July 27th, 2022. Annapolis, MD
The Maryland State Board of Education, in a surprise move, voted 8 to 6 in favor of a move that would slash an already low annual budget by almost half.
Clarence C Crawford, State Board of Education President, proposed the move as a cost cutting measure. When asked about the drastic funding cuts, Mr. Crawford stated that there was “too much fat in the existing budget”. He said school districts will have to come up with a way to “tighten their belts” in response to what he called “uncontrolled spending.”
Channel 46 asked Mr. Crawford to elaborate but he refused to give specifics. “Let’s just say there are counties in this state that take a very relaxed approach to the separation of state and personal funds. State educational funds are not to be used for personal trips or frivolous things such as hiring a gourmet chef for your board office.”
Mr. Crawford then when on to say that “within this very same county school system, we have learned that certain departments, such as Secondary Math for example, have spent an inordinate amount of funds. In addition, leadership roles are being handed out by nepotism, not by merit.”
While the investigation is still on-going, it is clear that the evidence against certain counties is mounting. Channel 46 confidential sources site several counties as being under the spotlight with Washington County “far above the rest” in terms of misappropriated funds.
Sources have cited, but have yet to be confirmed, that individuals of interest are Boyd Michael, Gary Willow, Amy Seylar and Erika Hancock.
We will update this story as more information is released.