The Vote: Push for SMOB Voting Rights Still Going Strong

Last night I attended a Student Advisory Council meeting. This organization is headed by the Student Member of the Board of Education (SMOB) John Mannes. Its purpose is to have a focus group of MCPS middle and high school students to evaluate youth-related issues in the county. 

One of the topics on the agenda was SMOB Voting Rights. For those of you who don't know, the SMOB is a voting member on the Board of Ed, but he/she cannot vote on the budget. We are trying to change this. Last year our bill got all the way to the MD State Senate, but it never got put to a vote due to a senator making special orders to postpone the it.

So this year we we are getting organized. We have created a two year plan in which we will lobby for SMOB voting rights to PT(S)As and hold candidate forums. We also plan to get more support within the Senate by talking to the person who will take Senator Brian Frosh's seat (he must give it up because he is running for Attorney General).

I have high hopes for the future of SMOB voting rights. Hopefully the work that I contribute to this initiative will pay off by 2014.

To get more information from the SMOB, like SMOB 365 on Facebook and/or visit http://mocostudent.org/