As the Prince George's County executive held a community town hall to discuss a new schools management legislation, residents made a last ditch effort to let voters decide on the issue.
Members of Citizens for an Elected Board gathered at Potomac High School's graduation at Show Place Arena Tuesday, collecting petition signatures in hopes of sending a restructured school system takeover to a referendum.
The group will need to gather 8,000 signatures by Saturday and 25,000 by the end of next month to delay the vote and get a county-wide referendum.
Tuesday, Prince George's County Executive Rushern Baker held a town hall-style community meeting at the Bowie Regional Library. News4's Tracee Wilkins attended the meeting and reported the library was packed with residents eager to ask questions.
Under the new regulations, Baker will hear recommendations from a three-member search committee appointed by Gov. Martin O'Malley and then pick three finalists for the county's superintendent position, renamed CEO of Prince George's County Public Schools.
"We give the CEO something no other superintendent has in Maryland - a lot more power," Christian Rhodes, Prince George's County education liaison said. "Our goal is to make sure we find a CEO who is committed to Prince George's County and will stay in Prince George's County."
Earlier this month, all three candidates for the position withdrew their names from consideration. This included interim Superintendent Alvin Crawley. Last week, Baker asked Crawley to extend his contract.
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