Feud With O'Malley a Test for Assertive Schools Chief

Grasmick said she had notified the head of Baltimore schools and received support. Ehrlich said the move wasn't based on politics.

"When Nancy came to me, I told my senior staff, 'This is an opportunity to do something, and there is no way the legislative leadership of the General Assembly will block this. The case is too strong. . . . Everybody knows the dysfunction of the Baltimore school system,' " Ehrlich said.

Within days, the General Assembly acted to overrule Grasmick's move. Ehrlich vetoed the lawmakers, but they responded by overriding the veto. O'Malley, joined by Baltimore school officials, personally thanked the legislators in Annapolis.

What Lies Ahead

The fallout from the Baltimore fight could spell the end of Grasmick's tenure. Grasmick is part of O'Malley's Cabinet, and state education accounts for an enormous chunk of the state budget, but Grasmick said it had been "several months" since they had a face-to-face conversation.

O'Malley's office did not return a call for this article.

As governor, O'Malley has the power to nominate new members of the State Board of Education. The legislative leaders, House Speaker Michael E. Busch (D-Anne Arundel) and Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller Jr. (D-Calvert), say that the General Assembly is part of the system of checks and balances that will hold Grasmick and the Board of Education accountable.

"I do think everyone has to understand that the role of the General Assembly, the people who actually stand for office every four years, we do have input into the oversight [of education policy] and responsibility as to how that's carried out," Busch said.

Even Ehrlich thinks the odds against her are overwhelming.

"They're going to take her out because they can," Ehrlich said.

But Grasmick said she intends to serve out her term. At the suggestion that she might choose to retire now, she became slightly peevish.

"I feel as passionate about it as I ever have," she said. "I do not feel worn out."

Staff writer John Wagner contributed to this report.