United Democrats of Washington County, Md.
Upcoming Meetings and Events
Join the letter-writing campaign for the Board of Education budget
Freedom Learners, the UDWC committee dedicated to the workings of Washington County Public Schools (WCPS), is asking everyone to email the Washington County Commissioners at contactcommissioners@washco-md.net, urging acceptance of the Board of Education's 2024 budget request of approximately $117M.
The Commissioners' current 2024 funding proposal for WCPS is at the legal minimum "maintenance of effort" level of $109.1M. WCPS Superintendent Dr. David Sovine says the BOE's 7.29% increase request is critical to meet the needs of an increasing number of students with learning, financial and behavioral issues; to adjust for inflation in all areas; to increase wages in order to attract and retain quality teachers and staff; and to meet the requirements of the Maryland Blueprint for Education.
You might want to note in your emails that research shows that public investment in education results in increased home values and thus increased property taxes, and in attracting more businesses to a community. Individual Commissioners' email addresses can be found at www.washco-md.net/county-commissioners
UDWC and Special Events
April 3 – UDWC Board Meeting (zoom) 5:30 pm
April 19 – UDWC General Meeting, 7- 8:30 pm at the Hagerstown Library Community Room
April 21 and 20 – 19th annual Western Maryland Democratic Summit, Rocky Gap Casino Resort
May 10 – UDWC General Meeting: “Being a School Board Member" A panel that includes three current BOE members will hold a Q and A to explain everything you wanted to know about the Washington County Board of Education. Curious about what the BOE does? Would you make a good candidate? What is it like to be a BOE member? 7 pm, location TBA.
County Commissioner Meetings
March 28, 9 am - Tentative public statements on BOE Budget, attend if possible. (Find their meeting schedule here.)
Board of Education Meetings
Meetings are held the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month at 6 pm, 10435 Downsville Pike. Check the BOE website for any changes to this schedule.
Hagerstown City Council Meetings
March 28, 7 pm, Council Chambers, City Hall 2nd floor (Find their meeting schedule here.)
Welcome to our webpage.
If you are a Democrat and are feeling like you can’t find your “people," we invite you to come and meet us. Many people when they first come to Washington County complain that they feel alone, like a blue dot in a red sea. If you are looking for like-minded people who are interested in making their city, county, and state a better place to live, I think you have found who you are looking for. Please take a look at this site and our Facebook page and join us for an event or meeting. Hope to see you there.
Pamela Faulkner, President
United Democrats of Washington County
The United Democrats of Washington County (UDWC) was formed in 2015 as an activist, inclusive grassroots organization to revitalize local Democrats and take political action on the local, state and national levels. We welcome the participation of all registered Washington County Democrats. We work alongside the Washington County Democratic Central Committee, the official local arm of the Democratic party whose members are elected in the midterms.
This past January our members elected Pamela Faulkner to a two-year term as our new president. Pam is a longtime member who has worn many hats including UDWC Vice President and Central Committee member, and she has big plans to bring renewed energy, activity, and grassroots participation to the county.
Former UDWC President Tom Ruhf passes the gavel to Pamela Faulkner at the Feb. 16 general meeting.
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