children and families have the tools they need to be successful,” said Baker in a statement, according to NBC 4.  Baker told the news station that his plan would give the superintendent more autonomy and the school system more resources.  Currently, PGCPS's …

Barbara J Miller

1:03 pm on Thursday, March 21, 2013

"The position was vacated last year when former superintendent William Hite left after six years in the position ... The school system has had five different superintendents in the past ten years." Hite was not Superintendent for six years -- possibly two max. This is the problem the school system is having. We don't hire leaders with commitment to the system. They seem to just use it as a …   more ›

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