Evening star., 1951-01-20
'CountyPTAHits
Plan for Elected
School Board
Montgomery PTA and
Women Voters Also
Join Opposition
By J. B. Zotmon

By J. B. Zotmon
A plan by Montgomery Ccunty's
delegation to the Maryland Cen
eral Assembly to sponsor legisla-
ton for an elected School Board
has run into further objections
this time from the heads of the
County Council of Parent Teacher
Associations and the League of
Women Voters.
A similar stand against the
proposal has been taken by Car
roll F.. Palmer, 1911 Oakview
drive, Silver Spring, former presi-
dent of the Prince Georges
County Council of Parent-Teacher
Associations.
Montgomery County Manager
Irving G.. McNayr started the
fight against the plan when he
appeared before the delegation
Monday night in Annapolis. At
that time he said he favored a
system under which the board
would be appointed by the Gov
ernor from a list of names sub
mitted by the County Council.
Taxing Authority Urged.
At present, the board is named
by the Governor from names rec
commended by the State Central
Committee of the political party
in power.
Mr.. McNayr also told the dele
gates that if they insisted on in
PRODUCING their bill. they should
include a provision giving the
School Board full taxing author
ity over school operations and the
power to issue school construction
bonds.
David L. Weed. president of the
Montgomery PTA Council, said
today the organizations Executive
Committee has urged the delega-
ton to withhold it's bill pending a
convention to revise the States
84-year-old constitution.
Staggered Terms Proposed.
He recommended that the docu-
ment be changed to permit non
partisan elections and staggered
terms of School Board members.
In the meantime, he said. the
PTA Council would continue its
procedure of holding nominating
conventions. at which the names
of prospective board members
would be submitted to the Gov
ernor for appointment. The first
such meeting was held last spring
and resulted in the appointment
by former Gov. Lane of Mrs. Ben
B. Baylor to the board.
"As far as I personally am con-
cerned," Mr.. Weed said, II object
to having the Governor appoint
the School Board from a list pre-
sented by the County Council or
having the council itself appoint
the board. I still favor an elected
board, but on a partisan basis
and with staggered terms for its
members
He added the question will be
discussed at council meeting at
8 pm. Tuesday in the Bradley
Elementary School. The organi-
zation includes representatives
from approximately 4S local par
ent-teacher groups.
McNayr Plan Endorsed.
Mrs. James v. Bennett, presi-
dent of the League of Women
Voters. Endorsed Mr.. McNayr's
proposal to have the Governor
appoint board members from a
County Council list.
Emphasizing she was speaking
only for herself, Mrs. Bennett said
such a method would constitute
greater home rule for county resi-
dents by bringing the board
closer to the people" ;"
She expressed the fear that the
delegations plan would make the
board more political, unless its
members could be elected on a
non-partisan basis without the
necessity of entering party pri-
maries.
| Mr.. Palmer also favored an ap-
pointed school board. but ex-
pressed the belief members should
be named by the Governor on
recommendation of the county's
Legislative delegation.
Elections "Used as Springboard."
He said an investigation of COM
munities where School Boards are
elected showed the elections "are
used as a springboard for tyro
politicians who do not have the
political stature to enter the po-
litical arena in some other elec-
tive Office"
He added that under some
circumstances. persons who would
make desirable School Board Off
cials will not subject themselvs
to the harassments of public
elections
Finally, Mr.. Palmer took issue
with Mr.. McNayr's proposal to
vest taxing authority in the School
Board, if it is elected.
"The School Board" he de-
clared, sis mainly policy-making
body for the operation of the
schools and as such is best di-
vorced from the authority to tax
and issue bonds for their A.
names"