August 27, 2001

Dear Interested Party:

     In a press release dated August 10, 2001, the Maryland Commission on Education Finance, Equity, and Excellence announced that public hearings would be held in four regions of the State on September 10, 2001. At the Commission's meeting on August 23, 2001, the Commission decided to hold a fifth hearing on that same date in Cumberland, Maryland. The enclosed press release outlines additional information relating to these five hearings. I am also enclosing directions to each of the hearing locations and a list of salient questions that the Commission would like individuals to address at the hearings. If you have questions about the upcoming hearings or the work of the Commission, please contact Kathleen Boucher or Heidi Dudderar at the Department of Legislative Services (410-946-5530 or 301-970-5530) or Renee Spence at the Maryland State Department of Education (410-767-0469).

Sincerely,
Alvin Thornton, Ph.D.
Chairman

AT/KMB/kjw

Enclosure

cc: Members, Commission on Education Finance, Equity, and Excellence
     Governor Parris N. Glendening
     President Thomas V. Mike Miller, Jr.
     Speaker Casper R. Taylor, Jr.

MEDIA ADVISORY - AUGUST 27, 2001

Contacts:

Commission on Education Finance, Equity, and Excellence
To Hold Public Hearings in Five Regions of Maryland

      In a press release dated August 10, 2001, Dr. Alvin Thornton, Chairman of the Maryland Commission on Education Finance, Equity, and Excellence announced that the Commission would hold public hearings in four regions of the State between 7:00 and 9:00 p.m. on September 10, 2001. On August 23, 2001, Dr. Thornton announced that a fifth hearing would be held on that same date in Cumberland, Maryland. "The purpose of all of five hearings is to obtain recommendations from the public regarding ways in which the State's current school finance system should be changed," said Dr. Thornton, "as well as sources of revenue that should be used to pay for any increases in funding for the State's public schools." Dr. Thornton continued, "The Commission also seeks to obtain specific input at each of the five hearings as to how the Commission should use the results of the adequacy studies conducted by Augenblick & Myers (on behalf of the Commission) and Management Analysis & Planning Inc. (on behalf of the New Maryland Education Coalition) to enhance the State's school finance system."

      The five regional hearings are being held on the same night to allow the Commission to solicit public input prior to the Commission's issuance of the first draft of its final report in October 2001. In order to conduct five hearings on the same night, the 27-member Commission will be subdivided into five groups. Each Commission member will attend one of the public hearings. In most cases, this will be the hearing that is held in the region in which the member lives or works. The Commission plans to hold another public hearing in Annapolis on October 25, 2001, after the issuance of the first draft of its final report. The Commission plans to submit its final report to the Governor and General Assembly in December 2001.

      In order to focus the public hearings on salient issues, the Commission has developed a list of questions that speakers should address at the hearings. These questions have been placed on the Commission's web site (http://mlis.state.md.us/other/education/index.htm) and mailed directly to individuals who have placed their names on the Commission's mailing list. Individuals can obtain a copy of these questions by calling Sue Penix or Kim Wilson at 410-946-5530 or 301-970-5530.

Public Hearings

      Speakers are encouraged to sign up to testify before the hearing by calling Kim Wilson or Sue Penix at 410-946-5530 or 301-970-5530. Sign-up sheets also will be available at hearing sites one hour before each hearing. IN ORDER TO ENSURE THAT ALL VIEWS ARE PRESENTED DURING THE TWO-HOUR HEARINGS, INDIVIDUALS WITH COMMON INTERESTS ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO DESIGNATE REPRESENTATIVES TO TESTIFY ON THEIR BEHALF AT THE HEARINGS. At the discretion of the Chairman, individual testimony at the public hearings may be limited to five (5) minutes or less. Speakers should submit fifteen (15) copies of written testimony to the Commission's staff no later than 6:30 p.m. on the day of the hearing. Individuals who would like to testify before the Commission, but are unable to attend a public hearing, may submit written testimony to Dr. Alvin Thornton, Commission on Education Finance, Equity, and Excellence, Room 214, Legislative Services Building, 90 State Circle, Annapolis, Maryland, 21401. Written testimony may also be submitted via the Internet by sending e-mail to Education_Commission@mlis.state.md.us.