A ninth board position representing the Severn area will be added to the Anne Arundel Board of Education in July.
An 11-member nominating commission, created by legislation in the 2007 session of the Maryland General Assembly, will make recommendations for appointments to Gov. Martin O?Malley, said Joshua Greene, of Crofton, the commission?s chairman.
Board member Eugene Peterson, of Laurel, is representing District 21, which includes Laurel, and District 32, which includes Severn, said Molly Connolly, the board?s executive assistant. After the appointment, Peterson will continue representing District 21.
In addition to the new position, Board President Tricia Johnson?s five-year term expires this year. On Thursday, she said she wants to continue serving on the school board.
“Once a board member joins, they are responsible for all the students in the county, not just their individual district,” she said.
Districts are used to ensure members come from all sections of the county.
Greene said the commission will be recommending two candidates for each open position, for a total of four.
Based on preliminary indications, he said around three or four people could be contending for District 32 alone.
The commission includes five governor appointees, as well as representatives from six county groups such as the Teachers Association of Anne Arundel County and the Annapolis and Anne Arundel County Chamber of Commerce and Anne Arundel Community College Board of Trustees.
The commission members serve four-year terms.
Rounding out the school board members are Vice President Enrique Melendez, Patricia Nalley, Michael Leahy, Victor Bernson, Edward Carey and student member Sage Snider.
