UPDATE: New revelations from the Maryland Inspector General’s office confirm that the Somerset County school board has violated state law in its recent decisions regarding legal counsel. The report, released on November 13, 2023, details how the board improperly fired its former attorney and hired a new one without adhering to mandatory competitive bidding rules.
The Inspector General’s findings indicate that the board took unauthorized action during a closed session on February 13, 2025, by voting to terminate an existing legal contract and approve a new one without public oversight. This action not only breaches Maryland law but also undermines the board’s own policies. The report notes that the hiring process should have involved soliciting bids from at least two firms for contracts valued between $50,000 and $100,000, a requirement that the board blatantly ignored.
The Inspector General’s office is set to escalate these concerns to key authorities, including the Governor, the General Assembly, and the State Board of Education. “The Inspector General has identified issues of concern and will report them,” the document states, underscoring the potential ramifications for board members.
This latest scandal adds to a troubling history for Somerset County’s school board. An earlier audit from the Maryland Office of Legislative Audits highlighted ongoing financial mismanagement issues, many dating back over a decade. The board has faced criticism for weak purchasing oversight and a failure to implement necessary reforms, with procurement policies remaining outdated and inconsistent with state regulations.
In a related development, tensions have escalated between the school board and its superintendent, Dr. Ava Tasker-Mitchell. Earlier this year, the board voted to terminate her, but State Superintendent Carey M. Wright intervened, staying the action until an appeal was resolved. In late October, Dr. Tasker-Mitchell and the board reached an agreement leading to her resignation.
The inspector general’s investigation was prompted by multiple complaints received in March 2025 regarding the school board’s hiring practices. Under Maryland law, local boards are permitted to hire their own attorneys, but they must follow strict procurement guidelines. The report highlights a significant breach of protocol, where the board not only failed to advertise the vacancy for legal counsel but also bypassed the required interview process, which should involve a committee of board members and staff.
Attempts to obtain comments from board members, including Matthew Lankford, Andrew Gleason, Mary-Beth Bozman, and William McIntuff, were met with refusal, as the current legal counsel for the board denied access to these officials.
As this situation unfolds, the urgency for accountability in Somerset County’s educational governance grows. With the district scoring 46.5 on this year’s Maryland Report Card—ranking second-to-last in the state—community concerns about leadership and accountability are at an all-time high. Only Baltimore City performed worse with a score of 44.99.
The implications of these findings are profound, not only for the board members involved but for students and families relying on effective governance in Somerset County. As officials prepare to brief the General Assembly and State Superintendent, public scrutiny is expected to intensify. Stay tuned for more updates as developments continue to unfold.
