The League of Women Voters establishes positions on issues only after careful, thorough study, member discussion and consensus, after which we take action when and if appropriate should those issues reach consensusthe position statements are summarized briefly;
however the background for these positions is available in the League office. ..GOVERNMENT County Government/Charter - Action to support the concept of charter government and measures to make it efficient, effective, and responsible. Action to oppose a full time County Council and a full time Council Chairman. Action to oppose the County Attorney serving as a legal advisor and advisor and legislative draftsman for both the County Council and the County Executive. Action to support maintaining the present number (7) of County Council Districts. Action to support retention of the position of People's Counsel (see Land Use Positions) ..Firearms Legislation Action to strengthen gun control laws, including: Requirement of a proficiency test as part of the procedure for obtaining a hunting license; Restriction of the availability of handguns (not including the banning of handguns); Registration of all handguns including more effective identification process; Compilation of more adequate and uniform firearm and firearm crime statistics by the State Police.
Development of police public relations program to educate the public about firearms, especially gun safety, gun laws, and gun crime and accident statistics. ..Real Property Assessments and Taxation Action to support continued use of the real property tax as a major source of revenue for Baltimore County; Increased reliance on the Piggy-back Tax to provide relief for real property taxpayers; Assessing all property at 100% of market value, and opposition to deferring reassessment until property changes ownership; Improvement of appeal procedures, specifically greater public awareness of procedures and accessibility of assessment data, and availability of evening hearings; Extension of property tax credit program based on income; Permitting installment payment of property taxes as an available option. ..NATURAL RESOURCES: Land Use - Action to support a good system of planning and zoning including: The concept of regional and local Master Plans: The basic tenet of development within the (URDL) Urban Rural Demarcation Line; The zoning techniques of residential density zoning, planned unit development (PUD) ; Active cooperation with all jurisdictions comprising the Baltimore Regional Council of Governments to foster a regional perspective; Affordable housing opportunities for low and moderate income families and individuals throughout Baltimore County near centers of employment, public transportation, community based support services, and where appropriate, in existing dwellings; Retention of coherent agricultural preservation areas; A County policy that strikes a balance between and adequate transportation network and protection of the natural environment and the communities; Encourage Baltimore County to initiate, with the active participation of community members, community based plans focusing on older communities; Rezoning procedure governed by the principles of (a) protection of natural resources and environmentally fragile areas, (b) guidance, but not exclusion of development, (c) promotion of the best use of the land for the community, (d) defense of the zoning maps by the Peoples Counsel of Baltimore County; Requiring zoning reclassification hearings before the Board of Appeals to be heard "on the record" but zoning variances to be originally heard without taking a record, with (a) appointment of the Board of Appeals by the Council with a public hearing, (b) an accelerated program of land acquisition for parks, (c) open space (d) continued acquisition of park land by Department of Recreation and Parks, (e) program open space funds used exclusively for acquisition and development of park land, (f) local open space manual implementation, selectively and local open space quality selectively monitored. ..Recycling Action to support: Primary emphasis on recycling and source reduction; Establishment of short range recycling goals, coupled with longer-range source reduction goals; Payment for disposal of waste by, as a general principle, those who generate waste (consumers, distributors, wholesalers, retailers. and manufacturers); Adequate financing of recycling, through a variety of methods (e.g. tipping fee surcharges, single item taxes, solid waste enterprise fund; Government conducted educational programs to increase public awareness of the need for source reduction and recycling; Government's active encouragement of markets for recycling and resource conservation businesses, including the use of financial incentives and disincentives; County-wide curbside collection of recyclables. ..Sludge Management Utilization and/or disposal of sludge from waste water treatment plants. Action to support: Employing a combination of methods for use of sludge including: agricultural utilization, composting with the proper disposal of the end produce and marginal land reclamation, provided that the waste water has been pre treated for the removal of toxic materials; Use of incineration when it is the only feasible option; Research leading to technological improvements in sludge utilization and disposal methods. Opposition to the use of ocean dumping, land filling, co-land filling and entrenchment as methods of sludge disposal. Action to support legislation prohibiting regulating or restrictions in discharge of pollutants into the sewer system or waters of Baltimore County by individuals, commerce, or industry. ..Solid Waste Management Action to support improved solid waste management goals and practices in Baltimore County, including: Goals of protecting the environment, providing adequate service, shifting emphasis from conventional disposal methods towards increased salvage and recycling, using regional approaches, and using innovative technologies and modern management systems; Deemphasis on the importance of lowest disposal cost per unit; The County take a more active role in removal and disposal of junked cars from private and public property; Increased financial aid for, and greater public awareness of, solid waste management problems. ..SOCIAL POLICY ..Department of Aging -
Action to support programs, services, and personnel to meet the needs of Baltimore County Senior Citizens, including: Strengthening the Commission's role in its relationship with the Department of Aging by: providing Commission input into the budgetary process and periodic, scheduled Commission/Department interaction regarding programs and services; Formalizing the selection process for Commission members by: (1) requiring resumes and interviews of candidates, (2) increasing the number of Commission members to 21, with three (3) persons representing each of the Council manic Districts, and (3) requiring a balance between providers of service to the elderly, elderly consumers, and other county agency professionals; Maintaining present services; Expanding services for seniors at risk (i.e. adult day care, in-home and transportation services); Continuing to fund services through a combination of local, Giving budget priority to the care, services, and personal state and federal monies; and encouraging user's fees;el for the frail elderly, especially those who are house bound. ..Economic Development
Action to support Economic Development in Baltimore County through integrated planning, transportation, site selection assistance, loan guarantees and promotion, giving priority to the above order; Policy and program decisions should consider the economic impact of jobs created/lost, tax revenue, potential impact on other development, and cost-benefit analysis; Interrelated criteria for recruiting business should include land availability, availability of labor, and type of industry; Other considerations should be environmental factors, implementation of the Growth Management Plan, (Master Plan 1989-2000) and targeting already developed areas; County participation in regional and state economic development efforts should continue and include planning, communication, joint marketing activities and participation in specific joint development projects. ..Education
Action to support a good system of public education, emphasizing improved instructional services.
