A report from the Maryland Inspector General’s Office reveals that the Somerset County School Board violated state law in its handling of legal counsel decisions. This includes the termination of its former attorney and the hiring of new legal representation, actions taken in violation of both state laws and the board’s own policies.
The findings, released on November 13, 2023, indicate that the board improperly conducted votes to terminate and hire legal counsel in a closed session rather than in public view. The report highlights that these actions contravene the requirement for transparency mandated by Maryland law. Furthermore, the board neglected to issue a competitive bidding process for the legal contract, opting instead to hire a replacement during the same meeting where the previous attorney was dismissed.
Concerns Over Financial Management
This report contributes to ongoing scrutiny of the Somerset County School Board, which has faced repeated allegations of mismanagement. An audit conducted by the Maryland Office of Legislative Audits in October revealed that many financial management issues, first identified over a decade ago, remain unresolved. The auditors pointed to problems such as inadequate written contracts, insufficient purchasing oversight, and unverified vendor payments. Despite claims to reform procurement policies, the board’s practices were deemed outdated and inconsistent with state regulations.
The tension within the board has also been evident in its relationship with Dr. Ava Tasker-Mitchell, the school superintendent. Earlier this year, the board voted to terminate her, but State Superintendent Carey M. Wright intervened to pause the decision pending an appeal. In late October, an agreement was reached, leading to Tasker-Mitchell’s resignation.
Investigation Triggered by Complaints
The investigation by the Inspector General’s office commenced following multiple complaints received in March 2025 regarding the board’s legal hiring procedures. Maryland law permits local school boards to employ their own attorneys, but mandates adherence to state procurement rules. These rules stipulate that contracts valued between $50,000 and $100,000 must be awarded through a competitive bidding process, requiring at least two bids.
On February 13, 2025, the Somerset board convened a closed session where they voted to terminate their existing legal counsel and subsequently approved the hiring of new counsel, without complying with the bidding requirements. The Inspector General’s report asserts that both the termination and hiring decisions must be made during open meetings, further underscoring the lack of compliance with state law.
Additionally, the report noted that the board’s own policies were disregarded during this process. Somerset County’s regulations require advertising vacancies for legal counsel, soliciting qualifications from interested firms, and conducting interviews with a committee composed of board members and staff. This process is designed to take several months, yet the board expedited the decision-making in a single meeting.
Despite requests for comment from members of the Somerset school board, including Matthew Lankford, Andrew Gleason, Mary-Beth Bozman, and William McIntuff, the current legal counsel blocked communications. The report does not specify when the findings will be presented to the General Assembly or discussed with the State Superintendent.
In the latest Maryland Report Card, Somerset County ranked second-to-last in the state with a score of 46.5, slightly lower than the previous year’s score of 47.16. Only Baltimore City performed worse, scoring 44.99. These ratings are derived from a scale of 0-100, factoring in standardized test scores, curriculum effectiveness, attendance, graduation rates, and feedback from students and educators.
