Prince George's School Board

The importance of this election cannot be overstated.

ACRITICAL decision facing voters in Prince George's County is the choice for the Board of Education. If the schools are to improve and the county to prosper, a well-prepared and properly motivated school board is needed to work with schools chief John E. Deasy in replacing the failures of the past with new achievements.

The sad history of Prince George's school politics is well known. The behavior of the last elected school board was so embarrassing, it was replaced with an appointed board that, in turn, made a devastatingly bad decision picking Andre J. Hornsby as schools chief. Mr. Hornsby's indictment last week underscored that too much time and too many resources have been squandered while the school system struggled.

The first step in picking a new board comes Sept. 12 when voters will winnow a field of more than 40 candidates to 18 finalists who will vie for nine seats in the November general election. The board will consist of four at-large members and five district representatives, but even the district members will be elected countywide.

For the at-large seats, Donna Hathaway Beck , Jeana Jacobs , Nate Thomas and Ron Watson emerge as the best candidates. Ms. Beck is a longtime parent activist with unquestioned commitment to the schools. Her knowledge would be invaluable to a new board. As hearing examiner for the schools, Ms. Jacobs has insight into troubled youths and the challenges they pose for schools. Mr. Thomas, who has been both a student and a teacher in the county schools, has new ideas for teacher development and, as a Suitland resident, knows firsthand about the promise and problems of the area inside the Capital Beltway. Mr. Watson would draw on his skills as a business consultant to provide a different, but much-needed, kind of expertise.

Also running is Howard W. Stone, incumbent board member and well-liked political activist. We are unhappy with Mr. Stone's involvement in the selection of Mr. Hornsby, but he has been a positive force on the current board and would provide a bridge to the new board. Sherry A. Strother, a health-care professional, has experience as parent of a special-needs child that is both inspiring and instructive. The bid of Ken E. Johnson, a former school board chairman, should be rejected, however. His presence is likely to be as disruptive as it was six years ago.

In District 1, Rosalind Johnson , who was a teacher for more than 30 years in the county schools, would be an asset because of her deep roots in the community, knowledge of the system, and her common-sense approach to issues. Also strong is Robin Barnes Shell, ombudsman with the Howard County public schools.

District 2 has two terrific candidates in Heather Iliff and Amber Waller. Iliff, parent of a second-grader in Prince George's, is an internationally recognized education advocate with a rich background in academic reform and policy that would be of invaluable help to the county. Waller has a proven record of commitment to the community with her involvement in school and civic organizations.

Judy Mickens-Murray , a member of the current appointed board, deserves to be elected in her own right in District 3. Ms. Mickens-Murray was the only member of the board to realize how ill advised it was to pick Mr. Hornsby and to have the courage to vote against him.

In District 4, Zeno W. St. Cyr II has been an important leader in the southern part of the county working on a variety of school, transportation and anti-crime initiatives. Steven Morris has 32 years of education experience, having been a teacher and an administrator in Prince George's.

Owen Johnson Jr., a retired Prince George's teacher and coach, is the clear choice to represent District 5. Mr. Johnson has keen insights into the educational issues and would bring maturity and good judgment to the board.