Baltimore school board candidates

All four candidates for Baltimore City Board of School Commissioners agree the district needs to change how it closes schools.

Ashley "Ash" Esposito

Esposito proposed a three-year school closure moratorium, saying schools attract families and hold historical value.

“Schools existing attract families. So if you eliminate the school, for all you know, in 10 years, you’re deterring a family from living in that community.”

Jamar Day

Day wants a moratorium to analyze schools in limbo and prevent vacant buildings from becoming public health nuisances.

“You have a lot of schools kind of in limbo. They’re like, ‘Should I paint this wall if we’re going to close down in two years? Should I start this new program?’”

Domonique Flowers

Flowers supports a moratorium to examine funding and population loss behind school closures.

Kwame’ Jamal Kenyatta-Bey

Kenyatta-Bey opposes a moratorium, saying it’s too broad and wants detailed student outcomes before closing schools.

“When we look at a moratorium, it’s such a blanket sort of analysis. A blanket analysis never really covers the waterfront.”

Baltimore City Public Schools

Baltimore City Public Schools CEO Jermaine Dawson has saved two schools from closure through a comprehensive review.

What happens next

School board candidates will vote on a temporary pause to prevent long-term harm to communities and students.