Amalie Brandenburg of Severna Park Final Candidate for School Board Spot

Amalie Brandenburg sees becoming a member of the Anne Arundel County Board of Education as an opportunity to go beyond representing her home school ofand reach across school boundaries to address the educational and structural needs of the entire school community.

Brandenburg, 37, an engineer and a homemaker, would be representing District 33, which includes Davidsonville and parts of Edgewater, starting July 1.

James Pembrook Scott of Crownsville, a lawyer and substitute teacher, has also applied for the appointment.

The District 33 seat on the board is being vacated by current member Victor Bernson, an Ehrlich appointee, who is stepping down at the end of his term in June.

Edgewater is also served by District 30 school board member Solon Webb, whose term ends in 2015.

Brandenburg's educational background includes a degree in engineering and an MBA from the University of Maryland. This mother of three believes this career niche coupled with her experience in physical plant and facilities management, could enhance the work of the school board.

"When I started on the Benfield feasibility study, I took the emotion out and looked at the metrics and looked at if it is reasonable. I then realized that a third of our elementary schools are in the same shape we are in - this is really beyond just our school," she said. Benfield is currently the highest over capacity in the county with an enrollment over 470.

A five year resident of Severna Park, Brandenburg lives in Chartwell with her husband Brent and first-grader Paul, daughter Berit in pre-school at Our Shepherd Lutheran Church in Severna Park and Bodie, 3 years old.

A Benfield PTA volunteer over the past few years, Brandenburg got involved more in depth last year with the school's feasibility study to help secure funding for the school. "It was an incredible process I really enjoyed it, but doubt we'll get the funding," Brandenburg said.

A talking point for Brandenburg are the issues surrounding schools that have already reached and surpassed their maximum enrollment. This is where she hopes to put her background in physical plant management for power plants to practical use as a school board member.

"We have a real issue here from a facilities standpoint," Brandenburg said. "We have an aging school system with a total of 79 schools, 20 of which are slated to be rebuilt or renovated in the next five to six years."

"One third of elementary schools are over capacity - we have an enormous maintenance backlog by deferring maintenance."

Brandenburg said that currently there is no member of the board with her expertise, mainly, the majority of the members are lawyers, nurses and accountants.

"I think having that with my background I could add a little value (to the board)," of which she stated "is doing a great job."

One day, Brandenburg hopes to see all of the schools communicating with each other on topics like enrichment activities. A model something like a Facebook page where ideas can be dropped and conversations begin. "Wouldn't it be be nice to buddy up with a school and help other schools get active?" she said.

Brandenburg also believes the struggles that many schools share should be addressed as a community, not individually. "We fight for what we need individually instead of as a community," she said, giving the example of fighting for funding for improvements to Benfield while not recognizing how it effects the other schools and community if the funding is approved.

"The ultimate goal is to collaborate, there's always room for improvement to help us operate more efficiently," she said.

She's also a proponent of the magnet and signature programs. "I know it costs money but the rewards are huge." 

Brandenburg would like to "align resources to help them get to a great school system" while following Superintendent Kevin Maxwell's vision of  "to take it from good to great."

"To get it there, you have to hold yourself accountable and see if where you're spending money makes sense, and if not, make adjustments," Brandenburg said.

"I'm really excited, I really would like to do this, I really think I could add value."

Copies of the candidate applications for public review are available at  www.aacps.org/sbnc by clicking on candidates.

A public hearing was held Monday evening at the Board of Education office where the candidates were questioned by the commission.  At 7 p.m. on Tuesday, also at the Board of Education office, the second public hearing will be held when the commission will accept designated candidate witnesses as well as general public testimony from proponents and opponents of the candidates.

According to a press release, the commission will then meet at 7 p.m. on May 23  in an executive session to deliberate in a public session to vote on candidates whose names will be forwarded to the Governor for selection.

Open sessions of the commission are broadcast live on AACPS-TV, channel 96 on Comcast and Broadstripe, and channel 36 on Verizon. A schedule of rebroadcast times can be found on the Commission’s website at www.aacps.org/sbnc.

Visit www.aacps.org/sbnc for possible updates.