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As Blair G. Ewing was remembered during his funeral in Washington, D.C., this week, talks are circulating about how to memorialize the former school board member and councilman in the county.
Ewing, who died of cancer June 29, most recently was vice president of the state school board, a position he held for a year. Prior to that, he served on the Montgomery County Council from 1998 to 2002, including one stint as president. He was a member of the county school board from 1976 to 1998, serving twice as its president.
Ewing's peers have lauded him as a champion for children who helped lead desegregation efforts during his time on the school board.
Last week, county resident John G. Miers recommended changing the name of Rosemary Hills Elementary School in Silver Spring to honor Ewing.
In 1981, the county school board voted to close the predominantly black Rosemary Hills, with Ewing strongly opposed. The state school board reversed the county board's decision a year later and ordered the school to remain open.
As of Tuesday, County Executive Isiah Leggett (D) had not discussed plans to name any county building after Ewing, but that doesn't mean it couldn't happen, said his spokesman Patrick K. Lacefield.
"That is certainly something we would consider," Lacefield said.
Leggett named a library and recreation center in Fairland for County Councilwoman Marilyn J. Praisner after her death Feb. 1, 2008. More recently, he announced plans to name Countystat, the county's results-based accountability system, for civic activist Wayne Goldstein, who died of heart failure April 27 on his way to testify at a county hearing.
In May, Ewing's name was in the running for a new elementary school in Clarksburg, but the county school board voted unanimously to name the building after William B. Gibbs Jr., a former county teacher who fought for black educators to have the same pay as their white counterparts.
The school board has a resolution on its agenda for Tuesday's meeting to recognize Ewing's contributions to county schools, said Ikhide R. Ikheloa, the school board's chief of staff.
Staff Writer Janel Davis contributed to this report.
School board meeting
Also Tuesday, the county school board is scheduled to discuss its master plan.
The meeting is set to begin at 10 a.m in the board room at the Carver Educational Services Center, 850 Hungerford Drive in Rockville.
Meetings are streamed live on www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/boe and broadcast on Comcast Channel 34, Verizon FIOS Channel 35, and RCN Channel 88 and rebroadcast at 1 p.m. on the Saturday and Sunday following the meeting. For more information, call 301-279-3617.
Summer open house
The Universities at Shady Grove in Rockville will host its open house for prospective students, beginning at 9 a.m. July 18. Families will be able to meet with representatives of participating universities to learn more about admission requirements, transfer of credit, career tracks and financial aid, among other issues.
In addition to the information fair, the open house will feature workshops where students can get information on programs of study, the admissions process, financial aid, skills for academic success and career exploration.
The open house will be on the first floor at the Camille Kendall Academic Center, 9630 Gudelsky Drive in Rockville. To pre-register, go to www.shadygrove.umd.edu/preregistration. Call 301-738-6000 or go to www.shadygrove.umd.edu for details and directions.
Volunteers needed
Middle and high school student volunteers are needed to sort and organize donated school supplies for distribution to local, national, and international programs for children. This is a pre-approved student service learning activity, according to the school system's Web site.
The sorting will take place in the cafeteria of Richard Montgomery High School in Rockville from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., on July 20-22. If needed, sorting will continue during the same time period on July 23 and 24. A celebration and press conference will be held at 10 a.m., July 27.
The school system needs volunteers from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on July 20 to load supplies into cars, and extra help from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., July 28 to pack up leftover supplies.
No pre-registration or sign-up is necessary. For students working the full 10am-2pm, bring a bag lunch and beverage. Call the Student Affairs Office at 301-670-1419 for more information.
School system on Twitter
The county school system's news, information and emergency messages are now being posted on Twitter, the popular interactive messaging service.
To follow the school system, sign up for a free account, then follow the district at www.twitter.com/mcps.
School system to be honored for summer learning
On Thursday, The National Center for Summer Learning at Johns Hopkins University will recognize the school system for its efforts to support summer academic opportunities for students. The ceremony will begin at 10 a.m. in the media center at Montgomery Knolls Elementary School in Silver Spring. Montgomery Knolls is located at 807 Daleview Drive in Silver Spring.
This year's Champion of Summer Learning Award recognizes the quality of the Extended Learning Opportunities Summer Adventures in Learning and the Extended Learning Opportunities Cultural Arts and Recreation Experiences programs provided this summer in 30 of the county's Title I schools.
The school system recently added $1.2 million in funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to expand the program this summer to reach more students.