First Citizens Committee Meeting Today

Today is the first meeting of the new MCPS Family Life and Human Development citizens advisory committee. It looks like mostly a good group of people, rather diverse, lots of doctors. Of course, CRC's seat is still vacant, I figure if they want to be part of the process it's not that hard -- the school board has shown a willingness to appoint a member even when an organization only nominates one (though the rules require three nominees), if they are qualified. So I'll just bet, all they have to do is submit one valid name and they're in. If they don't want to do that, they forfeit the right to complain if things don't go their way.

There are some mixed messages about the committee. It seems to me that hints dropped by the Superintendent and Board of Education suggest that the committee will not be very powerful. The curriculum is being developed internally by the school district, and it may be that the citizens committee merely reviews it and says yay or nay. On the other hand, they did put some very knowledgeable and highly qualified (and the writing between the lines says "stong-willed") people on the committee, so maybe they expect some real evaluation, some serious feedback. Hopefully some of these things will be cleared up at today's meeting, which is described as an "organizational" one.

Some rumblings from the other side suggest that they may want to attend and monitor every little thing. Well, that's all fine, I can think of better things to do on a Monday night, but if they think it will make a difference ... cool. I just hope it doesn't turn into a circus.