Board members say they're sensitive to the complaints and have taken steps to be more responsive. The arrival of Superintendent John O'Rourke, whose hallmark is his attentive ear, is helping. But candidates, citizens who work with the board and even some board members themselves say there's a long way to go. They do tend to draw together. They circle the wagons.
Boards are in the middle.
Often, citizens consider boards inaccessible simply because they're unhappy with a policy. But right now in Howard, it's not just the perpetual naysayers who say the board doesn't listen, but also the people who have worked amicably with the board for years, often getting results they want. The issue of responsiveness peaked this year over concerns about perceived inequities among schools. Parents felt that their complaints about air-conditioning systems, computer shortages and uneven test scores went unheard. They went to the County Council, which took the unusual step of conducting hearings, and to the county executive, who expressed dismay to then-superintendent Michael Hickey.