Gov. Robert Ehrlich appointed White House attorney Victor Bernson to the Anne Arundel County Board of Education on Friday despite criticism of his decision to send his two teenage children to a private high school.
Bernson, 41, was the top vote-getter at the county?s school board nominating convention in May. In addition to his appointment to the county board of education, Bernson was appointed earlier this year to the Maryland Higher Education Commission.
Bernson and runner-up Tom Frank were both recommended to Ehrlich to replace board member Paul Rudolph, who was ending his second five-year term.
Bernson said he openly discussed his choice to pull his son and daughter out of the public schools two years ago and send them to St. Mary?s High School in Annapolis. Bernson, who is Catholic, said he wanted his children to have the same opportunity he had for a Catholic education. He said not having children in the public school system “shouldn?t be in any way a disqualifier.”
But it is rare to have a board member with school-age children who do not attend public schools.
Anita Owens, president of the Anne Arundel Council of PTAs, said Bernson made a good impression on her during the nominating convention, but said she was still concerned about his role on the school board.
“He chose to send his kids to private school and he has every right to do that,” Owens said. “But I wonder if he would understand what?s going on.”
Board President Konrad Wayson said he has not yet talked with Bernson, and said a board member can often benefit from having children in the system.
“But he?ll probably bring a different perspective that I haven?t thought of before,” Wayson said.
Also Friday, Ehrlich appointed Brittany Walker, a rising senior at Old Mill High School, to a one-year term as the student board member. She will replace student board member Pallas Snider, who graduated this month from Severna Park High School and will attend Harvard in the fall.
