The Board's Relationships
With Other Groups
Inasmuch as the county Board is directly responsible
for the county school system, the Board maintains
relationships with six major groups within the
state and the county. Its continuing relationships
with these groups enable the Board to coordinate
school policy with the best interests of both
the pupils and the residents of the county.
Relationships with each group are outlined briefly
below.
State Government
County Government
School Personnel
Students
Area Educational
Advisory Councils
County Residents
State Government
As an agency established by the state, the county
Board works with the State Department of Education
in maintaining an effective public school system.
Through the State Department, the Board annually
receives funds to help support many of the operations
of county public schools. The state of Maryland
provides money for county school programs such
as partial salary reimbursements for selected
personnel positions designated by state law
and a general grant based upon number of pupils
enrolled and the number of classroom teachers
employed. Money is also provided for school
construction and special education. The Board
and staff also cooperate closely with the county
delegation to the legislature.
County Government
Coordination of the school program with other
services of the county government requires liaison
and close cooperation with many agencies of
the county government. The Board annually submits
its school budget request to the county government
for review and enactment, and receives an outstanding
majority of its revenue from the county government.
The Board works closely with county agencies
such as the county offices of planning and zoning,
health, recreation and parks, and public libraries.
The relationship with the Department of Recreation
and Parks is particularly close and includes
a practice of joint site acquisition.
School Personnel
Inasmuch as the Superintendent of Schools serves
as the executive officer of the system, relations
with school personnel are maintained through
the Superintendent. However, the Board's areas
of authority include appointing or discharging
school personnel upon recommendation of the
Superintendent, and establishing personnel policies
relative to such matters as salary schedules,
benefits and number of positions. School personnel
may appear before the Board when necessary or
may be represented through such groups as the
Teachers Association of Baltimore County on
matters of interest to county teachers in general.
Students
Students may appear independently before the
Board or may be represented through the Baltimore
County Regional Association of Student Councils
which the Board recognizes as the voice of the
student body.
Area Educational Advisory
Councils
The school system is divided geographically
into five administrative areas with each having
an Area Educational Advisory Council appointed
by the Board. Comprised of residents from each
area, the advisory councils provide a broader
base of citizen input into education. Citizens
in each area can express their concerns about
education to the advisory councils. In turn,
the councils are encouraged to alert the Board
of these concerns and to submit recommendations.
County Residents
The Board invites the public to visit or to
be heard during regular meetings and from time
to time requests citizens to serve on special
committees and study groups. Public hearings
are also held during the period of budget preparation.
To keep residents informed of developments in
the county public schools, the Board authorizes
such information projects as:
- news releases to the media
- informative television programs
- community newsletters to residents
- brochures describing the school system
School personnel in individual county schools
serve as a continual communications "link"
between the Board and county residents. Additionally,
Board members speak to various civic and community
groups as requested.
