Again, well said, David, well said.

So how do we hold the governor and elected officials immediately accountable for this? What can be done NOW that will have impact?

I started with sending an web comment to the governor (I've posted what I sent here). Then I modified the letter and sent it to my elected state representatives (you can find out who yours are by clicking here). I also sent emails to following legislators because of their positions in state committees (this time adding in comments about PG county also losing funding):
- Sen. Edward Kasemeyer -Chair Health and Education Subcommitee Budget & Tax Committee
- Sen. Paul Pinsky -Chair Education Subcommitte Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee
- Del. John Bohanan -Chair Education and Economic Development Subcommittee House Appropriations Committee
- Del. Anne Kaiser -Chair Education Subcommittee House Ways & Means Committee
I'm not sure waves of emails are enough, but it seems like a good place to start.

On the radio this morning I think I heard that the governor was holding up submitting this budget pending word on how much "economic stimulus" the federal government was going to be giving Maryland. That sounds promising to me. I hope the more O'Malley hears about this issue while he waits, the more motivated he will be to fairly fund City Schools with the money he (hopefully) gets.

AP - I disagree. "Sounds promising to me." No, I find it absolutely ludicrous that the Governor could propose such a thing. This whole process illuminates a clear vision of how the Governor perceives school funding. How could he possibly say that the cuts were not an "effective" rollback of Thorton? Sure, it's from different budget accounts, but that's meaningless if you give to one pot to take from another. If it walks like a duck, talks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, it's probably not a turtle.

The Governor got "bailed out" in the short-run because of the stimulus, but that does NOT absolve him of his thinking that the proposed funding formula is effective. We absolutely should be contacting legislators, including the policy folks in the Governor's office, and we should be demanding that he not simply "hold-off" until the federal funds are more clear. Equitable school funding is way too important to hold on the hands of a federal bailout package. This is a State issue, and our State leader has failed Baltimore City and Prince George's County, along with the all the citizens of other Maryland counties who will feel the effects of educational inequality in other aspects of their lives. Again, I've generally supported Gov. O'Malley, but until he re-prioritizes his budget office, I will faithfully object.

Personally, I never thought O'Malley cared about Baltimore's schools, even when he was mayor of Baltimore. He didn't send his kids to city schools, he wasn't a presence at school, and they were always low in his priorities IMHO. The only time the city schools mattered to him was when he and Erlich got into a tug of war over bailing out the schools. Neither party seemed to be concerned that there were actual kids being affected by their grandstanding.

When I said it sounded promising, I meant that maybe next year my kids' schools won't be totally reamed as far as their budgets go. If you define a good outcome as getting the Governor to really care about City Schools and never put them back on the chopping block in times of crisis...we'll see. As it is, I'll be happy if the schools get the funding that they need to keep class sizes from growing, maybe improve technology usage, and generally keep on moving in the right direction.

Thanks for the info "A Parent". I'm on it...

To Gov. O'Malley, Why cut from the education system when we already have money issues? Where do your children go to school? If Dr. Alonso is taking a pay cut, are you going to join him? Why are you willing to gamble on funds that the government may or may not give to help our school system? Isn"t doing that what got America in trouble in the first place? When you don't show our children that they are worth a well maintained school, one that is not falling apart or having the right resources to educate them, you are decreasing their value! I invite you to my children's school Woodhome Elm.205. It is falling apart! The ceilings leak and the playground is in poor shape, and the parking lot is busted up, no upkeep has been done on this school in years. Our heating system does not work properly. There is much more to add to that list. I have been told that we have the best school in the city. These are the simple issues. If we can't correct the simple issues how can we start dealing with the harder issues. You have been given a position where you can do something about this. This is no time for you to do battle with a CEO who has stood up for our children, you should listen to what he has to say. We should be united. I am asking you to rethink your budget for our children's sake. It is a dream of mine that all children get a great education in an environment that is cared for. I am learning that many in high positions don' t think that we are worth a whole lot by the conditions of our schools. To whom much has been given much is expected.
Carol Conroy
Mother of Three