A Monday afternoon email from the group that puts out the widespread “Apple Ballot” has supporters of one Board of Education candidate very unhappy on election day.
Montgomery County Education Association President Doug Prouty sent an email to all MCEA members criticizing at-large Board of Education candidate Jill Ortman-Fouse, linking to a Bethesda Magazine story about how the county’s main teachers union and main employees union (MCGEO) are backing different candidates.
MCEA, which represents about 12,000 MCPS teachers, is backing Ortman-Fouse’s opponent Shebra Evans for the at-large spot.
“The County Employees Union has made no secret over the past five years of their belief that the school system gets too much money. The comments in today’s article from their president makes clear that they want to reduce funding for our schools,” Prouty wrote. “They are the single largest donor to BOE candidate Jill Ortman-Fouse, having donated $6,000 to her campaign (while making no contributions to candidates for the County Council!).
“Voters are left to wonder what the discussions were that led to MCGEO’s contribution to Ms. Ortman-Fouse’s campaign; and how her ability to advocate for our students’ needs would be affected,” Prouty wrote.
That raised the ire of many Ortman-Fouse supporters, one who labeled it a “smear campaign” and many who have responded to Prouty expressing their distaste with the email.
The issue which seems to have gotten MCGEO into the school board race is school spending and the maintenance of effort law. Ortman-Fouse is in favor of tweaking the law to allow the County Council more flexibility in MCPS budgeting. She’s also testified in front of Annapolis lawmakers in support of waivers and revisions to the bill.
Evans has remained less specific about her views on the maintenance of effort law, pledging that she would bring better collaboration between the school board and County Council on the issue.
MCEA members are distributing their “Apple Ballot” at polling places on Tuesday. The union also endorsed school board incumbents Judy Docca, Pat O’Neill and Mike Durso.
