New St. Mary’s County Board of Education Chairman and Vice-Chairman Karin Bailey (r) and Rita Weaver
Leonardtown, MD — The two newly-elected members of the St. Mary’s County Board of Education were elected its chairman and vice chairman at their first meeting on December 10. Karin Bailey is the new chairman and Rita Weaver will serve as vice chairman. They will serve in their positions for the next four years.
The elections were not without controversy. When Bailey’s name was put up for nomination, member Cathy Allen seemed surprised and said it appeared the decision had been already made. In fact before the votes Bailey and Weaver were seated at the positions at the table normally reserved for the chairman and vice chairman.
Allen, however, did vote for Bailey in the unanimous decision. But when Weaver’s name was put up for nomination for vice chairman she (Allen) protested and asked long-time board member Mary Washington if she would serve. Washington declined.
Allen said, “My concern is openness. I think it is a good idea to have someone with experience on that leadership team.” Washington noted that when she was first elected in 1998 she was chosen chairman and didn’t have any problems.
Allen also said that Weaver had “some outstanding legal issues” with the school system and that was another reason not to appoint her to the vice chair position.
Weaver was elected by a 4-1 vote with Allen in opposition.
Allen is the one remaining vote on the board for the ouster of board member Marilyn Crosby in the allegation of leaking confidential personnel information to the press. It is not known if the newly constituted board will revisit the issue, although three speakers during the public comment section urged the board to do just that.
Retired teacher Cindy Wilson said Marilyn Crosby has been an advocate for children as a teacher and now a board member. She called the action taken against Crosby a “travesty due to a petty power struggle.” Wilson said Crosby is known for “her honesty, trustworthiness and great integrity.”
Retired teacher Shirley Natter said during her career a few teachers really stood out as being “pro-student. She was one who really stood out.”
Crosby’s husband Tom also defended his wife. He said the vote against her was in retaliation for a number of incidents in which she bucked former School Superintendent Dr. Michael Martirano and former chairman Dr. Sal Raspa. He described the action as “a last gasp of lame ducks.”
Mr. Crosby said the letter written to the state school board outlining the allegations against his wife were lies and misrepresentations of the report of the investigator hired by the board to look into Crosby’s actions.
The board did not take any action on the comments at the meeting. Their next scheduled regular meeting is January 14.
