It’s that time of year to reflect on how wise, or unwise in many cases, I was with my predictions for 2021 in this space last year.Right On The Money Fortunately, it was the right call to predict the year would not include any government-required stay-at-home orders in Maryland. COVID-19 vaccinations did become readily available… Read more »
There are currently nine Superintendent of Schools vacancies in Maryland school systems. Most of these have been through announced retirements, including in Wicomico County and the most recent being in Frederick County this week where an embattled superintendent opted to retire days after being put on an administrative leave after a justice probe found mistreatment… Read more »
The Maryland State Board of Education moved a lot faster than expected this week outlining the “off ramp” options for school systems hoping to go mask optional. Though the speed of the process was surprising, the emergency resolution still requires legislative approval. The mask mandate remains in effect until February or until the legislative committee… Read more »
The conversation about masking in public schools at this week’s Maryland State Board of Education meeting was reflective of the general sentiments of society today. Nobody wants to wear a mask but currently they are needed until the protocols established by the authoritative bodies – like Maryland Department of Health and OSHA – are relaxed… Read more »
A sports book could be up and running at Ocean Downs Casino soon after the new year. Gov. Larry Hogan said last week he was optimistic about “getting sports betting underway as quickly as possible in time for the NFL playoffs and the Super Bowl.” Approximately 67% of Marylanders supported a referendum in 2020 to… Read more »
It’s beneficial to reflect back in time to see how far we have come. One year ago this week, I was standing on the sidelines of a soccer tournament in northern Delaware when parents received the automated call from the school system informing virtual learning was to take place through the end of the year… Read more »
Delaware appears more apt than Maryland to do away with mask mandates in public schools. This week Delaware Gov. John Carney said he would extend his requirement public and private school students wear masks until Feb. 8, 2022. However, Carney hinted it might not be extended beyond that if vaccination rates among youth hit acceptable… Read more »
While the nostalgic types understandably frown on the project, the Margaritaville project — proposed between 13th and 14th streets — represents the new Ocean City. The development’s scale is massive and will include 265 hotel rooms, three restaurants, four pools, bars, a wellness center and gym, convention space and retail space between Baltimore Avenue and… Read more »
Though masks may be here to stay in schools, it seems likely some changes will be made to quarantine rules in the near future.As a result of many students being sidelined by protocols governing positive exposures, some jurisdictions in Maryland have recently gone against state guidance when it comes to close contact quarantining. For example,… Read more »
Things got uncomfortable at City Hall this week, but the dialogue needed to happen.The Ocean City Mayor and Council is right to not let the situation involving an online comment made by Ocean City Councilman Mark Paddack (who says he was hacked) blow over. At this week’s council meeting, the council voted 4-2 to issue… Read more »