The Big Story

The big story: County Council members Jen Terrasa and Calvin Ball have filed a resolution asking the Maryland State Board of Education to contract for a performance audit of HCPSS. The language of the resolution specifically addresses:

1. Legal fees and the use of outside legal council
2. The procurement process
3. Special education staffing and services, including out of school placement

It appears that the tide has turned. The council has tired of disdain and will not take no for an answer. This is a remarkable turn of events. Terrasa and Ball are responding both to council concerns in dealing with the school system, and constituent concerns. They are taking a stand for more transparency and accountability.

Music to my ears.

Meanwhile, a smaller story that has big implications is the news that Nayab Siddiqui, husband of BOE incumbent candidate Janet Siddiqui, is harassing poll workers for challenger candidates at early voting locations. Mr. Siddiqui and another member of the campaign have been following other campaign's volunteers, contradicting their conversations with the public, and shadowing them so closely as to make it impossible for them to have conversations with anyone. This borders on stalking.

At the same time, someone (and I would suggest this is related activity) is concocting false Facebook accounts to troll discussions about challenger candidates, and is creating false sign-ups for poll volunteer shifts. This is truly vile behavior. These actions are being performed in support of the one candidate who favors the status quo in the Howard County Schools.

Just think about that for a minute.

These kind of desperate and unethical dirty tricks are the last gasp of someone whose desire to remain in power has absolutely nothing to do with public service. I wouldn't want to be in the same room with someone who condoned this kind of behavior, much less let them anywhere near Howard County education policy.

Are we moving toward a new day for the Howard County Schools? The Magic Eight Ball over at my house says, "all signs point to yes."

I'm looking forward to voting after work today.