Baltimore City Council holds hearing on declining school enrollment 

On Tuesday, May 8, Baltimore City Public Schools CEO visited City Hall to talk about the departments efforts to boost enrollment in schools.

Student enrollment is a critical issue facing our school system. Enrollment in Baltimore City schools has fallen significantly. The drop comes as Baltimore’s overall population also continues to decline. A shrinking student body is a problem in a district that funds its schools based on student enrollment. The school system loses thousands in state funding for each student who leaves the district.

Baltimore Schools CEO Dr. Sonja Santelises created an advisory task force to help guide the department’s response to recent dips in enrollment that have led to a reduction in funding for BCPS.

City Council President Bernard C. “Jack” Young called for the hearing as he is concerned that an internal task force that lacked diversity and equity presented a problem.

Members of the Council sought to find out to why the schools would put together a task force to look into negative enrollment that didn’t include equitable representation from the Latinx and African American communities, which collectively comprise the overwhelming majority of students in the system.

During the hearing, Dr. Santelises pledged to have the conversation around school enrollment grounded in equity. 

"Dr. Santelises, thank you for this background information and for the hard work and dedication of steering our public school system," said Council President Young. "This Council looks to you as its partner and we see our job as helping the school system better prepare our city’s bright minds of today and tomorrow." 

The Council made sure to reiterate that this Council represents the citizens of Baltimore and is a vehicle for inspection that is uniquely positioned to dig into matters like these and that they have a great deal of care and respect for the many educators who are working hard to teach our young people.

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On Wednesday May 9^th at 5:00 pm, the City Council will hold a hearing on traffic light synchronization. Members of the public are encouraged to attend and offer public testimony.

City Council President Bernard C. “Jack” Young introduced a resolution calling on the Department of Transportation to ensure that traffic lights city-wide are properly synchronized prior to the start of Baltimore’s “Don’t Block the Box” program. The Department of Transportation will present at the hearing on the logistics of traffic light synchronization.

As well, on Wednesday, May 16^th at 5pm, the City Council will hold an investigative hearing into the physical status of Baltimore’s Municipal Conduit System. 

Baltimore is believed to be home to the largest municipal conduit system in the country. While a number of cities sold their systems years ago during lean budgetary times, Baltimore did the opposite. Currently, Baltimore’s system generates revenue from a host of utilities and services that provide funding for maintenance. The hearing will give an update of the current status of Baltimore’s system.

For either one of these hearings, please arrive early to sign up if you would like to give verbal testimony. Please bring photo I.D. to gain entrance into City Hall.

Upcoming Fiscal Year 2019 City Council Budget Hearings 

One of my favorite sayings notes that “you can learn a lot about what an institution or person values by inspecting their budgets.”

If I reviewed your budget, and found that you spend $5 daily at the local Starbucks, I could reasonably conclude that you value coffee.

The same would hold true if your budget revealed a weekly allowance for visits to the salon. In that scenario it wouldn’t take a rocket scientist to determine that you practiced good grooming habits.

Beginning in late May, the citizens of Baltimore will have the chance to lift the hood and inspect the inner workings of our municipal budget.

With a total budget of nearly $4 billion, Baltimore’s Fiscal Year 2019 proposal lays the blueprint for continued investments in public education, transportation, health, sanitation, and myriad other core functions of local government. 

The Baltimore City Council's Budget and Appropriations Committee will be holding Taxpayer's Night for the FY2019 budget on Thursday, May 17, starting at 5:00 pm, at City Hall. This will be an opportunity for citizens to hear a brief presentation from the Department of Finance and City Schools, and then provide comments and feedback to the City Council. Taxpayer's Night will be streamed live on CharmTV at www.CharmTV.tv and will also be aired on Comcast Channel 25.

Individual agency hearings will take place May 29 – June 1.

