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Donna Brightman speaks at the swearing-in ceremony conducted Dec. 2, 2008, in the Board of Education's auditorium. Donna, who was elected in the Nov. 4 General Election, will serve a four-year term, ending in 2012. She was appointed to the Washington County BOE in May 2007 by Gov. Martin O'Malley to fill an unexpired term created by the resignation of Ed Forrest. Donna served as vice president of the board from December 2007 to December 2008.

(Click on "Issues & Announcements" at the top of the page for more pictures of the swearing-in ceremony.)

Organizations representing business, labor, educators and women in public life have all endorsed Donna Brightman's candidacy for the Washington County Board of Education. Total membership of the four organizations tops 6,000.

"I am truly thankful for all the support I have received in this campaign," said Donna. "It's reassuring that these organizations want me to continue fighting on behalf of the citizens of Washington County for the best possible school system. I promise not to disappoint them."

Central Maryland Labor Council, AFL-CIO

Donna, the current vice president of the BOE, garnered a resounding endorsement from the Central Maryland Labor County, AFL-CIO, which has more than 4,500 members in Washington County. Another 5,500 reside in Frederick County.

Washington County Teachers Association

Donna also received the coveted endorsement of the 900-plus member Washington County Teachers Association, which conducted candidate interviews and also published answers to several questions in its newsletters.

Hagerstown-Washington County Chamber of Commerce

In addition, she was endorsed by the 600-member Hagerstown-Washington County Chamber of Commerce. The business organization published information about the candidates in its newsletter and queried candidates at an October candidates' forum.

Women at the Table

Women at the Table, a political-action committee that encourages women to pursue active roles in public life, also gave Donna its endorsement for school board. A group with a modest but active membership, WATT has helped several local women in their election campaigns.

(Click on "Issues & Announcements" above to view pictures.)

BOONSBORO (Sept. 21, 2008) – More than 100 supporters enjoyed great weather and lively conversations at Donna Brightman’s Campaign Kick-off Rally on Sunday afternoon at Boonsboro’s Shafer Park.

Campaign workers collected donations and encouraged supporters from throughout Washington County to take “Brightman’s the One” yard signs.

“We are so encouraged by the response we have received,” said Donna. “I have a strong sense that my efforts to work against the status quo have struck a chord with many county citizens.”

Donna is one of eight candidates vying for four seats on Washington County Board of Education in the Nov. 4 election. She is seeking to retain her seat on the seven-member board. Now vice president, Donna has been a member of the board since May 2007.

To the delight of attendees, Donna’s husband Courtney Hirsh served up hot dogs from the Weenie Wagon and Antietam Dairy dispensed several flavors of homemade ice cream – in cones and cups – from its mobile ice cream parlor.

Anyone wishing to acquire a yard sign or to volunteer to help out on Election Day, please phone Donna at 301-491-3178 or email her at donna@donnabrightman.com.  

Donations, to help defray the cost of campaign materials, can be made by sending checks to: “Citizens for Donna Brightman,” % Alice C. Dixon, Treasurer; 2330 Brownsville Rd., Brownsville, MD 21715 or print out a donation form by clicking on Donate at the top of this page. Any donations, no matter how small, will be gratefully appreciated.

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Be sure that everyone you know is registered to vote. Oct. 14 is the deadline to register for the Nov. 4 election. The Board of Elections office is at 35 W. Washington St., Hagerstown (240-313-2050). Check out the website at www.wash-co-md.net/election/elect1.html.

You may register online by clicking on the "Register to Vote" button on the right side of the page; the site is sponsored by rockthevote.com.

Join Donna Brightman at her campaign Kick-off Rally on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2008, from 3-5 p.m. at Shafer Park in Boonsboro.

The free event will be held in Pavilion No. 2 in the middle of the park. Ample parking is located near the Community Center at the north end of the park.

Donna, who serves as vice president of the Washington County Board of Education, is campaigning to retain her seat on the board, which she has held since May 2007. She is one of eight candidates vying for four seats up for election on Nov. 4.

There is no charge for the event; however, reservations must be made by Sept. 18 by calling 301-491-3178.  [Please leave your name, address, phone number, email address and the number of persons in your party who plan to attend.]

Donna’s husband Courtney Hirsh will be cooking up some hot dogs in the Weenie Wagon and an ice cream truck will be providing a variety of cold treats. Bring friends and family for the festivities.

Yard signs – following Donna’s campaign theme of “Brightman’s the One” – will be available for pick up. Volunteers may also sign up to help distribute campaign material on Election Day at one of the 50 polling places throughout the county.

Although there is no cost for admission to the Rally, donations to cover the cost of campaign materials will be gratefully accepted.

Please make checks payable to “Citizens for Donna Brightman” and mail to: Alice C. Dixon, Treasurer, 2330 Boteler Road, Brownsville, MD 21715.

Sponsored by Citizens for Donna Brightman, authority Alice C. Dixon, Treasurer.

June 30, 2008

Herald-Mail

Letter to the editor:

As the saying goes, excellence in the classroom begins with excellence in the boardroom. 

For the past 13 months of service on the board, I have consistently heard the school system compared to a large corporation:  the Board of Education is the “Board of Directors” and the Superintendent is the “CEO.”

I couldn’t disagree more.

The Superintendent is hired, by the Board of Education, to be the professional education leader. The Board of Education is composed of citizens, elected by citizens, to keep an eye on the public’s investment.

By law, our responsibility, as members of the board, is to act as a check and balance on the administration, so that the best interests of the children and the taxpayers are met.

If we all do our jobs, the taxpayers get their money’s worth, and student achievement improves. It’s all a part of good governance and excellence in the boardroom.

Good governance by the Board of Education also includes these responsibilities:

·        making policy,

·        hiring and evaluating the superintendent,

·        advocating for all children,

·        planning, setting goals and appraising education programs,

·        approving and adopting the annual budget,

·        adhering to the State Board of Education policy,

·       employing a chief negotiator and ratifying all collective bargaining contracts,

·        establishing curriculum guides and courses of study,

·        developing a comprehensive Master Plan,

·        developing a Capital Improvement Master Plan,

·        performing a quasi-judicial role for staff and student appeals,

·        approving the annual school calendar,

·        establishing school attendance zones,

·        communicating with various stakeholders and

 ·        serving on standing committees and ad hoc committees.

As an institution, public education must be held to the highest of standards. When Board members remain independent and critical thinkers they do the job for which they were elected.

So the next time you hear someone compare public education to a corporate model, ask yourself: “Do I want public education to walk hand in hand with an Enron or a Tyco?”

If your answer is “no,” then let’s work together to make public education in Washington County the bastion of democracy it was intended to be.

As they say excellence in the boardroom begins with excellence in the voting booth.

Donna Brightman, Vice President

Washington County Board of Education

By Donna L. Brightman

The repercussions of bullying and harassment can last a lifetime.

My eldest son went to school every day from kindergarten through 12th grade knowing he would be bullied or harassed by his peers. Each year we struggled to help him feel safe and secure.

We worked with the administration and teachers, but resolutions were always short-lived. After so many years of taunts, jeers, and discomfort he refused to walk across the stage and receive his hard-earned diploma along with those same students who had judged him so harshly for so long.

The most recent round of attendance zone realignment - affectionately known as "redistricting"- has been in effect in Washington County since last December.

That's when the Facility and Enrollment Advisory Committee (FEAC) received its charge from the Board of Education to prepare recommendations regarding attendance areas for three new schools and develop proposals to relieve overcrowding at nearby schools.

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