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Bill Summary · SB 1032

Summary — SB 1032

Wicomico County Board of Education — Election of Members, Student Member, and Compensation

Status: First Reading — Senate Rules (introduced Jan 31 / Feb 9, 2025)
Companion: HB 1524 (Wicomico County Delegation)
Effective date in bill text: October 1, 2025

Purpose / Intent

SB 1032 changes how members of the Wicomico County Board of Education are selected, adds a nonvoting student member, and authorizes the county council to set board member salaries (above existing statutory minimums). The bill is intended to align board membership with a proposed seven‑district county council map and to formalize student representation and expense reimbursement.

Key provisions

  • Board composition
    • Retains seven nonpartisan elected, voting members.
    • Adds one nonvoting student member (new).
  • Election districts (effective beginning with the 2026 general election)
    • Requires each of the seven elected members to be elected from one of the seven Wicomico County councilmanic districts.
    • Eliminates the two at‑large seats (current law: five district members + two at‑large).
    • The fiscal note assumes a seven‑district council map will be in place prior to the 2026 election (Wicomico has proposed a seven‑district map pursuant to a consent decree).
  • Student member
    • Selection method: established by county board procedures.
    • Eligibility: 11th or 12th grade student in good standing enrolled in Wicomico County Public Schools.
    • Term: one year beginning July 1 after selection.
    • Role: nonvoting adviser on student perspectives; may not attend closed sessions unless invited by affirmative majority vote of the elected members.
    • Compensation: not entitled to pay beyond reimbursement for expenses incurred on official duties.
  • Compensation and reimbursements
    • Chair is entitled to the greater of $4,000 annually or a salary set by the Wicomico County Council.
    • Vice chair and other elected members are entitled to the greater of $3,700 annually or a salary set by the county council.
    • Elected members and the student member may be reimbursed for travel and other expenses upon submission of vouchers under board rules and the county board budget.
  • Technical and conforming changes to the Education Article and related statutes.

Who is affected

  • Wicomico County voters and candidates (district‑based elections instead of at‑large seats).
  • Current and future Wicomico County Board of Education members.
  • Wicomico County Council (gains authority to set higher board salaries).
  • Wicomico County Public Schools students (formal student member representation).
  • County budget and Board of Education finances if the council raises salaries.

Fiscal impact (per Department of Legislative Services fiscal note)

  • State: none.
  • Local: Potential increase in Board of Education salary expenditures if the Wicomico County Council elects to set salaries above current statutory amounts ($3,700 per member; $4,000 chair). Reimbursements for vouchers are expected to be minimal and absorbable in existing board resources. Board of Elections can implement election changes with existing resources.

Procedural / timing notes

  • The bill specifies that the new election scheme applies beginning with the 2026 general election (assuming a seven‑district council map is in place).
  • Bill text includes an explicit effective date (October 1, 2025).
  • Companion HB 1524 filed in the House.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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