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 Maryland Manual On-Line, 2016

July 31, 2016

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WASHINGTON COUNTY, MARYLAND

EXECUTIVE BRANCH

EDUCATION

ORIGIN & FUNCTIONS

BOARD OF EDUCATION

Educational matters that affect Washington County come under the control of the Board of Education (Code Education Article, secs. 4-101 through 4-126).

The Board is composed of eight members. Seven are elected by the voters to four-year terms (Code Election Law Article, secs. 8-801 through 8-806). A nonvoting student member, selected by the Washington County Association of Student Councils, serves a one-year term (Code Education Article, secs. 3-1301 through 3-1303). A president and vice-president for the Board annually are chosen in December (Code Education Article, sec. 4-107). The Superintendent of Schools serves as executive officer, secretary, and treasurer of the Board (Code Education Article, sec. 4-102).

SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS

The Superintendent of Schools administers the County Public School System (Code Education Article, secs. 4-102; 4-201 through 4-206).

With the approval of the State Superintendent of Schools, the Board of Education appoints the Superintendent of Schools to four-year terms.

Washington County Public Schools moved its administration to Downsville Pike, Hagerstown, in January 2014.

HAGERSTOWN COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Hagerstown Community College was founded as Hagerstown Junior College in 1946. The College's original purpose was to help veterans returning from World War II gain an education and enter the job market. The College was renamed Hagerstown Community College on July 1, 1998.

    BOARD OF COMMUNITY COLLEGE TRUSTEES
    For Hagerstown Community College, the Board of College Trustees is the governing body.

    The Board consists of seven members. They are appointed to six-year terms by the Governor with Senate advice and consent. The President of Hgerstown Community College serves as secretary/treasurer to the Board (Code Education Article, sec. 16-101 through 16-107).

UNIVERSITY SYSTEM OF MARYLAND HAGERSTOWN

Opened in January 2005, the University System of Maryland Hagerstown is a regional higher education center. It offers upper-level undergraduate and graduate programs at Hagerstown from six University System of Maryland schools based elsewhere. These include: Coppin State University; Frostburg State University; Salisbury University; Towson University; University of Maryland, College Park; and University of Maryland University College.

The University System of Maryland Hagerstown is overseen by the Governing Council, and is aided by the Board of Advisors.

      BOARD OF ADVISORS
      The Board of Advisors advises the University System of Maryland on issues, needs, and interests of the Hagerstown region.

      Appointed by the Chancellor of the University System of Maryland, the Board has twenty-two members representing education, government, and business.

    GOVERNING COUNCIL
    Subject to the approval of the Board of Regents of the University System of Maryland, the Governing Council approves policies affecting the academic program inventory, annual budget, and financial plan for the University of Maryland Hagerstown.

    The Council is made up of the provosts of the participating institutions. The Senior Vice-Chancellor for Academic Affairs of the University System of Maryland chairs the Council.

FREE LIBRARY

The Washington County Free Library began in 1898. In April 1905, it introduced the first bookmobile in the nation. Drawn by two horses, the "library wagon" began by delivering boxes of books to either the general stores or post offices in the towns and villages throughout the County. Destroyed in a collision with a freight train in August 1910, the original book wagon was replaced by a motorized vehicle in 1912.

Based in Hagerstown, the Library has branches in Boonsboro, Clear Spring, Hancock, Keedysville, Sharpsburg, Smithsburg, and Williamsport. Founded in 1923, the Smithsburg Library moved to its present location in July 2006. In 1936, the Williamsport Memorial Library was erected as a memorial to fourteen local high school students who died in a bus accident at Rockville. The Hancock War Memorial Library was constructed in 1969. At Clear Spring, the Leonard P. Snyder Library opened in 2003.

    BOARD OF LIBRARY TRUSTEES
    The Board of Library Trustees plans and sets policy for and operates the Washington County Free Library.

    Appointed by the Board of Library Trustees, the nine members of the Board of Library Trustees serve six-year terms (Code Education Article, secs. 23-401; 23-403 through 23-407).

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