ORIGIN & FUNCTIONS

BOARD OF EDUCATION

[photo, Frederick County Public Schools Building, 191 South East St., Frederick, Maryland]

Educational matters that affect Frederick County fall under control of the Board of Education (Code Education Article, secs. 4-101 through 4-126).

The Board is composed of eight members. Seven are elected by the voters to four-year terms (Code Election Law Article, secs. 8-801 through 8-806). A nonvoting student member, chosen by the Frederick County Association of Student Councils, serves a one-year term (Code Education Article, secs. 3-5B-01 through 3-5B-05).

Frederick County Public Schools Building, 191 South East St., Frederick, Maryland, August 2018. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.

PUBLIC SCHOOLS

The Frederick County Public School System is governed by the County Board of Education (Code Education Article, secs. 4-101 through 4-126). In addition, through the review and approval of the annual operating and capital budgets, Frederick County government exercises authority over the County Public Schools. Moreover, through the establishment and monitoring of various financial and academic policies and regulations, the State Department of Education also has considerable oversight of county public schools. Indeed, under Maryland law, the State Department of Education works with county public schools to comply with requirements and mandates of federal law.

Board of Education meeting room, Frederick County Public Schools Building, 191 South East St., Frederick, Maryland, August 2018. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.

[photo, Governor Thomas Johnson High School, 1501 North Market St., Frederick, Maryland]

In Frederick County, the Public School System is responsible for sixty-eight schools: 10 high schools, 13 middle schools, and 38 elementary schools, as well as 7 other schools that offer vocational, charter, alternative and special education. In Fiscal Year 2018, some 42,140 students were enrolled in the County's public schools.

Governor Thomas Johnson High School, 1501 North Market St., Frederick, Maryland, August 2019. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.

SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS
The Superintendent of Schools administers the Frederick County Public School System, and serves as executive officer, secretary, and treasurer of the Board of Education (Code Education Article, secs. 4-102; 4-201 through 4-206).

With the approval of the State Superintendent of Schools, the Board of Education appoints the Superintendent of Schools to four-year terms.

FREDERICK CENTER FOR RESEARCH & EDUCATION IN SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

The Frederick Center for Research and Education in Science and Technology originated with the formation in 2013 of the Frederick Regional Higher Education Center Advisory Board (Chapter 375, Acts of 2013). By statute, the Center was constituted in 2015 under its present name (Chapter 218, Acts of 2015).

GOVERNING BOARD

FREDERICK COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Frederick Community College was founded in 1957 as an evening school at Frederick High School. It later moved to North Market Street, Frederick, and in 1970 relocated to its present site on Opossumtown Pike, Frederick.

BOARD OF COMMUNITY COLLEGE TRUSTEES

The Board consists of seven members. They are appointed to six-year terms by the Governor with Senate advice and consent. The President of Frederick Community College serves as secretary/treasurer to the Board (Code Education Article, sec. 16-101 through 16-107).

PUBLIC LIBRARY

Nine libraries constitute the Frederick County Public Library: one central library, two regional libraries, and six branch libraries.

In the City of Frederick is the C. Burr Artz Public Library, which is the central library. By bequest of his wife, Catherine Thomas Artz, C. Burr Artz (d. 1874), a Frederick farmer, was honored in naming of the Library.

C. Burr Artz Public Library, 110 East Patrick St., Frederick, Maryland, July 2003. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.

In 1936, the C. Burr Artz Public Library was established in a one-story red-brick building at Council and Record Streets, the former site of the Frederick Academy. In 1982, the Library moved to its present location at 100 East Patrick St., and underwent extensive renovation in 2002.

As part of the Frederick County Public Library, regional libraries are based at Thurmont (2008) and Urbana (2006). Branch libraries are found at: Brunswick (1963), Emmitsburg, Middletown (1962), Myersville (2019), Point of Rocks (Edward F. Fry Library), and Walkersville.

BOARD OF LIBRARY TRUSTEES

Appointed by the County Executive with County Council consent, the seven members of the Board of Library Trustees serve five-year terms (Code Education Article, secs. 23-401; 23-403 through 23-407).

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FREDERICK COUNTY, MARYLAND

EXECUTIVE BRANCH

EDUCATION