The Maryland State Board of Education is seeking candidates to serve on the Baltimore City Board of School Commissioners.  The Baltimore City Board of School Commissioners is responsible for raising the level of academic achievement of the students in the Baltimore City Public School System, improving the management and administration of the city’s public school system, and is held accountable for the academic achievement of the public school students in Baltimore City.  Regular public meetings of the Board are held on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month.  Commissioners are appointed for three year terms of office and receive no financial compensation for their service on the Board.  

To be eligible for appointment, candidates must be residents of Baltimore City and be at least 18 years old.  In addition to these requirements, it is highly desirable that candidates possess one or more of the following qualifications:

1.         Possess a high level of knowledge and expertise concerning the successful administration of a large business, non-profit, or governmental entity and have served in a high level management position within such an entity.           

2.         Possess a high level of knowledge and expertise concerning education.            

3.         Have a child enrolled in the Baltimore City Public Schools as of the date of appointment.

4.         Possess knowledge or experience in the education of children with disabilities.  This knowledge or experience may be derived from being a parent of a child with a disability.     
     
To apply, interested individuals must submit the following information to the Maryland State Board of Education by 5:00 p.m. Wednesday, April 30, 2014:

1.        A letter expressing the applicant’s desire and willingness to serve on the Baltimore City Board of School Commissioners and indicating the strengths that the applicant would bring to the City Board;

2.        A brief record of the applicant's personal history and experience which highlights the applicant's qualifications to be a School Commissioner;            

3.        Proof of Baltimore City residency (Provide 2 of the following: a copy of the applicant's driver's license; voter registration card; utility bill; rent receipt; or verifiable lease agreement.)

4.         The names, addresses, and phone numbers of three references.

This information can be mailed, e-mailed, faxed or hand delivered to:

                                       Maryland State Board of Education
                                       Attn:   Anthony L. South
                                       200 West Baltimore Street
                                       Baltimore, MD 21201-2595
                                       Fax (410) 333-2226
                                       tsouth@msde.state.md.us

An application shall have been deemed to have been transmitted by the prescribed deadline if all required information has been delivered by fax, e-mail, or by hand to the State Board or deposited in the United States mail, as registered or certified mail, by 5:00 p.m., April 30, 2014.
                                   
Once the deadline for submissions has passed, the Board will review all applications.  Applicants will be notified concerning the status of their applications and subsequent steps in the State Board’s recruitment effort. After clearing the initial evaluation phase, candidates should be prepared to answer the following questions:

1. Have you had a civil judgment levied against you in the past five years?
   
   
2. Have you been convicted of a criminal violation?
   
   
3. Are you currently involved in either civil or criminal litigation?
   
   
4. Have you been disbarred from practicing law or had your license to practice a profession suspended or revoked?
   
   
5. Are you current on your taxes and other regulatory filings?
   
   
6. Is there anything that the State Board should know about you that has the potential for causing embarrassment to the citizens of Baltimore City if you were selected to serve on the Baltimore City Board of School Commissioners?
   
   
7. If you answered “Yes” to questions 1, 2, 3, 4, or 6, please explain why you should be considered for appointment to the Baltimore City Board of School Commissioners.

Applicants must be prepared to provide verification of all information included in their application materials.

Affirming Equal Opportunity in Principle and Practice