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This is one "response by our state and local officials to the many economic and financial challenges" raised by [leader of People for Change in Prince George's County], Ms. [Sandy] Pruitt ["Needed change in Prince George's County," Letter to the Editor, Oct. 8]. Because this county and the entire nation are in the global challenge of this generation, it is important to seriously engage this debate and see if common ground can be reached.

I applaud People for Change for engaging more county residents in policy debates. I reject, however, the notion that People for Change should simply impugn the reputation of the county and its leaders. Please roll up your sleeves and get to the real work that will bring needed change in Prince George's County.

Without real partnership between government and the county's residents, next year's election will simply put new faces in office. At best, government can only open doors; the county's residents have to walk through those doors and seize the opportunity.

On education, the state has doubled K-12 spending since 2002; the county spends nearly 70 cents on every tax dollar. Have residents seized the opportunity of record funding to help the county leap ahead in education?

In school year 2007-08, there were 25,405 suspension incidents in county schools. [There were] 14,221 students suspended — 10,366 for disrespect, insubordination and classroom disruption. School discipline was the No. 1 reason teachers cited in 2005 for why they resigned. "High priority" schools have the most inexperienced teachers because of turnover and voluntary transfers, even though Prince George's County Public Schools places "highly qualified teachers" there. "Real work" that will bring "needed change:" Help cut those 25,405 suspensions in half.

Consider the 18,386 students who were chronically absent and the double-digit truancy at 16 of the county's high schools in 2007-08. Cutting those numbers in half would be "needed change".

Ensure all students are spending the research-proven eight to 15 hours per week in "out-of-school" learning (e.g. homework) so that more are advanced and globally competitive. There is real work outside the six hours/day, 180 day/year inside the school building, and outside the dollars that elected officials can deliver. It's work for parents, families, communities and for people who want "change."

Twelve accused murders never went to trial in 2006, in part, because of witness intimidation. To have safer streets, prosecutors have to be able to prove the case. As rappers and gang leaders campaign to "stop snitching," people who want change can reject that campaign so that we can get dangerous criminals off the streets.

As county and state budgets shrink, and we cut or eliminate "nonessential" and "essential" programs, there will be service gaps on the ground. The county needs capacity: strategic collaborations between government agencies and private initiative to compete for grant dollars and implement programs. Federal and state government announced dozens of competitive grants this summer. People who want change can develop collaborations and fund grant writers to compete for needed dollars to train and place returning ex-offenders and juveniles, for example, since both drive crime in the county.

Focus on job creation. There are over 70 federal labs and research institutions in the region. Each year, they innovate groundbreaking technologies that sit in the laboratory. Enterprising/innovative small businesses can bring those technologies to the marketplace and produce a job-creating bonanza for Prince George's County. Maryland's TEDCO alone has access to technology transfer opportunities in over 40 states. The door is open. People who want change could get to the "real work" of seizing this opportunity.

While lampooning the county's elected officials can be sport, the seriousness of the work to be done shouldn't get lost in the debate.

Let's roll up our sleeves together!

Del. Gerron Levi (D-Dist. 23A) of Bowie