Action to support: Budget priorities of (1) instructional staff, (2) instructional materials, and (3) maintenance.; Education programs, including vocational-technical schools and programs; Strengthening the School Board nominating process; opposition to an elected School Board; Appointment of the Baltimore County School Board by the Governor; Expanded principal pre-service training, including an intern program and an emphasis on human relations; Principal evaluation procedures which include appropriate input by teachers and parents; An increased emphasis on the quality of elementary school reading instruction including: (a)focus on goals of development of skills and ability to interpret and evaluate what is read, (b) improved t raining of classroom teachers, (c) early identification of children likely to have learning disabilities followed by appropriate instruction, and (d) open and informative communication with parents, and within the system. The following measures in the event of a declining enrollment: Recognition that a budget decrease doesn't necessarily parallel a declining enrollment; Reducing class size to meet student needs; Sharing space in operating schools which meet a county-wide definition of surplus space, and closing schools which meet the Board of Education guidelines. Action to oppose a fiscally independent Board of Education
..Safe Schools/Safe Communities Position Adopted May 22, 1996
Action to support a fair,equitable, consistent discipline code and suspension policy in the Baltimore County Public Schools (frequently disseminated to parents and students), with emphasis on the need for removal of the most chronically disruptive students from the regular
day school setting to a separate, alternative setting with appropriate curriculum; and for the establishment of in-school expulsion programs where suitable and feasible.
Action to support the implementation of mandatory and continuing staff development through various techniques and programs of high quality to:enhance quality instruction; increase awareness of and sensitivity to various cultural differences along with equitable
enforcement of standards and rules; acquire classroom management and crisis intervention skills with special emphasis on dealing with disruptive students; practiceconflict resolution throughout the school curriculum and school atmosphere K-12, without compromising
the discipline code; and inculcate Values Education throughout the curriculum as demonstrated in 1984 and Beyond-A Reaffirmation of Values. Action to expansion of accessible school-based and school-linked early childhood education and programs designed to foster parenting skills, and efforts designed to encourage participation of parents in programs which would help parents fulfill their responsibilities and become effective partners in, and advocates for, their children'seducation.
Action to support increased and enhanced before and after-school programs; interagency collaboration between BCPS (including Office of Student Services, Resource Centers for Families and Schools, etc.) and appropriate government agencies, such as Police, Probation Office, Juvenile Services, Libraries, Recreation and Parks, Health (physical and mental-including drug treatment programs); and Social Services (including prevention of domestic violence).
Action to support community involvement through: training needed volunteers in order to reinforce and enrich school experiences;
mentoring students; encouragement of business community to increase vocational opportunities for students (including job search skills) and to establish programs which encourage employees to volunteer expertise and time with students; and Community Policing programs.
