Like it or lump it, County Executive Baker is almost finished with all his appointments to the Board of Education. The Search Committee for a new Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) announced that three finalists were recommended to Prince George’s County Executive Rushern L. Baker, III for his selection of the County’s PGCPS CEO. County Executive Baker is expected to make the selection of the new Board of Education CEO by the end of this week.
The selection committee, appointed by Governor O’Malley and State Superintendent Dr. Lillian Lowery, was sure to include in their statement: “Due to the confidentiality of the process, the names of the three finalists are not being disclosed to the public,” so I don’t know the names of the finalists.
The Committee reviewed materials submitted from a total of fifty (50) solicited and unsolicited applications. This legislation went into effect on June 1st and today, June 25, all county and county council appointments are in place. For County Executive Baker, this is a must win. For this county, the stakes are high. More children are living in poverty in Prince George’s. The County’s poverty rate has doubled since 2000, going from 4% to 8% and fewer middle class families are sending their children to public schools. See POST. In the meantime, median home prices in the county have jumped from $170k to $220, outside investors are purchasing real estate and development is on the move. Our education system is the critical link between the county drawing the business tax base it needs and the burgeoning echo boomers and baby boomers who are seeking out transit oriented development.
Folks, this has to work.