TOWSON, md. — The Baltimore County Council today announced ta new task force, which in the coming weeks will be conducting a thorough review of the public facilities ordinance as it relates to school overcrowding.
The Baltimore County Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance (APFO) Task Force is responsible for studying how to make significant improvement to infrastructure and public school facilities.
“This workgroup includes a diverse group of leaders who will help us review and possibly overhaul this law that guides development in our school districts,” said County Councilman David Marks.
The eight-member task force consists of five members appointed by the County Council,
as well as three members designated by County agencies:
• Maureen Astarita, Principal, Parkville High School – representing the Council of
Administrative & Supervisory Employees (CASE) (appointee)
• Yara Cheikh, Partner, Creating Equity, LLC – representing the League of Women Voters
(appointee)
• C. Pete Gutwald, Director, Baltimore County Department of Planning (designee)
• Julie Henn, Vice Chair, Board of Education of Baltimore County (designee)
• Elizabeth Irwin, Baltimore County Deputy Auditor and Director of Fiscal & Policy Analysis
(designee)
• Jayne Lee, President, PTA Council of Baltimore County (appointee)
• Lisa Norrington, Teacher, Patapsco High School – representing the Teachers Association of
Baltimore County (TABCO) (appointee)
• Rick Williams, Principal, Development Design Consultants, Inc. – representing the Maryland
Building Industry Association (appointee)
“The County’s APFO is not functioning as intended to ensure that the County’s schools are keeping up with residential growth. This group has an important responsibility, and I am confident that these task force members are up to this challenge,” said County Council Chairwoman Cathy Bevins.
The volunteer members will serve through December 31, 2020. The task force will report on the results of its studies, providing recommendations to the County Executive and County Council by November 1, 2020. At that time, the task force also will recommend if its work should continue and whether its scope of study or membership should be refined.