Action to support ongoing communication and accountability of administrators, as well as teachers and other st aff, for adherence to school policy and performance of high quality, with internal checks and observation by objective personnel; monitoring teachers;
also funding,public and private, as needed to create and maintain safe schools and safe communities, with emphasis on prevention and early intervention. SUMMARY OF CONSENSUS TAKEN AT MAY,1999 UNIT MEETINGS ON PART I OF TWO-YEAR STUDY BY EDUCATION COMMITTEE OF THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF BALTIMORE COUNTY ENTITLED QUALITY OF TEACHING IN BALTIMORE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS The League of Women Voters of Baltimore County affirms the following to be the purposes of public education: * To prepare students to be responsible citizens and to understand and affirm the democratic values in our society. * To prepare students to be economically self-sufficient. * To prepare students to be life-long learners, appreciative of the arts, knowledgeable about technology, and sensitive to cultural and individual differences. Given that recent research has revealed that teacher quality has emerged as one of the public's highest educational priorities-second only to school safety, 1. The League of Women Voters of Baltimore County supports the following, to ensure that students in the Baltimore County Public Schools have well-qualified teachers in their classrooms: * Strengthening and extending pre-service training and continued professional development * Recognition and celebration of teachers of high quality * Promotion and marketing of teaching profession with students and the general public * Strengthening support services for new and experienced teachers (e.g. technbology training, mentoring programs, etc.) * Diversity training that engenders respect for academic, socio-economic, and cultural differences among students and staff * High standards for supervision and accountability, and adequate staff to implement such standards 2. The League supports the following measures, in order to motivate accomplished persons to enter and remain in the teaching profession: * Incentives (examples: funds for moving expenses, small schools and small classes, adequate materials, well maintained physical plants) * Salaries competitive with other professions * Salary supplements (merit pay) for those with high performance ratings and for those who achieve certification by the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards * Sabbaticals and professional conference attendance * Efforts by school system to explore (a) incentives to induce persons in other disciplines to enter the teaching profession (b) ways to enable principals to be primarily educational leaders.
The Principalship (2005)
The LWV of Baltimore County supports the following:
..Action to support discretionary funding that would allow the principal to hire a person to supervise those tasks which are not directly instructional in nature such as building maintenance, data collection, report management, etc. ÊThis person would report directly to the principal. This person would be screened by the personnel department but would actually be chosen by the principal. This person would not need educational skills but rather business and organizational skills. ÊThis person would be in addition to an assistant principal-not a replacement.
..Action to encourage BCPS to expand its assistant principal's training program to include all of the requirements necessary to become a full principal. Action to encourage BCPS to require that potential principal candidates spend part of their training in Òchallenging" schools.
..Actiion to encourage BCPS to put in place a mechanism for teachers to evaluate
the principal as part of his/her overall evaluation. ..Health Action to support an adequate community resources system, including: Development of a comprehensive health plan for Baltimore County, based on a thorough assessment of community needs, present and future; Expansion of administrative services, especially in the Division of Budget and Fiscal Control, Division of Statistical Services, and Division of Program Planning, Research, and Development; An expanded health education program with recommended staff for implementation; More continuous in-service training; Programs such as pre-natal, well-child and mental health clinics, psychiatric day care centers and expanded family planning service; Increased environmental health staff. ..Housing Action to support the national League Position of equal opportunity for all, with emphasis on housing for low and moderate income families. ..Human Relations Commission Action to support a strong Commission under our national Human Relations Position of equal rights for all including: An HRC as a separate entity with adequate budget and staff; An executive director working solely for the Commission with the Board having a voice in selection; Board appointed by County Executive from a list compiled by community organizations and representing geographic areas and a balance of racial, ethnic, and community interests; Investigative powers and limited enforcement powers, including subpoena powers. ..Job Retraining Action to support retraining of dislocated workers which should be planned for in advance and occur on on ongoing basis, including: Adequate funding of t rainees nd the training institutions by the federal government with supplemental and/or stopgap funding by state and local government as needed, and with expertise and equipment provided by private industry; Enrollment of trainees in training institutions by the federal government with input from state government, private industry and Private Industry Council; Identification of future job needs by p rivate industry, with collection and dissemination of lists of available jobs at all levels of government; Shared responsibility for placement of newly trained workers by local government, private industry, and the training institutions. ..Meeting Basic Human Needs Action to support: Increasing the current local supplement for all assistance recipients who currently receive a supplement; Creation of additional shelters through funding support by the County, but operation of shelters by private, non-profit groups. ..School Age Child Care (SACC) Action to support: Assumption by Baltimore County of the role of Facilitator for a diverse range of SACC services, including: (a) Regulation, child care information and referral, planning, training and technical assistance; Designation of SACC services as second in p riority for use of school facilities; Establishment and operation of a separate Office of Children in Baltimore Co.; Assumption of funding for SACC programs by parents and business community with government involved only for low income f amilies on a sliding scale. ALTERNATIVES TO THE WAR ON DRUGS CONSENSUS (2005)
Actions to support:
..Continuation
of present drug treatment programs focusing on treatment instead of incarceration
on every level when evaluated for efficacy.
ALTERNATIVES TO THE WAR ON DRUGS CONSENSUS (2005)
Actions to support:
..Continuation of present drug treatment programs focusing on treatment instead of incarceration on every level when evaluated for efficacy.
..Focusing the GovernmentÕs budget mainly on education and treatment instead of enforcement and punishment.
..Providing drug treatment options of a year or more.
..Legalizing drugs with various degrees of regulation. Decriminalizing drugs as a first step.
..Allowing addicts to obtain their drugs from licensed medical professionals.
..Sentencing adult dealers to prison and giving judges flexibility for first time offenders.