BMORENEWS.com

(ANNAPOLIS - July 7, 2008) – Governor Martin O’Malley officially swore-in members of the Maryland State Board of Education today, a twelve-member body that serves as the policy making panel for Maryland’s public schools, public libraries, and vocational rehabilitation services.  

“I am proud to appoint these four public servants to the State Board of Education, and am confident in their ability to act on behalf of the students and parents of Maryland’s public schools,” said Governor O’Malley.  “With the historic investments our State has made in public education over the last several months, we can be confident that the members of the Board of Education share this commitment to the future of Maryland’s children.”

Sworn-in to the Maryland State Board of Education today were:

James H. DeGraffenreidt, Jr. (Baltimore City resident) – Mr. DeGraffenreidt is Chairman and CEO of WGL Holdings, Inc., the parent company of Washington Gas Light Company, for which he also serves as Chairman and CEO.  Washington Gas serves over 980,000 customers in the Washington metropolitan area and surrounding region. 

Ivan C. A. Walks, M.D. (Montgomery County resident) – Dr. Walks is CEO of Ivan Walks and Associates, LLC, a consulting firm specializing in the areas of health and public safety.  As a former Chief Health Officer for the District of Columbia and Director of the Department of Public Health for the District, Dr. Walks Member of the Task Force on Health Care Access and Reimbursement

Catherine B. Walsh (Baltimore County resident) – Mrs. Walsh is President of the National Council on Teacher Quality, a group committed to addressing educational inequities and the nation’s achievement gap.  Prior to serving as President for NCTQ, she served as senior program officer with The Abell Foundation, and also served on the staff for Baltimore City Public Schools and Core Knowledge Foundation.  Walsh is also Founder of the Baraka School.

Danke Derek Wu, Student Member (Wicomico County resident) – Wu is a student at James Bennett High School and serves as President of Student Government Association and President of Mu Alpha Theta Math Honor Society.

The Board sets the state’s education policies and standards for pre-kindergarten through high school and for Maryland’s public libraries and correctional education and vocational rehabilitation services. It passes regulations that have the force of law and is empowered to interpret the true meaning and intent of the law. It also reviews and approves three annual budgets (the Department of Education headquarters budget, the state aid to local education budget, and state-aided institutions budget) before they’re passed on to the governor’s office for approval or revision and then to the General Assembly for final action. The Board is also required to decide all controversies brought before it that arise under the law. Traditionally, however, the Board tempers its considerable legal power with respect for the principle of local control of schools. Each of Maryland’s 24 school systems has its own board of education.

Governor O’Malley also swore in members of various boards and commissions today, including:

Maryland Stadium Authority

Thomas. B. Corey - A Baltimore County resident, Mr. Corey serves as Chief Solicitor for the Baltimore City Law Department and is a member of the Baltimore County Judicial Nominating Commission. B. Corey –

John Morton, III – An Anne Arundel County resident, Mr. Morton is retired as President of Premier Bank for Bank of America and serves as Director of the Athletic and Scholarship Programs for the U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association and Foundation.

Maryland Port Commission

Alvin J. Nichols – A Prince George’s County resident, Mr. Nichols is Chief of Staff for the Community Investments Group in the Housing and Community Development Division for Fannie Mae and a member of Leadership Washington and the Urban Land Institute.

Peta N. Richkus – A resident of Baltimore County, Richkus is former Secretary of General Services and a part-time Instructor at the University of Baltimore.

Maryland Health Care Commission

Randall P. Worthington, Sr. – As a resident of Harford County, Mr. Worthington is President and Owner of York Insurance Services as well as Aquila Hall Farm, where he produces corn, sod and timber.  He is also a member of the Maryland Agricultural Commission and the Advisory Committee to the Rural Legacy Board.

Maryland State Board of Public Accountancy

Muhammad A. Khan, C.P.A. – A Baltimore County resident, Khan is Senior Financial Auditor for the Baltimore City Comptroller’s Office and serves as Vice President of the Muslim Business and Professional Alliance.  He is also a member of the Maryland Muslim Council and the Islamic Society of Baltimore.

Maryland Parole Commission

Obie Patterson – As a resident of Prince George’s County, Patterson is a former Member of the Maryland House of Delegates and most recently served as Small Business Development Representative for the Capital Region for the Department of Business and Economic Development.

Board of Trustees of Residential Boarding Education Programs (SEED School)

Morton P. Fisher, Jr. – A resident of Baltimore County resident, Mr. Fisher is a Partner with Ballard Spahr Andrews and Ingersoll, LLP, and also serves as a member of the Board of the Baltimore Downtown Partnership.  He is also a member of the Board of Trustees of the University of Maryland Baltimore Foundation.

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