POWER to the PEOPLE
Learn more about the recent progress made in Montgomery Public Schools.
MPS UPDATE:
Last year, Chamber leadership took a strong stand on Montgomery’s public education, spearheading efforts to encourage residents to run for the open seats on the Montgomery County Board of Education, to get out an informed vote in the primary and July run-off general elections and to spread the message that quality education is a key ingredient in a robust local economy.
COMING
soon
Before the old school board’s term was done, it passed a resolution asking the
Joining the Chamber in the calls to action were a large group of the
Montgomery County Commission to
city’s young professionals, leaders in the community, in business
increase the property mileage by 6
and the military, and various other stakeholders who’d all decided
from the current minimum of 10 to
that now was the time for positive change in our public education.
equal 16. The proposed vote will
The business community invested financially in campaign efforts.
occur in summer of 2019 unless
Other stakeholders facilitated school board candidate forums throughout the city.
upcoming discussion within the new board changes the proposed increase.
THROUGH IT ALL, SEVERAL MAIN THEMES EMERGED:
The community agreed that every student in Montgomery should be able to attend a school within the MPS system
TAKE NOTE: HOW TO HELP CHANGE HAPPEN
that would adequately prepare them for continuing education in post- secondary institutions, moving directly into the workforce or military upon graduation from high school.
Education impacts every facet of our community: economic development (ability to recruit/retain industry), military stability, quality of life, health, crime and population
YPS IN ACTION A diverse group of Montgomery’s young professionals and millennials played a major role in the recent election, engaging in the process with their talents, time, dollars and sweat equity. The group also sought campaign contributions to support, organized
growth, including the ability to attract capable, competent and
advertising, proactive mail pieces, targeted
prepared educational staff.
district neighborhood canvassing and other various activities that highlighted the urgency
Education is foundational to the fabric of any community.
36 MONTGOMERY BUSINESS JOURNAL
of for voting for new leadership on the MCBE.
{ MEET { THE MCBE
Thanks to the recent election, the Montgomery County Board of Education has some new faces bringing new ideas and fresh
HERE’S WHAT THE MCBE LOOKS LIKE NOW.
perspectives to the challenges
DISTRICT 1
the Montgomery Public School
Lesa Keith
DISTRICT 2
DISTRICT 3
Clare Weil
Brenda DeRamus-Coleman
re-elected
newly elected President
DISTRICT 4
DISTRICT 5
DISTRICT 6
DISTRICT 7
Mary Briers
Jannah Bailey
Claudia T. Mitchell
Arica Watkins-Smith
System must overcome.
newly elected
Five seats were open for election, and a total of 23 candidates qualified to run for the open seats. This primary election cycle saw the largest voter participation in the school board race in a long time. And after the general election in November, when all the votes were counted, there were four new school board members.
current
newly elected
37 MONTGOMERYCHAMBER.COM
newly elected Vice President
current