January 20, 2023

This past holiday weekend, I had the privilege to attend both the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Awards Banquet and the 42nd Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Breakfast. Both events were inspiring. Congratulations to all of the Award Recipients and Thank you for your enduring work in our community. Thank you to Congressman Bennie Thompson and Rev. Dr. Craig Coates for your keynote addresses. You both had me captivated with your words and I left feeling emboldened to continue working to improve our community for the good of all. 

“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly."

From his April 1963 "Letter from a Birmingham Jail."

To provide community engagement and an opportunity to connect, the Police Accountability Board (PAB) will embark on a listening tour in the first half of 2023. This is your opportunity to let the PAB know your thoughts, concerns, and suggestions for police reform and accountability in the community.

Please go HERE to register to testify using the link for your district's event. The image above is for next week's event for the Southern Police District. The District 2 Council District overlaps with Western, Eastern and Northern Police Districts. Visit the link above for the dates for those meetings in the coming months. Residents will be given two minutes each to share public testimony. Written testimony can also be submitted to pabcomments@aacounty.org. Additional information about the Police Accountability Board can be found at this LINK.

Board of Education Contact Information

Robert Silkworth:

AACPS Board of Education Member, District 2

443-534-5766

rsilkworth@aacps.org

Board of Education General Contact information:

BOE Office: 410-222-5311

boardoffice@aacps.org

The full list of Board of Education members can be found at this LINK.

Superintendent Dr. Bedell to Lead Forum on Acceptance and Inclusion

Superintendent of Schools Dr. Mark Bedell will lead a community conversation on acceptance and inclusion in Anne Arundel County Public Schools and the broader community next week. The event will be held from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Monday, January 23, at Severna Park High School. Dr. Bedell will address the audience briefly and, similar to the format of the superintendent’s Listening and Learning Tour, participants will then break into small groups.

The full press release can be found HERE.

AACPS - No Bus Route Swaps Will Be Necessary at Semester Break

All Anne Arundel County Public Schools bus routes with assigned stops now have assigned drivers, meaning that no bus route swaps at the start of the second semester will necessary, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Mark Bedell told the Board of Education.

The full press release can be found HERE.

AACPS Superintendent Presents Recommended FY24 Budget

Superintendent of Schools Dr. Mark Bedell recommended to the Board of Education a $1.68 billion Fiscal Year 2024 operating budget that focuses heavily on what he called “embarrassing” compensation gaps for employees compared to other jurisdictions and provides staffing aimed at addressing the social, emotional, and academic growth of students across the county.

Public hearings will be held on:

Tuesday, January 24, 2023, at Old Mill High School

Thursday, January 26, 2023, at 2644 Riva Rd, Annapolis

Both hearings begin at 6 p.m.

The full press release can be found HERE.

The full FY24 operating and capital budget information including a text of the budget address can be found at this LINK.

International Parent and Community Leadership Academy

The Anne Arundel County Public Schools Office of School and Family Partnerships is looking for candidates for its eighth International Parent and Community Leadership Academy (IPCLA), which begins February 28, 2023. The six-week academy is aimed at improving communication between the school system and international families as well as diversifying the pool of leaders in schools and the community who can better support the academic achievement of international students and English Language Learners. Meetings will be held during the day various Anne Arundel County Public Schools locations. Transportation can be provided if needed.

More information, including an application form (available in multiple languages), can be obtained at www.aacps.org/ipcla or by contacting Frances Cruz at 410-353-4169 or Fcruz-serrano@aacps.org. Applications are due February 1st.

Recreation and Parks/DPW Capital Project Public Meetings

Anne Arundel County Department of Recreation and Parks, and the Department of Public Works invite residents to the following public meetings about planned capital projects in the county.

West County Swim Center - January 30

A public meeting will be held on Monday, January 30, 6:00-7:30pm at the Meade Middle School cafeteria to discuss the project planned to build an aquatic center in West County. The new aquatic center will provide an area for recreational and competitive swimming in the western portion of the County. Click HERE for more info.

Odenton Community Park - February 8

A public meeting will be held to discuss the design of the new Odendon Community Park on Wednesday, February 8, 6:00-7:30pm at Odenton Branch Library. Click HERE for more info.

Quiet Waters Retreat Design - February 13

A public meeting will be held to discuss the Quiet Waters Retreat design on Monday, February 13, 6:30-8:30pm at the Blue Heron Center at Quiet Waters Park. Click HERE for more info.

County Executive's Budget Town Halls

If you missed the District 2 Budget Town Hall, you still have other opportunities to attend an upcoming Town Hall. Register to testify using this LINK.

Anne Arundel Community College Volunteer Income Tax Assistance

This spring the business school at Anne Arundel Community College (AACC) is offering the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program as a service to the community. See details below. Note: The service will be available at the AACC Glen Burnie Town Center location on Saturdays in March for the first time. Click HERE for additional information.

Click HERE to access the contestant form.

Haga clic AQUÍ para obtener información en español.