School Board Members Support Higher Taxes (Question F)

(Posted 23 Oct 2008)

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School board voices support for phone tax; But members disagree over slots; discussions focus on whether initiatives would benefit education.
Gazette, 23 Oct 2008 (King ).

The Prince George's County school board unanimously approved a resolution Oct. 16 to support the telecommunications tax increase to bring additional revenue to the school system but could not agree on a position for the controversial slots referendum that will be on the Nov. 4 ballot in Maryland.
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Board member Heather Iliff (Dist. 2) and board vice-chairman Ron L. Watson (At-Large) did not attend the meeting.
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So, the members voting for higher taxes were:

• Rosalind A. Johnson (Dist. 1)
  
• Pat J. Fletcher (Dist. 3)
  
• Linda Thornton Thomas (Dist. 4)
  
• R. Owen Johnson Jr. (Dist. 5)
  
• Donna Hathaway Beck (At-large)
  
• Verjeana M. Jacobs (At-large)
  
• Amber P. Waller (At-large)
  
• student board member Edward Burroughs III
  

Comment:  The proposed tax increase is expected to generate about $17 million.  It will pay for little under half of the cost of the new school system headquarters recently approved by the board.  And it will leave Prince George's County with the highest telephone tax rate in the state and among the very highest in the whole country.

Earlier: 

• Can you afford higher phone bills? (17 Oct 2008)
  
• Telephone tax increase (Question F) will hurt both the people least able to pay and small, local businesses (14 Oct 2008)
  

School Board wants more money

(Posted 8 Nov 2007)

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School leaders make request: Fully fund our public schools.
Gazette, 8 Nov 2007 (Letter).

We strongly support full funding of the ‘‘Thornton” Bridge to Excellence in Public Schools Act and oppose the proposals to cut education funding in the next year’s state budget.

We ask that you contact your delegates and senators in the General Assembly to urge their support for full funding for the Bridge To Excellence Act. Remind your elected officials of their constitutional duty to provide the funding amount mandated in the Thornton law. Let your voice be heard that any package of proposals considered by the General Assembly should include:
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Prince George’s County school board members R. Owen Johnson Jr., Verjeana M. Jacobs, Donna Hathaway Beck, Pat J. Fletcher, Heather Iliff, Rosalind A. Johnson, Linda Thornton Thomas, Amber P. Waller, Ron L. Watson,Haywood L. Perry III (studentmember) and schools Superintendent John E. Deasy

Nate Thomas trial postponed

(Posted 5 Nov 2007)

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Thomas trial expected to begin in late November; Former school board member has pleaded not guilty to sex offense involving a minor.
Gazette, 4 Nov 2007 (Carter).

The trial of former Prince George’s County school board member Nathaniel B. Thomas has been rescheduled to begin Nov. 26, more than a month after its original date.

Thomas, 26, is facing a third-degree sex offense against a former county student. He resigned in June soon after being charged. The trial was initially scheduled for Oct. 12, but was changed to Nov. 26 after Thomas’ Greenbelt-based attorney, Bruce Marcus, filed a continuance, which was granted by the court.
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County school board chairman Owen Johnson said he would follow Thomas’ trial, but would only be interested as a one-time colleague.

‘‘That’s out of our purview. There’s no need for me to follow it closely,” he said. ‘‘We’ve moved on. I have interest in him because I know him as a person, but we have a new board member in place ... and we have a lot of other business to focus on.”

More than 40 county residents applied to fill Thomas’ at-large seat. County Executive Jack B. Johnson selected Hyattsville education activist Amber Waller to fill the vacancy in September. Waller’s first school board meeting was Oct. 18.

[Full story]

Thomas trial expected to begin in late November

(Posted 4 Nov 2007)

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Thomas trial expected to begin in late November
Gazette, 4 Nov 2007 (Carter).

The trial of former Prince George’s County school board member Nathaniel B. Thomas has been rescheduled to begin Nov. 26, more than a month after its original date.

Thomas, 26, is facing a third-degree sex offense against a former county student. He resigned in June soon after being charged. The trial was initially scheduled for Oct. 12, but was changed to Nov. 26 after Thomas’ Greenbelt-based attorney, Bruce Marcus, filed a continuance, which was granted by the court.
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County school board chairman Owen Johnson said he would follow Thomas’ trial, but would only be interested as a one-time colleague.
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More than 40 county residents applied to fill Thomas’ at-large seat. County Executive Jack B. Johnson selected Hyattsville education activist Amber Waller to fill the vacancy in September. Waller’s first school board meeting was Oct. 18.