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The Prince George鈥檚 County Board of Education is in crisis.

The panel, which is made up of nine elected and four appointed members, is riven by conflict and has splintered into angry factions.

There is deep mistrust and a feeling of grievance all around.

While the board has had rocky relations, bordering on dysfunction, for some time, things have deteriorated in recent weeks 鈥� with the filing of ethics charges against almost all of the panel鈥檚 elected members, a formal push to remove the panel鈥檚 chairwoman, and more.

The strife and legal maneuvering, most of which is being reported for the first time, have greatly alarmed top county officials and community leaders.

Board members have differing takes on what has precipitated the bad blood, making it difficult to gain a clear picture of events.

This much is known:

• 聽Many elected members of the board 鈥� perhaps a majority 鈥� believe the only path forward is for Chairwoman Juanita D. Miller to go. Earlier this month, six members formally petitioned the Maryland State Board of Education to remove her from her post.

Miller, who was appointed by County Executive Angela D. Alsobrooks (D), steadfastly defended her actions in a lengthy聽Maryland Matters聽interview. She placed blame for the recent strife on the board鈥檚 younger members, who she referred to as 鈥渢he children.鈥�

• 聽The swearing-in ceremony for a new student member in May was marred when one member of the board digitally altered a photo of the event by covering the faces of two women members of the board with photos of NBA great Michael Jordan crying at his Hall of Fame induction ceremony.

Although the board member who crafted and distributed the image apologized, Miller said the incident represented a case of 鈥渃yberbullying鈥� and a racist and sexist attack.

• Ethics complaints have been filed against several elected members of the board. The panel鈥檚 ethics committee reviewed the allegations and tentatively concluded that members violated conflict of interest rules.

Some of the members identified in the complaint have hired attorneys and they have filed suit, alleging serious substantive and procedural missteps and demanding an immediate injunction to block the probe from continuing.

• 聽A board-backed reorganization of the board鈥檚 administrative staff has proven controversial. The board鈥檚 newly hired 鈥渃hief of staff,鈥� who already had a full-time job as chief of police in Seat Pleasant, quit after only a few weeks on the job.

A staffer whose position was eliminated, Suzann M. King, has filed suit against the school system over her dismissal. She declined to comment.

• The board鈥檚 meetings, which have been held online since the beginning of the pandemic, are chaotic, with members clashing, speaking over one another, and arguing about procedure.

The chair has struggled to maintain order.

• The board appears to be without an attorney, raising questions as to how it will handle future disputes. The panel is set to meet Wednesday. Several outside lawyers who have served as board parliamentarian this year have moved on for a variety of reasons.

Miller, the board chair, maintained that the panel is represented by the Baltimore firm Karpinski, Cornbrooks and Karp on an interim basis while she interviews potential replacements.

But the firm鈥檚 Kevin Karpinski, the most recent attorney to attempt to referee the board鈥檚 sessions, told聽Maryland Matters聽he resigned.

鈥淚 only agreed to attend one or two meetings to assist with Roberts Rules of Order,鈥� Karpinski wrote in an email. 鈥淢embers objected to the Board Chair鈥檚 request that I provide advice on parliamentary procedure to facilitate more efficient and productive meetings and to avoid more violations of the Open Meetings Act. Once Members voiced their objection, I decided that it was more of a headache than anything else and advised the Chair that I would not participate.鈥�

The faction of elected members that is seeking Miller鈥檚 removal is highly unlikely to accept any legal counsel she hires unilaterally, according to people familiar with their thinking.

Miller confirmed that the board will meet on Wednesday, but she declined to say whether the ethics report will be on the agenda.

While local news organizations have offered a glimpse on the board鈥檚 dysfunction and bad blood in recent months, the full picture has not been reported until now.

Top county and community leaders familiar with the board鈥檚 epic battles over hiring, contracting and procedure 鈥� and much more 鈥� are growing increasingly alarmed, but there does not appear to be a consensus as to how to intercede, nor do they agree on a path forward.

Prince George鈥檚 leaders are, by nature, protective of the county鈥檚 reputation, and they are weary of negative headlines about their public school system, the state鈥檚 second largest.

鈥淚鈥檓 deeply concerned about the current Board of Education鈥檚 unwillingness to put aside their differences for the sake of proper governance,鈥� said Prince George鈥檚 County Chamber of Commerce President David Harrington, a former County Council member and state senator.

