Task force report on county schools has been delayed

Members of a task force appointed to suggest ways to improve working conditions for Carroll County public school teachers did not give a progress report to the superintendent and the teachers union president yesterday as planned.

Superintendent Charles I. Ecker said yesterday afternoon that the preliminary report had been delayed and that task force members want to meet with him before submitting it. A meeting has been scheduled for Tuesday.

The panel of 10 teachers and four school administrators was appointed this month to identify issues raised by a work-to-rule job protest at a dozen Carroll schools, where teachers decided to work more closely to the terms of their contract and boycott extracurricular activities for which they are not paid. The task force is responsible for identifying teacher complaints and suggesting solutions and alternatives.

Marquee installation begins at Carroll Theatre

Workers began installing yesterday a marquee at the former Carroll Theatre, a milestone in the efforts to convert the Westminster landmark into the new home of Carroll County Arts Council.

The 1937 theater, on Main Street, is to be transformed into a community arts center with classrooms, a gallery and a 263-seat theater. The project is expected to cost nearly $1 million.

Installation of the marquee is scheduled to be complete next month.