Howard County Board of Education candidate David Thalheimer believes that the panel is ripe for change in the coming election.
With his friend and supporter, Allen Dyer, already on the board, Thalheimer thinks this is the perfect opportunity to encourage parental involvement, promote transparency and change what he says have been years of rubber-stamped decision-making by the school board.
At first he said he was slightly apprehensive about running for the board because he felt that there needed to be more like-minded people on the panel to make effective change. But he said he has recently been encouraged by the candidacy of Brian Meshkin, an executive with a bioscience company; Cindy Vaillancourt, a Clarksville mother of two who unsuccessfully ran for the school board in 2004; and retired Baltimore teacher Marcelino Bedolla.
"If you have a bunch of good people who are dedicated to making long-range changes, that is good," said the 48-year-old Columbia resident. "My focus is on structural change. When I leave, we would have done something for the future."
Thalheimer has been unhappy with several aspects of how the education system has been managed, including fiscal accountability, redistricting, school choice, curriculum quality and a lack of transparency.
"The more I read about the failings of this nation's public system of education, the more strongly I feel about the need to make a difference," he said. "We are falling behind the rest of the developed world in math and science education, and I believe this is because our public school systems are largely dysfunctional."
Thalheimer became frustrated with the way the board operated during the redistricting process several years ago.
"The public hearings were a charade," he recalled. "People got to talk, but no one would listen to them. You got blank stares. I think the board needs to change the way they do business."
Thalheimer and his family have lived in Howard County since 1995. Since he moved to the county, he has been active in the school system. Thalheimer and his wife, Amanda, have four children, and the three oldest attend Howard County public schools. Thalheimer is a member of the PTA at several schools and of the Howard County Citizens Association. He is also a member of the education forum HowardPublicEd, where he met Dyer three years ago.
Dyer said the board needs Thalheimer.
"He's very level-headed," Dyer said. "He tries to take issues that are emotional, and tries to be somewhat detached. He tries to come up with positive suggestions. I see that as an important part of being a board member."
Thalheimer holds a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from George Washington University and a master's degree in government from Harvard University. In addition, he is a graduate of the Air War College. He also holds a master's degree in strategic intelligence from the National Defense Intelligence College.
A retired colonel with the United States Air Force Reserves, Thalheimer currently works as a systems engineer at Northrop Grumman Corp. and helps to run a family business.
His previous work with the military prevented him from running for office. He completed his military duties in 2008, which freed him to run for the school board.
"I've been interested in education issues for quite some time, but like most of us, I'm quite busy with work and family," Thalheimer said. "Many other people would like to see improvements, but don't feel they have time to spare, so they just hire tutors or muddle through until their kids graduate. But somebody has got to do the job."
Thalheimer wants to implement an innovation fair every year, where teachers and parents can propose projects. The event would be an opportunity to share innovative ways to teach, he said. The school board can allocate funding for it, Thalheimer added.
Thalheimer also wants to establish a rewards system for members of the public who identify wasteful spending. The system would result in both monetary and public recognition.
Thalheimer would be an "independent voice" on the school board if elected, according to Dyer.
"He would look at the information and the issues provided from all sources — not just staff," Dyer said. "I don't think he would just use a rubber stamp. I think that is what the community deserves."
The seats of four board members — Frank Aquino, Sandra French, Pat Gordon and Larry Cohen — are on the ballot this year. French, who is entering her 16th year on the board, plans to seek re-election, as does Aquino, who is seeking a second term. Gordon, who has served on the board for the past 10 years, has said she will not seek re-election, and Cohen has yet to announce his intentions.
In addition to Thalheimer, Aquino, Meshkin, Bedolla and Vaillancourt, Larry Walker, a parent who has been active in the school system for decades, and David Proudfoot, a Baltimore County administrator, have filed the required paperwork with the Howard County Board of Elections stating their intention to run. Candidates have until July 6 to file. A primary will be held Sept. 14; the general election is Nov. 2.