鈥淭he present dysfunction does not serve the county, its residents or its children well.鈥�

As they contemplate how best to get the train back on the track, there is broad concern that the positive actions the board has taken to improve educational outcomes, including steering the system through a pandemic, are certain to be overshadowed by news that the board is in a state of near-paralysis.

That may be the only thing on which the Miller faction and the elected faction agree.

Miller ouster sought; the chair holds firm

A former state delegate and WSSC commissioner known for her direct 鈥� and sometimes unvarnished 鈥� manner, Miller was tapped by Alsobrooks to lead the Board of Education in January.

础濒蝉辞产谤辞辞办蝉听聽following the abrupt departure of Alvin Thornton, a highly-regarded聽eminence grise聽and former Howard University administrator who once chaired a state commission on education equity. He led the Prince George鈥檚 school board for two years before resigning in the middle of the 2020-2021 school year.

Under a state law that applies only to Prince George鈥檚 County, the executive appoints the chairperson.

The petition to the state Board of Education seeking Miller鈥檚 removal was signed by six members. It was filed on June 25 and聽聽by WTTG-TV (Fox-5).

It cites her 鈥渕isconduct in office,鈥� 鈥渨illful neglect of duty鈥� and 鈥渋ncompetence.鈥�

The 13-page document lays out instances in which Miller, in the view of some members, 鈥渓ied鈥� regarding the hiring of a law firm in May, engaged in an 鈥渦nlawful execution of a contract for interim legal services,鈥� 鈥渄irected staff to violate board bylaws,鈥� and prevented board members from receiving legal information.

They also alleged that she has demonstrated 鈥渋ncompetence.鈥�

鈥淭he actions by Dr. Miller that [we] have outlined 鈥� are simply the 鈥榯ip of the iceberg鈥� of the overall inappropriate actions taken by her since she began serving as the appointed Chair of the Board of Education,鈥� members wrote.

鈥淒r. Miller鈥檚 continued presence on the Board of Education will only foster further dysfunction that impedes the ability of the Board to function and prevents it from performing its duties as required by Maryland law.鈥�

The letter was signed by members David Murray (District 1), Joshua Thomas (District 2), Shayla Adams-Stafford (District 4), Raaheela Ahmed (District 5), Kenneth Harris (District 7) and Edward Burroughs (District 8).

In an hourlong interview, Miller defended her actions, saying she has worked diligently to focus on the needs of the system鈥檚 134,000 students and their families, and to conduct board business in an ethical manner.

鈥淚 am doing the right thing,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 am doing the right thing for the taxpayer. I am doing the right thing for the school system as a whole 鈥� and for the general public. It鈥檚 really disparaging to have these kinds of antics going on with the school board members that take away from the integrity and image of our school system.鈥�

鈥淭here are a lot of good things going on in the system, but they get overshadowed by the dysfunction of this board,鈥� Miller added. 鈥淎nd it is my intent 鈥� through the grace of God 鈥� to do whatever is necessary to remedy that dysfunction.鈥�

This summer the system will聽break ground on six new schools, financed by a cutting-edge financing system approved by state lawmakers.

The makeup of the Prince George鈥檚 County school board has changed several times over the last decade as officials searched for a way to improve classroom achievement, which routinely ranks second-to-last in the state by some measures.

Miller said the current 鈥渉ybrid鈥� system 鈥渃ould work, but you鈥檝e got to have people with experience and exposure to conducting business, being knowledgeable of a school system, being knowledgeable of business practices 鈥︹��

She accused younger, elected members of the panel of seeking to block her from serving effectively.

Miller and other critics of the group said the balance of power on the board shifted after November鈥檚 elections, when the group grew from five to seven, enough to prevail on most votes.

鈥淭hey鈥檝e very callous. They鈥檙e self-serving, and it hasn鈥檛 been about the people,鈥� Miller said of the seven. 鈥淯ntil you get to the root of the problem, it鈥檚 going to continue to fester.鈥�

In an interview, Alsobrooks said Miller is working hard to move the system forward, despite what she called the 鈥渉orrible鈥� efforts of many of the board鈥檚 elected members to block her.

鈥淚 think it鈥檚 disgraceful that 鈥� as we鈥檙e attempting to recover from a pandemic that could effect the education of our children in ways that are yet untold 鈥� that the body of people who have been charged with making sure that we are laser-focused on their future, are instead embroiled in adult differences that they have been unable to move beyond,鈥� Alsobrooks said.

