Suds & Sausage This Saturday!

You’re Invited To Saturday Suds and Sausage...

This Saturday, May 16, 2009 from 12 noon-3 pm at thePatapsco Female Institute to benefit theLadies in Leadership. Tickets are $30 per person and this is a casual picnic just for fun and fellowship!

RSVP to Gail Bates at (410) 960-9930 or delegategail@comcast.net

About the Patapsco Female Institute:

Walk through the stabilized ruins of the Patapsco Female Institute and learn about one of the most famous schools for young women in 19th century America. Located in historic Ellicott City, Maryland, the granite Greek Revival structure with its four soaring Doric columns sits atop the town’s highest elevation, overlooking the dramatic Patapsco River Valley.

Directions

From the South: Take Route 29 North to Route 40 East. Turn right at Rogers Avenue. After 1 mile where Rogers Avenue splits off on the right, ear left and continue straight on the main road, which becomes Courthouse Drive. This road ends at Sarah’s Lane. Mt. Ida is the yellow building on the right.

From the East and North: Route 70 West to Route 29 South on the left. Take Route 40 East and turn right onto Rogers Avenue. Proceed as above.

From the West: Route 70 East to Route 29 South. Take Route 40 East. Proceed as above.

Revise Per-Pupil Spending

March 20, 2009
Editorial from the Carroll County Times

A bill proposed by Del. Nancy Stocksdale, R-District 5A, which would alter the way the state calculates per-pupil school funding, is a good idea that would save the state money and at the same time provide incentives for schools to reduce dropout rates.

As it stands, the state uses the number of students in school on Sept. 30 as the basis for per-pupil funding. Stocksdale’s bill would require the state to compile the Sept. 30 and April 15 attendance figures and then use the average. School attendance fluctuates over the course of the school year. Stocksdale says her plan would provide a more accurate accounting of school attendance.

The department of Legislative Services apparently agrees. A fiscal analysis performed by the department indicates the state could save about $181 million in fiscal year 2011.

The bill, unfortunately, likely won’t go far. Stocksdale introduced a similar bill last year. But despite their hand-wringing and cries of budget deficits and wasteful spending, most elected officials aren’t keen on taking money away from their districts, especially if it is in the form of education funding.

But making sure that tax money is being used wisely, and effectively, is something our lawmakers should focus on when they go to Annapolis. And Stocksdale’s bill provides a more accurate formula for determining school funding, something that should be the goal of every elected official as the state continues to wrestle with deficits.

An added bonus, as Stocksdale notes, is that the change would prompt schools to do more to reduce their dropout rates, a major source of the attendance fluctuations between the start and end of the school year.

School funding is a major concern for most systems. But funding should be based on the most accurate numbers possible to ensure that state tax dollars are being used most effectively. Stocksdale’s bill does that, and it is something that deserves a hard look from state lawmakers.

Del. Bates Inducted in Howard County Women's Hall of Fame

DELEGATE GAIL BATES INDUCTED INTO THE HOWARD COUNTY WOMEN’S HALL OF FAME

Bates’ long service to citizens and community cited in prestigious honor

Columbia, MD—Delegate Gail Bates (R-District 9) was inducted today into the Howard County Women’s Hall of Fame. The ceremony recognized women in the County who have made significant contributions to Howard County and its residents. Delegate Bates was among four other outstanding County women honored by the Howard County Commission for Women and County Executive Ken Ulman at the 13th Annual Howard County Women’s Hall of Fame.

“It is truly an honor for me to be recognized for doing what I love to do,” Bates said. “I learned the important lesson of public service from my parents, who always worked to improve their community and the lives of others around them. I saw the joy it gave them and others every day and the tremendous impact they had on people’s lives.”

Bates continued, “I have always approached work as a public service, whether it was when I was a teacher, an aide to former County Executive Ecker, or as a member of the House of Delegates. I am proud to serve Howard County and all Marylanders as I try to make sure we continue to have great neighborhoods, great schools, and safe communities.”

Former County Executive Charles Ecker praised Bates’ work on behalf of Howard County. “Gail was a valuable advisor and worked tirelessly to solve problems and ensure that Howard County residents were being well served. Her work with the Christmas in April program was inspiring. I am proud to support her and glad that Howard County is honoring her in this way.”

Delegate Bates has been a member of the House of Delegates since 2002. She has earned the respect of her colleagues on both sides of the aisle and risen to the ranks of Ranking Member of the powerful House Appropriations Committee.

She helped develop Howard County’s “Christmas in April” Program that has helped low-income, elderly, or disabled individuals in the County make needed improvements to their homes. She has brought together thousands of volunteers and individuals and the business community to advocate on behalf of improving the lives of those in need in Howard County.

She has served in a leadership role within the County on many boards such as the Howard County Tourism Council, Howard County Chamber of Commerce, Howard County Red Cross, the Christian Jail Ministry, and the Howard County Farm Bureau, among others. She is a graduate of the Howard County Leadership class of 1990.

Delegate Bates has lived in Howard County for more than 30 years with her husband David and sons Robert and Dwight. She is a former teacher, certified public accountant, and top aid to former County Executive Charles Ecker.