Even in deep-blue Baltimore, the nonpartisan school board race can’t escape politics

Six candidates for the Baltimore City school board took turns auditioning for the job, avoiding the interruptions and jabs common on political debate stages.

Until Brian Robertson said he was a Republican.

Though school board races are nonpartisan, culture war politics around issues like book bans and Pride flags have flooded Maryland races before. But Robertson’s declaration stood out in heavily Democratic Baltimore.

Scrunched together at the Village Learning Place in Charles Village on Wednesday night, there wasn’t much room for fiery back-and-forths as candidates crammed their experiences into short pitches and answered audience questions directed only at them. They politely clapped and nodded when they agreed.

Robertson, an electrical engineer and professional saxophonist, was the only candidate asked about his political affiliation. An audience member asked about his interview with Fox45, a station that incumbent Ashley “Ash” Esposito has iced out because she thinks its coverage of Baltimore City Public Schools is unfair.

Robertson, who was not the only candidate to grant Fox45 an interview, said he believes elected officials should talk to anyone and gave his number out to the crowd. He said he’s frustrated he can’t get leaders like Gov. Wes Moore and Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott on the phone.

The room got rowdier when an audience member asked Robertson about book bans. The candidate said he doesn’t think he’d support efforts to remove from school libraries books featuring LGBTQIA+ characters and storylines, which have come under fire locally and nationally.

He took longer to answer whether he’d support a transgender student coming out. That issue has been in the news lately: Montgomery County schools recently started requiring staff members to share if a student identifies as transgender or gender nonconforming when their parents ask, following a challenge from a conservative legal group.

At first, Robertson asked how old the hypothetical student was. Irritation and disbelief flickered across some of his opponents’ faces.

“It doesn’t matter!” several people, including some of the candidates, shot back. Then the original inquirer answered: seventh grade.

“No, no, no. I wouldn’t affirm a seventh grader that wants to change his name or his gender,” Robertson said.

Other issues were more uniting. All the candidates in attendance agreed families should be more involved in the controversial school closure process. Jamar Day is running because the district is closing the Baltimore Collegiate School for Boys, which his nephew attends, and he wants a moratorium on school closures. Esposito has already proposed one.

All the candidates have some form of education experience. Three said they have kids in Baltimore public schools, and several have worked as teachers.

Domonique Flowers said he’s sent money to students he’s mentored who face abuse and hunger. Kevin Parson talked about working his way up the educator ranks and helping open a charter school. Glenn Schatz said he had to ride an hourlong bus to school when he was a student and wants to pilot yellow bus routes for middle and high schools to get kids to school on time. Robertson said he wants to raise expectations for students, teachers and principals.

Incumbent Kwame’ Jamal Kenyatta-Bey did not attend the candidate forum.

School board commissioners set districtwide education policy, hire the CEO and approve the school system’s budget. Seven candidates are vying for two school board seats. The remaining spots are appointed by the mayor.

Primary Election Day is June 23.

About the Education Hub

This reporting is part of The Banner’s Education Hub, community-funded journalism that provides parents with resources they need to make decisions about how their children learn. Read more.