鈥淚 think it鈥檚 horrible.鈥�

Alsobrooks and Miller stressed that the board鈥檚 dysfunction is nothing new. In separate interviews, each said that it has been going on 鈥渇or years.鈥�

Several close observers suggested that Thornton, a former political science professor and top official at Howard University, bolted in December to protect his reputation. He was not named in the ethics complaints.

Thornton declined to discuss the various controversies swirling around the board.

Ethics committee reviews three actions

Almost immediately after she took the gavel, Miller said, she became alarmed at the board鈥檚 decision-making, particularly regarding personnel matters and contracts.

In a Feb. 5 letter to the County Council, she complained that a board-backed plan to reorganize their staff included the elimination of some positions and the creation of six 鈥減otentially high-paying executive staff positions鈥� at a time when the system was facing a deficit.

She also questioned the board鈥檚 decision to hire a lobbying firm that 鈥� it later turned out 鈥� had not filed required paperwork with the state.

鈥淪ince my swearing in on Jan. 7, I have been completely surprised by the actions of some members of the Board and utterly appalled by the items that have been pushed through by some members of this Board,鈥� Miller wrote.

In light of her concerns, she urged the Council to conduct an 鈥渁udit鈥� of the board鈥檚 recent contracts.

Four days later, Council Chairman Calvin S. Hawkins II (D) told Miller that the council couldn鈥檛 perform an audit without the school board鈥檚 approval, something she didn鈥檛 have.

Instead, Hawkins wrote, he would pass her complaints along to the state鈥檚 top education officials.

鈥淚n an effort to address the concerns you have outlined in your letter, the Council will forward your letter and accompanying documentation to Dr. Karen B. Salmon, State Superintendent with a request that the State Department of Education consider any necessary audit or any other appropriate action,鈥� Hawkins wrote.

鈥淭he Council appreciates you bringing this matter to our attention and for your willingness to serve our students and families in the school system.鈥�

An ethics probe begins

After the Council declined to conduct the audit Miller requested, three 鈥渃onflict of interest鈥� complaints were filed with the board鈥檚 ethics committee, a group made up of five citizens, mostly lawyers.

One complaint accused board members of voting in March to expand a 2020 pilot 鈥淧roject Workforce Agreement鈥� (PWA) that required the school system to select asbestos-removal contractors from a list provided by Labors International Union of North America (LIUNA), a politically active union representing tradespeople.

The expansion of the original PWA, to lucrative capital projects in which contractors recognized LIUNA as the 鈥渟ole and exclusive bargaining representatives of all craft employees,鈥� followed campaign contributions to four members of the board 鈥� donations which were not disclosed when the panel voted, according to the complaint.

A second complaint alleged that a faction of the board muscled through a no-bid contract to hire a 鈥減rivate [Annapolis] lobbyist鈥� to work only for the school system 鈥� even though the Prince George鈥檚 county government has a long-standing contract with a prominent firm.

According to the complaint, the woman the board hired was chosen because 鈥渟he was unemployed, at risk of losing her home, and needed paying work.鈥�

The lobbyist was to work on 鈥渙ne specific piece of legislation,鈥� according to the complaint, a bill 鈥渢o replace the appointed members of the Board 鈥� with an all-elected Board.鈥�

A third complaint alleged that 鈥渕embers of the board, voting as a block,鈥� appointed themselves to a 鈥渟o-called 鈥榬eorganization committee鈥欌�� that used 鈥渁n accelerated process鈥� to oust administrative staffers.

Many of the employees 鈥渨ere females, individuals over 40 years of age, and other protected minority groups.鈥� The staff reorganization was conducted in 鈥渉aste鈥� and included a 鈥渂latant violation鈥� of the Maryland Opens Meetings Act, the complaint alleged.

After its review of the three complaints, the ethics panel reached a 鈥渢entative finding鈥� that the actions of some board members constituted a 鈥渃onflict of interest.鈥�

Photocopies of the May 24 preliminary findings, which by law are confidential, were distributed to board members, a few elected officials and others.

It is not clear from the ethics committee鈥檚 findings which members of the panel were believed to have acted inappropriately.

Seven members of the board described as 鈥渞espondents鈥� were invited to provide responses to the tentative findings, but the complaints are vague as to which members committed which unethical actions.

At least four of the seven have hired attorneys. In addition to Ryan Lewis, who represents Adams-Stafford, former Prince George鈥檚 County State鈥檚 Attorney Glenn F. Ivey (D) represents Ahmed, Harris and Burroughs.

