MAY ELECTIONS Mayor, ex-councilman face off in Brentwood. A-5
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NORTHERN AND CENTRAL PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNT Y
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SPORTS: Seton softball mixes it up to keep hitters off balance. B-1
DA I LY U P DAT E S AT G A Z E T T E . N E T
Thursday, April 23, 2015
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County looks at $20 million loss in school funds n
Equivalent to 300 teaching positions, CEO says
BY JAMIE
ANFENSON-COMEAU STAFF WRITER
The Prince George’s County Public School system is looking at an approximately $20 million reduction in expected state funding as part of the fallout of the 2015 General Assembly session. School system CEO Kevin Maxwell said a $20 million reduction is the equivalent of 300 teaching positions. “That’s not saying we’ll cut 300 teachers, that’s just what $20 million looks like,” Maxwell said. Demetria Tobias, the school system’s Annapolis lobbyist, reported April 16 that the General Assembly voted to
fund the Geographic Cost of Education Index, or GCEI, a discretionary formula that provides additional funding for more urban, high poverty school districts with higher education costs at 100 percent. Gov. Larry Hogan (R) has said he will not release funds beyond 50 percent of the GCEI. Montgomery and Prince George’s counties benefit the most from the GCEI. “He could still decide to appropriate that money. That would be a wonderful surprise,” Tobias said during the school board’s April 16 meeting. “The Legislature cannot force the governor to spend that money. It is discretionary spending.” Tobias said the governor has given no indication that he would do so, however.
See LOSS, Page A-7
Baker pitches school funding plan to public Top official says county can’t rely on state for more money n
BY JAMIE ANFENSON-COMEAU
JAMIE ANFENSON-COMEAU/THE GAZETTE
County Executive Rushern L. Baker speaksabout the fiscal 2016 budget at Capitol Heights Elementary School on April 14, accompanied by (from left) school system CEO Kevin Maxwell, school board chair Segun Eubanks and county chief budget officer Thomas Himler.
STAFF WRITER
A better educational system doesn’t come without a cost, County Executive Rushern L. Baker III (D) told Prince
George’s County residents at a community meeting. In this case, the cost is increased taxes to fund an additional $133 million over last year’s school funding. “Everyone wants their property values to go up. That doesn’t happen without great schools, and anyone who tells you otherwise
See PLAN, Page A-7
Bladensburg eyes tighter rules for travel Residents divided on town leaders’ transparency
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BY
KIRSTEN PETERSEN STAFF WRITER
Bladensburg officials say they intend to be more open about travel expenses and how professional development experiences are benefitting the town in the upcoming fiscal year. Mayor Walter James said the budget for fiscal 2016 will identify specific conferences council members and staff members will attend in the next year, rather than list only a line item for the $27,000 professional development fund. The change was recomPHOTOS BY TOM FEDOR/THE GAZETTE
Jocelyn Motley, 11, is pictured with her video camera outside her Laurel home on Monday. Motley earned an honorable mention in the White House Student Film Festival.
Laurel girl earns White House nod Bond Mill Elementary student inspired by ‘simple acts of kindness’ n
BY
KIRSTEN PETERSEN STAFF WRITER
For Jocelyn Motley, 11, of Laurel, a simple act of kindness — the gift of a camera from her uncle — sparked a passion for filmmaking that led to her receiving an honorable mention from the White House Student Film Festival. “He is the one that inspired me to do filming,” Jocelyn said. “Seeing my uncle use the equipment, it just looked really exciting.” Jocelyn’s film, titled “A Simple Act of Kindness,” is an anecdote about the importance of donating canned food. The film is one of 277 honorable mentions that explored the festival’s theme, the impact
of giving back. Approximately 1,700 films were submitted, according to festival director Adam Garber. In “A Simple Act of Kindness,” Jocelyn plays the role of Camryn, a girl who does
See MOVIE, Page A-8
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Jocelyn Motley, 11, holds a prop from her film which earned her an honorable mention in the White House Student Film Festival.
not see the value of donating food until she sees a can that she decorated with stickers in her friend’s pantry. “I thought it was a circle to show the importance of giving back and how it will come back to you,” Jocelyn said. Jocelyn, who was the producer, script writer and director of the film, conceived the idea on her own and executed it with help from family and friends. She also worked with television production teacher Tara Jones and student Jaya Paci of Charles H. Flowers High School in Springdale, who loaned her equipment and allowed her to shoot at the school. “The second she told me about it, I was like, ‘Let’s do it,” because it was so great,” Paci, 17, of Mitchellville said. “It was so ambitious of her. At such a young age, I don’t think I was ever capable of having such a mind set.”
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BREWING SUCCESS Laurel residents hope their new cafe will lead to big business.
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mended by town staff as part of an effort to be more transparent with residents, James said. “This year we’re going to make sure to not just talk about it, but have it right there,” James said. Following a professional development experience, such as a seminar or conference for municipal leaders, James said officials will offer oral and written reports on a regular basis. “When we do professional development, it’s not for us,” James said. “It’s for us to better lead the community, to help us grow the community. That’s the goal.” Chris Melendez, the chair of the Citizens’ Action Com-
See TRAVEL, Page A-8
Casa urges relief from deportation Executive action would affect around 16,000 undocumented residents
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BY JAMIE ANFENSON-COMEAU STAFF WRITER
Maya Ledezma Dominguez of Hyattsville said she has been living with the fear of being deported while her 7-yearold American-born daughter was at school. “I imagine what would happen if my daughter were alone by herself,” Dominguez said through a translator provided by immigrant advocacy nonprofit Casa of Maryland. Speaking at a rally held
April 16 at Casa headquarters in Langley Park, Dominquez said she and her husband, who are both undocumented, hope to apply for deportation relief through the Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents, or DOPA, program, created by President Barack Obama’s executive action in November. Shouting “Si se puede,” Spanish for “Yes we can,” roughly 500 people attended the Casa rally in support of DOPA and another executive action, which extended Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA. The DACA extension would include chil-
See CASA, Page A-8