State Declines BCPS Board Plea To Appoint Verletta White

TOWSON, MD — Maryland State Superintendent Karen Salmon again refused to appoint Verletta White as the permanent superintendent of Baltimore County Public Schools, according to reports. The decision comes despite White's support from the school board.

WBAL reports Salmon cited "ethics concerns" in her refusal to appoint White. These concerns stem largely from White's failure to report consulting income, even though an ethics panel said the disclosure forms were confusing.

The Baltimore County school board voted 8-4 to give White the permanent seat, which was set to begin on July 1, the day her temporary term ends. After Salmon declined to accept their decision, they sent Salmon a letter, asking her to reconsider.

"I appreciate the board's explanation and advocacy for Ms. White's appointment," Salmon said in a response letter obtained by WBAL. "I have considered all the information sent to me. Yet, my reservations remain. Therefore, I decline to approve Ms. White's appointment to permanent superintendent."

White's alleged ethical misconduct, which had to do with consulting, was successfully remedied, according to a January 2018 document outlining the ethics panel's findings. See the full document here.

(For more news like this, find your local Patch here. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app; download the free Patch Android app here. And like Patch on Facebook!)

Personally I believe Ms. White is the right person for the job at the right time," said Edward Gilliss, chair of the board, WBAL reports. "The board will consider this matter at its June 12 meeting."

The board's options at this point are to vote White in for another one-year stint as temporary superintendent or choose another.

See more:

• BCPS Offers Superintendent Contract To Verletta White
• State Rejects Verletta White As BCPS Superintendent

Article image: Verletta White courtesy of BCPS/Flickr