The ethics panel is chaired by Gregory Morton, a Prince George鈥檚 County attorney. In a brief interview, he declined to discuss the committee鈥檚 actions.

鈥淓verything that we do is confidential,鈥� he said. 鈥淪o we can鈥檛 have this conversation.鈥�

Attorneys involved in the dispute differ on whether board members identified in the three complaints were provided opportunities required by statute to answer the allegations.

Accused board members fight back

On Monday, Lewis filed an emergency motion in Prince George鈥檚 County Circuit Court, vigorously rejecting the allegations against Adams-Stafford and her colleagues.

He called the charges 鈥渇actually baseless [and] politically motivated.鈥�

The filing seeks a temporary injunction blocking the board from considering the ethics allegations at Wednesday鈥檚 meeting on multiple grounds.

The suit alleges that the ethics panel鈥檚 findings are 鈥渆asily disprovable based on publicly accessible documents,鈥� that the investigation was tainted by the illegal release of the tentative findings and that the court must bar the probe from proceeding to avoid irreparable harm to his client and others identified in the complaints.

Although Lewis, Ivey and their clients refused to discuss the substance of the complaints in detail because, under state law, they are confidential, Lewis鈥檚 court filing asserts that the campaign donations 鈥渨ere actually disclosed鈥� and 鈥渄o not require the recipient鈥檚 recusal.鈥�

In addition, Lewis鈥� filing maintains that the ethics panel was 鈥渋llegally assisted鈥� by Leslie R. Stellman, a veteran attorney who has advised school boards for decades.

鈥淸T]he Ethics Panel, members thereof, and/or Stellman, intentionally leaked confidential records related to these anonymous complaints, which records contain assertions of 鈥榝act鈥� that are both damaging to Plaintiff鈥檚 reputation and verifiably untrue,鈥� the emergency motion maintains.

Lewis also calls the leak 鈥渁 violation of Maryland law [that has] irredeemably tainted the Ethics Panel鈥檚 investigations such that said investigations must necessarily be closed and corresponding complaints be dismissed.鈥�

In an interview, Stellman rejected Lewis鈥� claims.

He said he was hired legally by the school board鈥檚 acting general counsel, Gail Viens, who selected him based on his experience and his understanding of ethics law.

鈥淭he office of general counsel felt that it could not be handled internally for a variety of reasons, including a high volume of other legal work 鈥� and the potential for conflict because the target of some of these complaints were board members,鈥� he said.

鈥淢embers of the office of general counsel report to the CEO; the CEO reports to the board,鈥� he added.

Stellman vigorously rejected the claim that he or the board leaked the tentative findings to the media. He said he told Lewis that he was 鈥減ersonally insulted by any such allegation. I don鈥檛 leak.鈥�

Board member apologizes for doctored photo

In an interview, Miller, the school board chairwoman, said the board cannot function properly under its聽 current membership, in part because elected members Burroughs and Murray hold sway 鈥渙ver that little group.鈥�

鈥淚t鈥檚 going to require cutting off the head of the snake. I鈥檓 just being real upfront with you,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hey have demonstrated they are not willing to work together.鈥�

Miller pointed to a Facebook posting from Murray that included a digitally-altered photo of her and member Pamela Boozer-Strother.

In the photo, which was taken at the swearing-in of the board鈥檚 new student member in May, an image of Michael Jordan shedding tears 鈥� known online as the Crying Jordan meme 鈥� was pasted over the women鈥檚 faces.

鈥淚t was a form of cyberbullying. It鈥檚 a form of harassment,鈥� Miller said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a form of disrespect.鈥�

鈥淭o post something where you take an innocent celebration, to deface two members, two strong females, says a lot about his character,鈥� she added. She also said the incident sent a bad message to the students.

Murray, who did not respond to a request for comment, removed the image and posted an apology in which he acknowledged his action was 鈥減oorly conceived, sophomoric and inappropriate.鈥�

鈥淢y deep frustration with Board leadership culminated with an attempt to cancel the swearing-in ceremony of Mr. [Alvaro] Ceron-Ruiz, the first Latino student Member of the Board,鈥� he wrote. 鈥淢y emotions clouded my judgment and I made the Facebook post using the crying Michael Jordan meme as a way to express my frustrations.鈥�

鈥淚 take full responsibility for my lapse of judgment, and I apologize for my action.鈥