As reported Feb. 25, 1990, in The Howard Sun:
The county school board walked out on Howard County teachers twice Thursday, refusing to listen as the teachers union leader attempted to present their views on deadlocked contract talks and non-teaching duties.
The first walkout came during the afternoon session of Thursday's board meeting, the second during the evening one.
James R. Swab, president of the Howard County Education Association, tried during the afternoon meeting to talk about board attempts to remove contract language that gives teachers seniority rights in transfers and layoffs.
Mr. Swab described teachers as angry, disillusioned and demoralized over the seniority issue.
"Listen to your teachers," he said.
At that point, Board Chairman Karen B. Campbell, who had interrupted Mr. Swab minutes earlier to warn that the board would not listen, declared a recess. The five board members walked out.
The teacher union president continued, asking, "What is going to happen to education in Howard County if ..." when the microphone was cut off.
The HCEA president stopped, turned and faced the audience of approximately 300 teachers, who applauded loudly.
Dr. Campbell announced at the start of the evening session that the board had consulted its attorneys and was advised that "it would have been inappropriate to sit here and hear arguments about negotiations."
The board's second walkout came during the evening session, when Mr. Swab tried to report sample comments from an HCEA survey that asked elementary school teachers whether the quantity of material they are required to teach is creating "curriculum overload."