STATEMENT OF BOARD PRESIDENT SHIRLEY BRANDMAN ON THE PASSING OF BLAIR G. EWING, FORMER MEMBER OF THE MONTGOMERY COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION

“On behalf of the children and staff of Montgomery County Public Schools and the Board of Education, we wish to express deep condolences to the family of State Board of Education Member Blair G. Ewing on his passing today.

“Montgomery County, indeed Maryland, has just lost a tireless crusader for children. For many decades, as a Montgomery County Board of Education member, Montgomery County Council member, and State Board of Education member, Mr. Ewing worked vigorously, enduring long hours to craft policies, draft legislation, and provide adequate funding for public education in Montgomery County and in the state of Maryland. His commitment to ensuring high quality educational opportunity for all children was unshakeable. As a leader, no other passion consumed his time and energies more than his principled love for the welfare of every child under his jurisdiction.

“As we mourn the passing of a giant, we are comforted by the knowledge that everywhere we look in Montgomery County, the fruits of Mr. Ewing’s labor of love for our children are evident—in the classrooms and in the positive academic outcomes that he fought so hard to maintain through good instructional policies and adequate funding. The Montgomery County Board of Education salutes Mr. Ewing’s lifetime of service on behalf of all children.”

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Board of Education: Ms. Shirley Brandman, president. Mrs. Patricia O’Neill, vice president. Members: Mr. Christopher Barclay, Ms. Laura Berthiaume, Dr. Judy Docca, Mr. Philip Kauffman, and Ms. Quratul-Ann Malik, student member. Dr. Jerry D. Weast, superintendent and secretary-treasurer. Office of the Board: 301-279-3617.

The Montgomery County Board of Education is the official educational policymaking body in the county. The Board is responsible for the direction and operation of the public school system. The Board consists of seven county residents elected by voters for a four-year term and a student elected by secondary school students for a one-year term. Board members are elected county-wide but run at-large, or from the Board district in which they reside.