For nearly four decades, JoAnn Murphy, 63, president of the Baltimore County Board of Education, has been involved in public education. She worked for more than 30 years in the county schools system as an English and journalism teacher and then joined the central office staff where she handled publications and public relations. Murphy says her strong commitment to the school system extends to the future enrollment of her two grandchildren.

What was the biggest problem facing the schools this year?

We had the drying up of resources. Economically, these are very tough times, and the board has been experiencing the same things people are experiencing with rising costs for goods and services and diminishing funds.

What have been some of the system’s major accomplishments?

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[We’ve made] the curriculum more rigorous so as to raise the bar for kids to achieve. We will continue to have kids enrolling in greater number in Advanced Placement courses so that many of them go off to college with credits they’ve achieved in high school. We’re also thankful we didn’t have to cut programs or positions like some of the neighboring school systems have had to do.

What’s the board’s relationship with Superintendent Joe Hairston?

It’s very collaborative. There’s a lot of give-and-take, and he brings a vision as well as national and international perspectives to education issues. He’s certainly an advocate for teachers, though we as a board and he as superintendent could not recommend a cost-of-living raise for them. The money just wasn’t there.

What’s the reality of an elected school board in the county?

Across the country there are far more elected boards than appointed boards. I don’t know what might be in the future, but personally, I would prefer not to be an elected school board member. I like the way we are appointed and yet still responsive to the community.