Somerset County Board of Education is facing relentless criticism and pressure from all agencies within the state of Maryland because of their compliance with the Federal Department of Education’s and President Trump’s Executive Order regarding “NO DEI” in education.
It all started in February 2025 when the newly elected board members unanimously executed the Federal Department of Education’s letter affirming compliance with Title VI, IX and all applicable Supreme Court Precedents.
At that public meeting, the Superintendent of Somerset refused to sign the federal compliance letter and complained about it to the Maryland State Superintendent.
State Superintendent Carey Wright issued her own letter claiming that the State of Maryland would not comply with the Federal Department of Education’s “no DEI,” but that it will comply with their own regulations.
From that moment, local Superintendent Ava Tasker-Mitchell decided to ignore the Board of Education policies and produced zero procedural guidance to implement simple policies passed by the local board: from a flag policy to a dress code.
She produced nothing and continued to make promises to parents that “her team is working hard on procedures for the dress code for the upcoming school year. (See June 2025 Board meeting open session).
The local Board found itself with a Superintendent who ignores their policies and has done nothing of substance to help the failing school system, making Somerset County Public Schools as having the worst performing district and discipline record in the State of Maryland.
Facing incompetence and insubordination, the local Superintendent demanded closed session meetings.
The local school board provided to her all opportunities she demanded.
We COULD havr had Gordana as our LtGov!