On Sept. 24, 2025, Southern Maryland News issued an article about the Board of Education of Charles County’s recent selection of a candidate to fill the District 4 Board member vacancy. Language in the published article, “Charles school board selects new member,” insinuates that the Board did not follow the Open Meetings Act law. The article states “The school board did not appear to give public notice of the Sept. 23 meeting in advance, as required by state’s open meetings law.” 

The article is not accurate. Section 3-501 of the Maryland Education Article outlines the process the Board of Education of Charles County must follow when filling a seat vacated on the Board. While parts of the process must be open to the public, Section 3-501 (f) specifically states, “The board is not required to conduct discussions of the applicants or make the final selection of the member to fill a vacancy of the elected member at a meeting open to the public.”  

The Board held several open meetings and discussions about the Board member vacancy. Per Section 3-501, details about the process were posted on the school system website, and the interviews were advertised in advance, open to the public and livestreamed. The Board discussed the candidates as an administrative function of the Board, which is not subject to the public notice requirements of the Open Meetings Act.  

On behalf of Charles County Public Schools (CCPS), I requested a correction to the article from both its author and the managing editor of Southern Maryland News. It is important for the public to understand there are laws in place to govern how the Board must fill a vacancy, as well as how the Board must function in a public space. The Board regularly follows the Open Meetings Act law and can participate in meetings to discuss administrative functions, such as the appointment of a person to a Board vacant seat, in a meeting not advertised to the public. 

On behalf of CCPS and in support of the Board, I share this update because the reporting of accurate information is just as important as the sharing of accurate information.  

Maria V. Navarro, Ed.D.  

Superintendent of Schools