North Beach to Build 'Green' Town Hall

The appointments are part of an effort to elevate the status of the commission, which advises the governor and state office of Asian Pacific American Affairs on issues affecting the state's growing Asian American population. Commission Chair Jane Nishida said the number of Asian Americans in Charles County has grown by as much as 50 percent in the past several years.

School Board Officers

School boards in Charles and St. Mary's counties elected officers at recent meetings.

¿ The Charles County Board of Education unanimously reelected Donald M. Wade (Hughesville) as chairman and Roberta S. "Bobbie" Wise as vice chairman at its meeting last week.

Each January, the board elects a chairman and vice chairman, who serve one-year terms. This is the second year for Wade and Wise in the leadership positions.

Wade, a three-term board member, was first elected in 1998. Wise is in her first term, having won election in November 2006. She is a retired Charles County Public Schools teacher.

¿ Last month, the St. Mary's County Board of Education of St. Mary's County unanimously elected William M. Mattingly (Chaptico) as chairman and Cathy Allen (Hollywood) as vice chairman.

Mattingly is in his second term on the board, having first won election in 2002. He served as vice chairman last year. Allen, a former chairman of the board, was first elected in 2000.

Calvert School Budget

The Calvert County Board of Education plans a public hearing on the school superintendent's proposed fiscal 2009 operating budget on Feb. 7 at 7 p.m. in the Brooks Administrative Center, 1305 Dares Beach Rd. in Prince Frederick.

Superintendent Jack R. Smith and other administrators will present budget details at the beginning of the hearing. That will be followed by comments from the public. Individuals are encouraged to submit their comments in writing as well.

Copies of the proposed budget will be available at the public hearing or can be obtained by calling the superintendent's office at 410-535-7804.

School Board Q&A

The Dunkirk Area Concerned Citizens Association (DACCA) has posted on its Weblog questions and responses of candidates vying for seats on the Calvert County Board of Education.