A recent unannounced vote by a legislative task force that ruled out changing the Baltimore County school board to at least partly elected is being protested by four County Council members.

Members of the School Board Task Force abruptly decided Friday against recommending the addition of any elected board members. The group was created to explore ways that the recently embattled school board could be more transparent and responsive to the public.

County lawmakers said in a letter Thursday that they would like to see the action reversed and a new vote taken. The letter signed by Vicki Almond, David Marks, Todd Huff and Cathy Bevins expressed "disappointment" that there was no advanced notice of a meeting, the vote did not appear on the meeting's agenda, and three voting members were absent, including a County Council representative.

"The issue of direct elections is central to any discussion of school board reform," the letter read. "There are different viewpoints among members of the county council, but one thing is certain: our representative should have been given the opportunity to vote."

To read the full letter, click here.