UPDATE: A damning report from the Maryland Inspector General’s office reveals that the Somerset County school board has violated state laws in its handling of legal counsel decisions. This urgent revelation, released on November 13, 2025, raises significant concerns over transparency and compliance within the board.
The Inspector General has identified serious issues, stating that the board took official actions—including firing its previous attorney and hiring new legal counsel—during a closed session, breaching both state law and its own policies. The report emphasizes that these decisions should have been made in a public forum, as required by Maryland law.
The report also highlights that the school board circumvented mandatory competitive bidding rules by failing to solicit at least two bids for contracts valued between $50,000 and $100,000, the budgeted amount for legal services for fiscal years 2025 and 2026. This critical oversight occurred during a closed session vote on February 13, 2025, when the board terminated its existing legal counsel and immediately appointed a replacement.
In addition to these violations, the board is accused of ignoring its own hiring policies. Somerset’s rules stipulate that any vacancy for legal counsel must be publicly advertised, qualifications solicited, and candidates narrowed down through interviews conducted by a committee. This process, designed to ensure fairness, was entirely bypassed.
The Inspector General’s investigation was prompted by multiple complaints received in March 2025 regarding the school board’s hiring practices. The findings will be reported to key state officials, including the Governor, the General Assembly, the State Board of Education, and the State Superintendent of Schools.
This latest scandal compounds ongoing concerns about the board’s management practices. A prior audit from the Maryland Office of Legislative Audits revealed that the board has failed to address long-standing financial management issues, including inadequate written contracts, poor purchasing oversight, and unsupported vendor payments. Despite promises of reform, auditors have noted that procurement policies remain outdated and inconsistent with state law.
Moreover, the school board’s tumultuous relationship with its own superintendent, Dr. Ava Tasker-Mitchell, has further complicated matters. Earlier this year, the board voted to terminate her, but this decision was halted by State Superintendent Carey M. Wright pending an appeal. In a recent turn of events, the board and Tasker-Mitchell reached an agreement for her resignation in late October.
As the community grapples with the implications of these findings, it is crucial to recognize the broader impact on Somerset County schools. In the most recent Maryland Report Card, the county ranked second-to-last in the state, with a score of 46.5, a slight decline from 47.16 last year. The only district performing worse was Baltimore City, at 44.99. This decline in educational performance underscores the urgency for accountability and reform within the Somerset school board.
The Inspector General’s office attempted to engage with board members regarding the report, but requests were declined by the current legal counsel, leaving the community with pressing questions about governance and oversight. There is currently no timeline for when the findings will be formally discussed with the General Assembly or the State Superintendent.
This developing story has far-reaching implications for the future of education in Somerset County. As more information surfaces, stakeholders and community members alike are urged to stay informed and engaged.
