An attorney for the Howard County Council this week countered claims from the school system that a proposed council committee to review the school budget could violate state law.

Jim Vannoy, senior assistant solicitor of county's Office of Law, said the committee — which is being proposed in a bill suggested by Council Chairman Calvin Ball — wouldn't have any authority over the superintendent and the Board of Education, and would merely serve in an advisory capacity to the council.

That position runs counter to the advice given by Leslie Stellman, an attorney contracted by the school system, who said the “county's fiscal authority” through the committee would erode the board's “immunity as a state agency.”

Stellman told school officials the committee would overstep the council's authority and compromise the school system's independence from the county government.

Ball said he wanted to create the panel, with representation from the council, the county executive and community groups, to review the school system's budget and recommend improvements to next year's budget. The proposal caps a contentious budget season during which the county did not fund roughly $50 million of the school system's request.

At a council public hearing on the measure Monday, Ball said he wanted Vannoy's advice to address the statements made by school system officials.

“In listening to the board and superintendent's attorney, I just wanted to purposefully clarify some things,” Ball said.

While some residents supported Ball's proposal, Paul Lemle, president of the Howard County Education Association, said its success will be contingent on access to data from the school system.

Board chairwoman Christine O'Connor, who in May described the proposal to create the review committee as an attempt to “undermine” the board's independence and “politicize education,” said this week the board looks forward to working with the council.

“The school system is already audited multiple times,” O'Connor said in a statement.

The council will meet with the school board at its quarterly meeting at 8:30 a.m July 6. The council will consider Ball's legislation at its meeting at 7 p.m. July 18.

Free summer lunches, breakfasts available

From June 27 to July 29, the Howard County school system will provide free lunches to children ages 3 to 18 weekdays at three schools in Columbia and one school in Laurel. No application is necessary; parents and guardians need only bring their children to one of the summer meal sites:

Phelps Luck Elementary, 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m., 5370 Oldstone Court, Columbia.

Laurel Woods Elementary, 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m., 9250 North Laurel Road, Laurel.

Long Reach High, 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m., 6101 Old Dobbin Lane, Columbia.

Talbott Springs Elementary, 12:45 p.m. to 2:15 p.m., 9550 Basket Ring Road, Columbia.

The program is an extension of the National School Lunch Program and is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture through the Maryland State Department of Education.

The Maryland Food Bank's Summer Club Program is providing free breakfast and lunch to children in need at two sites in Columbia through Aug. 19. The sites are:

Celebration Christian Academy, 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., 6080 Foreland Garth, Columbia, on a first-come, first-served basis.

Columbia Youth and Teen Center, 1 p.m. to 2 p.m., 5853 Robert Oliver Place, Columbia.

The program serves children who are eligible for free and reduced-price meals in schools and whose family incomes fall below federal poverty levels. Pre-enrollment is required at mdfoodbank.org.

—Fatimah Waseem, Baltimore Sun Media Group

Sweet Hours Way culvert replacement to begin

Construction to install a culvert under Sweet Hours Way in Columbia is scheduled to begin June 27. During the project, workers will replace a corrugated metal pipe as well as install reinforced concrete pipe between 7614 Sweet Hours Way and 7630 Moon Portrait Way. The project is expected to be completed by early September, weather permitting.

—Andrew Michaels, Baltimore Sun Media Group