NEWS RELEASE

Mayor Jennifer P. Dougherty

CONTACT: Jeanette Eleff, Public Information Officer, 301-360-3842

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday, April 1, 2002

MAYOR DOUGHERTY’S INITIATIVE FOR AN EDUCATION COMMITTEE MOVES AHEAD

Mayor Jennifer Dougherty has asked Alderman Donna Kuzemchak Ramsburg to pursue the development of an Education Committee. On March 27, a task force met to begin crafting the components of this committee.

“It’s about time the City is doing something with education,” stated Alderman Ramsburg. “In the past I used to hear “Education is Frederick County’s responsibility.” I believe that education is an everyday, every person issue. I am proud to have a Mayor who wants to pursue this initiative.”

During her Inauguration, Mayor Jennifer Dougherty said everyone needed to imagine the best for The City of Frederick. She challenged the audience to imagine how to grow as a community and to imagine how children will learn and play. “As a city, we need to take some responsibility for helping our schools better serve their students,” stated Mayor Dougherty. “Alderman Ramsburg is an excellent advocate for our children. This is why I asked her to coordinate the preliminary work on the Education Committee.”

On March 27, Alderman Ramsburg and representatives from various PTA’s met to exchange ideas for an Education Committee. In attendance were Alderman Marcia Hall, Cindy Small, Sue Butt, Marty Cifrese, Marita Loose, Lynne Yournick, Gail Colby, M.C. Keegan-Ayer, Jane Sheffer, Betty Lydwig, Bonnie Borsa and Jean Ann Firestone.

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The purpose of the initial meeting was to gather information from PTA leaders on ways The City of Frederick could enhance education within City schools. The group chose four major issues for the City to pursue; advocacy, manpower, social and population change and the availability of a resource clearinghouse.

According to Alderman Ramsburg, the most important task of the Education Committee is to advocate for the City schools to the Board of Education and the County Commissioners. Programs that are more attuned to City schools, such as reading, will be supported.

“Since the main purpose of the committee is to help City children do better in school, we must find the programs that work and weed out those that don’t,” remarked Alderman Ramsburg. “To do this assessment, information on each school needs to be centralized. The Education Committee should act as a resource clearinghouse to match programs and services to the schools most suited. The Education Committee could have the responsibility of going to each individual school and developing a list of their programs. Once all schools are cataloged, decisions could be made for the betterment of each individual school population.” Said Ramsburg.

“The task force is off to a great start,” commented Dougherty. “This is another example of bringing the community together to help improve the quality of life in our City. I look forward to seeing their recommendations.”

Alderman Ramsburg expects the Education Committee to be active by the next school year. The task force will continue to meet until the parameters of this committee are developed. People interested in getting more information on the Education Committee can call the Alderman at 301-696-2966.

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