A six-month impasse between the Board of Education and the Howard County Education Association the largest union in the school system, will now be determined by the Maryland Public School Labor Relations Board (MPSLRB). It is important for the reader to understand that the MPSLRB was established by Gov. Martin O'Malley and the Democrat-led General Assembly in 2010 to settle disputes between local school boards and unions. The MPSLRB consists of five members appointed by the governor with Senate consent.

It was noted in the recent article that past negotiations have not reached stalemates, since the MPSLRB did not exist. Why should we be surprised that an impasse exists today when all the union has to do is wait it out and request the impasse be reviewed by the MPSLRB? The MPSLRB is not necessary, since the voters of Howard County elect their school board members, who are quite capable of negotiating issues with the teacher's union.

This legislation was co-sponsored by Del. Frank Turner, supported by Dels. Guy Guzzone and Shane Pendergrass, as well as by Sen. Jim Robey. This tells us that they would rather have a partisan group of five determine an impasse, as opposed to the voters of Howard County, including District 13.

Kyle Lorton

Highland