Betsy Grater
Office Sought: Howard County Board of Education
Age: 76
Residence: Ellicott City.
Education: BA, elem. ed., Kutztown Univ.; MA, early childhood ed., Vanderbilt Univ.; cert. management., Goucher College.
Occupation: Retired, former teacher and business owner.
Web site: None given.
E-mail address: betsygrater@aol.com
Offices and positions held: Elected to the Raleigh, N.C., School Board, 1971-74;
co-president, League of Women Voters of Howard County, 2001-05; director, League of Women Voters of Maryland, 2005-present; member, State of Maryland Child Care Task Force, 2000-01; president, National Association of Women Business Owners,1989-90; master gardener, University of Maryland Extension Service, 2003-present.
Why should voters elect you?
I have teaching experience, was elected to a school board, have three grandchildren in Howard schools and the experience and wisdom to tackle our challenges.
What do you think is the most urgent problem facing your jurisdiction?
One of the most urgent problems facing Howard schools now is the prospect of budget cuts relating to the fiscal crisis in the state budget. In legislation just passed, state aid is frozen at the fiscal 2008 level for fiscal 2009 and fiscal 2010. Budget cuts mean teachers, books and supplies are affected, which, in turn, affects how and what students are taught. Maintaining and renovating our schools to keep them in good condition and to keep them upgraded to meet current needs are also functions of the budget.
-- The Washington Post | Submit a correction request.
