Somerset County Board of Education: Community Pushback Against MAGA-Aligned Policies

The Somerset County Board of Education has recently become the center of controversy following the election of a MAGA-aligned majority. This shift in leadership has led to significant policy changes and actions that have sparked community outrage and prompted intervention from state education officials.

Initial Actions of the New Board

Shortly after the new majority took control, the board initiated a series of changes. These included passing a policy dictating which flags could be flown, attempting to seize decision-making authority from the superintendent, and assuming control over the selection of library books. These actions were seen by many as an overreach of power and a departure from established norms.

The Librarian Controversy

The most contentious issue arose when the board proposed eliminating all school librarian positions. This proposal ignited a firestorm of opposition from parents and teachers, who viewed it as a direct attack on the quality of education in Somerset County. The community rallied in support of the librarians, attending board meetings in large numbers to voice their concerns.

Community Response

Dozens of parents and teachers gathered one May night, waiting for hours as the school board convened behind closed doors to discuss the superintendent’s performance. The meeting adjourned without any public discussion, further fueling community frustration. Joe Hylton, a Black parent, began filming board members as they left the meeting, questioning the proposed cuts to librarian positions and the lack of transparency.

Incident with Board Chair

During this encounter, Board Chair Matthew Lankford, unhappy with Hylton’s questions, called the police, alleging that Hylton was aggressive and threatening. Hylton, who recorded the incident, felt that his race was a motivating factor in Lankford’s actions. The situation was resolved without arrests or charges. Lankford, who declined to be interviewed, had a Trump 2024 sticker on his car.

Superintendent's Position in Jeopardy

Adding to the turmoil, Superintendent Ava Tasker-Mitchell’s job security became uncertain. Tasker-Mitchell had not been present at school graduations, leading to speculation about her status. Two days later, however, she returned to her office, reportedly reinstated by the state school superintendent.

Community Support for the Superintendent

Despite the MAGA-led board's actions, the community rallied in support of Tasker-Mitchell. Black and white residents united to defend her, and the state education department intervened to scrutinize the school board’s decisions. This broad support highlighted the community’s desire to maintain stability and progress within the school system.

Demonstrations of Support

The community's support for Tasker-Mitchell was evident in the standing room-only crowds at school board meetings. Teachers showed solidarity by wearing T-shirts that read “We bank with ATM,” a reference to Ava Tasker-Mitchell. The county board of commissioners, including its Republican members, also voiced their support for Tasker-Mitchell.

Community Perspective

Kendra Clavon, a parent in Somerset County, emphasized the community's unity, stating, "We have all banded together. We are a quaint, family-friendly town." Community meetings, typically small, were filled with residents eager to support Tasker-Mitchell and challenge Lankford's policies.

Superintendent's Background and the Board's Actions

Tasker-Mitchell brought two decades of experience in top-level administrative positions from Anne Arundel and Prince George’s counties to her role as superintendent, overseeing seven schools with 2,700 students.

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Policy Overhaul and Legal Counsel

Almost immediately after Tasker-Mitchell started her job, Lankford began voicing concerns at board meetings. By February, the board initiated a policy overhaul, ending its relationship with a long-time Annapolis-based attorney who represented several Maryland school systems.

Hiring Controversial Legal Representation

The board replaced the previous legal counsel with Marc and Gordana Schifanelli. Gordana Schifanelli was the running mate of Dan Cox, the 2022 Republican gubernatorial candidate endorsed by Donald Trump. The Schifanellis’ practice had not previously included education law. They had a history of assisting in the election of more conservative members to the Queen Anne’s County school board and had called for the resignation of that county’s first Black superintendent, who eventually left and filed a discrimination complaint.

Schifanelli's Efforts to Influence School Boards

After the pandemic, Gordana Schifanelli attempted to build a movement in the Baltimore suburbs, holding meetings with parents to discuss strategies for “overthrowing the status quo.” Despite these efforts, she did not succeed in getting many conservatives elected to school boards.

Historical Context and Racial Undertones

Somerset County has a history of racial tension in its educational system. In 1992, the school board decided not to renew the contract of H. DeWayne Whittington, the first Black superintendent outside of Baltimore to lead a Maryland school system. Whittington was awarded $800,000 after suing the board, and the county was required to name a school after him. Another Black superintendent, hired more than a decade ago, also had his contract not renewed.

