Board Decides to Renew Grasmick's Contract
The state Board of Education agreed today to renew State Superintendent Nancy Grasmick's contract for another four years, despite a request from leading lawmakers and Gov. Martin O'Malley's administration to delay such a step until at least the summer.
O'Malley (D) has made no secret of the fact that he wants a new state schools superintendent: Grasmick, who's held the top position for 16 years, drew his ire with her handling of Baltimore schools during his tenure as mayor.
But he doesn't pick the superintendent--the state school board does. By July, he would have enough appointees on the board to determine who would serve in the superintendent slot. That's why his administration and state lawmakers were lobbying the school board not to decide on Grasmick's contract today. The board, dominated by members appointed by former governor Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. (R), went into a closed session a little before noon and emerged shortly before 3.
"It's a horrible mistake made by hangers-on of the previous governor to embarrass this governor," Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller (D-Calvert) said this afternoon. "If the General Assembly needs to take remedial steps, there's certainly that willingness."
O'Malley's office released only a terse statement, saying: "We have no comment on the action of the outgoing school board. The Governor will announce three new board members tomorrow, who will take office July 1."
In recent months, O'Malley has floated the idea of asking the legislature to give him direct appointing authority of the superintendent. Miller has voiced support for the move, and House Speaker Michael E. Busch (D-Anne Arundel) has said that he is willing to consider it but that he does not think personality conflicts should drive education policy.
More recently, O'Malley and lawmakers have started exploring the possibility of changing the law so that the superintendent serves at the pleasure of the board. That could allow the board to fire Grasmick in July, once O'Malley has a majority of appointees.
In a letter released yesterday, Miller and House Speaker Michael E. Busch urged the "lame duck" school board not to reappoint the superintendent.
"The common law principle prohibiting 'lame duck' appointments provides that members of a governmental body cannot make appointments that extend beyond the term of their office. Likewise contracts extending beyond the appointment of a governing board have been invalidated under this same common law provision prohibiting the binding of successor authorities."
By Phyllis Jordan |
December 11, 2007; 3:12 PM ET
| Category:
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Posted by: Robin Ficker Broker Robin Realty | December 11, 2007 2:04 PM
I'm a registered Democrat, but if this situation were reversed and it was the O'Malley-chosen board members who stuck it to Ehrlich, they would be praised for not caving to political pressures and Ehrlich and company would have been trashed as politicizing education policy at the expense of our children. But now that Miller, Busch and O'Malley don't like it, they think it's perfectly reasonable for the Governor to make the decision. Were Ehrlich still there, they would say it's none of his business. It would be nice to see some reporting on the hypocracy.
Posted by: Annapolis | December 11, 2007 4:53 PM
This is a classic case of OMalley wanting to use a position for patronage and a political handout (like an ambassadorship).
The reason OMalley didn't like Grasmick is because the Baltimore school district is both an embarrassment and a national disgrace and Grasmick wanted to change the collossal failure that it is. OMalley didn't like that because it put the spotlight on another OMalley failure. Its like OMalley claiming he made Baltimore "a safer city". Look at the FBI crime index compared to D.C. (another scary, violent city). Baltimore is almost 25% greater (which is 4-5 times the national crime average).
Posted by: Anonymous | December 11, 2007 5:15 PM
The Governor has the best interest of the students of Maryland in mind. Grasmick, the Queen of testing, is nothing more than the mouth piece of the College Board & Co. As an educator, she needs to lead by example and understand that every student can not be judged by a number. The HSA debacle rests solely in her hands. She has failed every student who can learn but can not pass a test!
Posted by: Anonymous | December 11, 2007 5:34 PM
Granted, the school board is free to renew her contract at this point, but she is a disgrace who sold out to Ehrlich and the General Assembly should take a look at changing the current statute to get her out of there.
Posted by: sj | December 11, 2007 6:06 PM
I only ask what has she done? That can be a question for both sides. montgomery and howard are good because folks invest in their systems. she aparently shows off at the expense of PG and Baltimore quite often too.
So I ask what has she done?
Posted by: robgreg | December 11, 2007 6:14 PM
What a disgrace! Gransmick is the only consistant variable to the poor performance of Maryland public schools since she arrived in 1991. She's arrogant and superficial. Having her name on the office building she occupies, and I did not say work is the opposite of humility. Her husband bought her the job years ago from Shaeffer for a few dollars in political contributions and the children of Maryland have been suffering ever since. Nancy do the children a real favor and go away. Your performance has been verified by the poor performance of the schools since you were annointed in 1991. What a waste....so sad.
Posted by: quavaduff | December 11, 2007 7:09 PM
The only reason that Grasmick continues to hold her position is because she is an extremely wealthy woman who is feared by politicians. Did you know that Nancy Grasmick owns major interests in dozens of office buildings and shopping centers in Maryland? Did you know that she is, by far, the wealthiest political appointee in the state, and that she is worth over $50 million? The Grasmicks control property development throughout much of central Maryland and have amazing influence on almost every politician.
Check out her most recent financial disclosure at:
http://www.publicintegrity.org/docs/statedisclosure/executive/MD-10001526.pdf
Posted by: MoCo | December 11, 2007 7:17 PM
Thanks MoCo.....How can Grasmick even relate? I have heard she is very arrogant and believes her wealth justifies her wants. Does she even have children/grandchildren. Hasn't she experimented with our children enough? I hope O'Malley and the General Assembly put into structure that does not allow a rich person to buy our children as their props.
Posted by: quavaduff | December 11, 2007 7:59 PM
This has really upset Martin. Martin is going to pout and grimace and I hope he doesn't do something rash like quit his band! Martin looks so dreamy when he straps on his cute little guitar and prances around onstage wearing that HOT, tight, black, form-fitted, sexy muscle shirt that just drives us women crazy!
You GO, Martin!
Posted by: baltimoregal | December 11, 2007 9:09 PM
The comments to this entry are closed.
Why not appoint Blair Ewing to the job? He was one of only four out of twelve who voted not to replace graduation tests on the 3 Rs with R@R projects. Or try to steal Michelle Rhee from the District. She would cut costly administrative non-teaching overhead and demand more achievements of students not fewer accomplishments.