For more information and a complete list of dates related to the Council’s oversight of the budget process, please visit Baltimore.legistar.com

Consent Decree Community Forums

Below is a list of community forums wherein the Baltimore Police Department will brief the community on our efforts to comply with the Consent Decree

All of the following Consent Decree update meetings will be held from 6:00-7:30pm:

•       Monday, May 21^st Timothy Baptist Church, 1214 W. Saratoga Street, Baltimore MD 21223
•       Wednesday, May 30^th Morgan State-Student Center Movie Theatre, 1700 E. Cold spring Lane, Baltimore MD 21251
•       Tuesday, June 12^th Humanim, 1701 N. Gay Street, Baltimore MD 21213
•       Saturday, June 27^th Huber Community Life Center, 5700 Loch Raven Blvd, Baltimore MD 21239
•       Wednesday, July 18^th Mary Our Queen-Cathedral Parrish, 5200 N. Charles Street, Baltimore MD 21210
•       Tuesday, August 7^th MICA-Falvey Hall, 1301 Mt. Royal, Baltimore MD 21217
•       Thursday, September 20^th Living Classrooms (Address TBD)
•       Thursday, October 17^th Chase Brexton, 1111 N. Charles Street, Baltimore MD 21201

Out and About in Baltimore

City Council President Bernard C. “Jack” Young and Councilwoman Mary Pat Clarke present a resolution to Artaz Cotton (Left) and FIdel Perez (Right) as they prepare for the end of the City Council Page program. 

Members of the City Council listened as the pages presented their advocacy projects based on their experiences working in the City Council.  

Coming up in Baltimore

FRESH at the Avenue
Every Saturday, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
The Avenue Market, 1700 Pennsylvania Ave
Proudly selling produce grown in 21217. Featuring produce from local farms. Quality prices!

Parklane Spring Fling Block Party
Saturday, June 2 from 1pm to 6:30 pm​
4600 to 4700 Blocks of Laurel Ave, Baltimore
Free Food, Fun, Games, Music. For more information: call 410-961-4244

Investing in Parents - Family Wellness Workshop
Thursday, May 24 from 5:30pm to 8:00pm ​
Waverly Elementary School, 3400 Ellerslie Ave, Baltimore, MD 21218.
Join Teachers' Democracy Project for a parent investment institute event.  The next workshop is “Understanding the IEP Process” Free food, childcare and transportation are being provided

Brown's Memorial Baptist Church 1st Annual Spring May Day
Saturday, May 26 from 10 am to 2pm
​Browns Memorial Baptist Church, 3215 W. Belvedere Ave
Food, Face Paintings, Health Screenings 
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Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Greater Chesapeake
Volunteers Needed!
www.biglittle.org/volunteer
Becoming a mentor is easy. Mentoring is about real relationships that help young people overcome obstacles and thrive. From education to extracurricular activities to community engagement, young people benefit from mentoring. Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Greater Chesapeake Community One-to-One Mentoring Program connects young people with caring adult mentors. Matches are provided with professional supports, inclusive of a case manager, and monthly low to no cost activities. We ask that volunteers commit to mentoring a child for a minimum of one year and to plan two to three match activities per month. To apply contact Leticia Sharp at 410-243-4000 or visit www.biglittle.org/volunteer to complete an online application . Visit Big Brothers Big Sisters on Facebook: BBBSGreaterChesapeake, Twitter: @bbbsgc and instagram: bbbsgc.
 

Online Homebuyer Education Course
24 hours a day/7days a week
www.ehomeamerica.org/
Looking to buy a home? Don't just take your best shot, make it a slam dunk! eHome America can help make your homebuying experience a winning experience! Learn what you need to know about the homebuying process, on your own schedule, from any computer. The cost is low, but the information is invaluable. Visit us at www.ehomeamerica.org/ for more information, or to register online. Information courtesy of Steven C. Kinney of the GO Northwest Housing Resource Center on 2300 Garrison Blvd., Suite 140. For more information e-mail skinney@go-northwesthrc.org or call 410-947-0084.
 

GO Northwest HRC Free Foreclosure and Prevention Counseling
Wednesdays, from 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM by appointment only
2300 Garrison Boulevard, Suite 140
This workshop is for individuals who are behind on their mortgage and/or facing foreclosure. Free workshop and free parking! Appointment is required. Call 410-947-0084 x104 for more information.
 

Adult Education Classes in Baltimore City
Locations throughout Baltimore City
The Baltimore City Community College and the Housing Authority of Baltimore City will offer Basic Skills (Pre GED) Classes at the following locations: Eager Street Homes, 709 E. Eager Street; Gilmor Homes, 1515 Vincent Court; O'Donnell Heights, 1200 Gusryan Street; Pleasant View Homes, 201 N. Aisquith Street; Westport Homes, 2343 Norfolk Street; Brooklyn Homes, 4140 Tenth Street. You must be at least 17 years of age to enroll. For more information call 410-396-3212.