Modern-Day Lynching Allegation

Joe Hylton has characterized the attempted firing of Superintendent Tasker-Mitchell as a modern-day lynching. He emphasized the historical significance of Somerset County as the last Maryland county to record a lynching in 1933.

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Hylton's Perspective

Hylton believes that the community is being judged on its response to these events. He said, “The Lord is looking at all of us to see how people in my community react. Will they stay in the dark or will they go toward the light? I think we are being judged on what kind of characters we actually have.”

Superintendent's Response and State Intervention

Tasker-Mitchell has not publicly commented on the situation but has taken action to address the board's behavior.

Request for Lankford's Removal

In May, Tasker-Mitchell requested that the state school board remove Lankford, though the reasons for this request were not detailed in the available documents.

Lankford's Accusations

During board meetings, Lankford has been critical of the superintendent and teachers. He accused educators of spreading rumors and conspiracies to “fire up and motivate the political base” and intimidate board members. He stated that the board would not be intimidated and would “continue to remove DEI from our schools.”

Teacher's Perspective

Barbara Hicks, a teacher and vice president of the union representing Somerset County educators, described the changes as causing significant upheaval in the system, leading to “uncertainty, anxiety, tension.”

State and County Support for Tasker-Mitchell

Tasker-Mitchell has garnered support from both local and state entities.

County Commissioners' Support

The Somerset County commissioners sided with Tasker-Mitchell when the school board attempted to cut $1 million from the budget for librarians. They provided additional funding despite Lankford's opposition and sent a letter to the board expressing their support for Tasker-Mitchell.

State Board of Education Intervention

The Maryland State Board of Education extended a 60-day stay, allowing Tasker-Mitchell to remain in her position while an appeal is heard.

Inspector General's Reports

Maryland’s inspector general for education, Richard Henry, issued two reports questioning the legality of some of the school board’s decisions. The first report suggested that the state could withhold funds if the board failed to approve a new English curriculum. The second report indicated that the board may have violated state law and freedom of speech guarantees by transferring decisions about library books from librarians to the school board.

Curriculum and DEI Concerns

The board's actions have raised concerns about the curriculum and the role of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in Somerset County schools.

Curriculum Vetting

The board delayed the approval of a new English curriculum, which had been developed and piloted over 18 months, citing the need to vet the books. The state had previously found the existing curriculum to be substandard, increasing the urgency for an updated curriculum.

DEI Opposition

Lankford's statement that the board would “continue to remove DEI from our schools” reflects a broader political agenda that has sparked controversy within the community.

Community Impact

Kendra Clavon noted that Tasker-Mitchell spent months listening to parents, teachers, and students to identify areas for improvement in a district that is one of the lowest-performing in the state. She emphasized that in a school system where more than half of the students are children of color, the MAGA agenda is unlikely to be well-received.

Somerset County Public Schools Overview

Somerset County Public Schools consist of nine schools, including one middle school, four elementary schools, three combined schools, and one vocational technical school. The Superintendent of Schools is responsible for administering the school system and serves as the executive officer, secretary, and treasurer of the Board of Education.

Board of Education Composition

The Board of Education comprises seven members. Five are elected by voters to four-year terms, and two nonvoting student members, chosen by student bodies, serve one-year terms.

Historical Context of School Governance in Somerset County

The governance of schools in Somerset County has evolved over time.

Early School Commissioners

In 1816, the General Assembly appointed commissioners to oversee the State school fund in each county, tasking them with establishing central free schools and reporting on fund usage. By 1825, a statewide public education system was formed, with levy courts appointing school commissioners to divide counties into school districts.

Centralization and State Oversight

In 1865, the State Board of Education advocated for a uniform system of free public schools, centralizing control and supervision of public instruction. However, in 1868, county school commissioners regained control over county schools, diminishing the State Board's authority.

Gubernatorial Appointments

In 1892, the Governor gained the power to appoint county school commissioners, further shaping the governance structure.

Transition to Boards of Education

In 1916, boards of county school commissioners were renamed boards of education, reflecting a modernization of the educational administration.

Somerset County Library System

The Somerset County Library System, headquartered in Princess Anne, includes branch libraries in Crisfield and on Smith Island at Ewell. The Crisfield Library, established around 1910, is the oldest in the system.

Crisfield Library History

The Princess Anne Library was housed in the town railway station from 1914. The Lilyan Strattan Corbin Memorial Library, Crisfield's first public library, was dedicated in 1930 and closed in 2016.

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