Conti Fenn LLC| Parents file lawsuit against the Board of Education to block student board member’s vote

WBFF: Parents file lawsuit against the Board of Education to block student board member’s vote

Article by Joseph Ojo, WBFF

BALTIMORE (WBFF)- Some parents with children in Howard County Public Schools want their children back in the classroom.

They have even gone as far as to sue the County’s Board of Education to make sure that it happens.

The two parents with kids in Howard County schools Tracey Spiegel and Kim Ford, say virtual learning is impacting their children.

“It’s isolating for my children we have had to drop levels of difficulty of classes,” said Spiegel.
“I’ve had to take leave and now I’m watching them closer and I’m having to facilitate virtual learning probably twenty to thirty hours a week for both my kids,” said Ford.

Howard County school leaders voted 5 to 2 to extend virtual learning through mid-April back in November, and a recent motion to reassess if school can reopen ended in a 4-4 tie.

Ford told FOX 45, recently she started to wonder why the board was always gridlocked on controversial decisions. Ford along with Spiegel then realized a student board member is deciding on whether schools should reopen.

“17 18 he doesn’t have the life experience to know the impact of no exams and no accountability for students,” said Ford.
The two parents say that a child voting makes no sense and that is why they filed a lawsuit against the county’s Board of Education.

The parents also call the actions of the board unethical, because according to Maryland law, no one under 18 may vote in local elections.

“I wouldn’t want my minor, my 17-year-old daughter making decisions on 58,000 kids going back to school or staying virtual,” said Spiegel.

The Board of Education told FOX 45, “In 2007—the law was changed to increase the Howard County Board of Education to 7 adult members and 1 student member, with partial voting rights. Howard County policies are in alignment with the law.”

“I really think the Howard County Board of Education adults that are putting the pressure on this minor to vote, I think they should be ashamed of themselves.”

Parents say they want to see some form of a hybrid learning, where kids and parents can decide what works best for them.

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December 21 2020 at 9:30 AM by Anthony M. Conti