The Baltimore Sun from Baltimore, Maryland • A2

THE BALTIMORE SUN NEWS FRIDAY, JANUARY 11, 2013 Panel urges cutting ties to 6 schools After review, it also proposes three- and five-year extensions for 15 charter schools in the city leaders, praised what they called the most rigorous evaluations of the district's nontra-ditional programs to date. Of the 25 schools that sought renewal, nine received five-year contract extensions; seven received three-year extensions; and three received one-year extensions as the system awaits more data The recommendations were made by a charter school advisory board. The city school board is scheduled to vote on the recommendations Feb. 12; a public hearing is scheduled for Jan. 30.

Schools were graded in three areas: academic performance, climate, and financial management and governance. "We believe the renewal process is essential to charter accountability and that the recommendations demonstrate that the vast majority of charter schools are successfully fulfilling their individual missions," the Coalition of Baltimore Charter Schools said in a statement. The recommendations were met with a mixed reaction from school board members, who said they wanted to see more consistency in the evaluations. For example, district officials chose to renew the Baltimore Montessori Public Charter School for three years but noted that poor, black students lag significantly behind white students a factor not noted in other presentations. "It's almost like those other schools get a free pass on that data point," said city school board Commissioner David Stone.

One board member also had reservations about the five-year extensions. "It's extremely important that they understand that they don't have five years to do what they want and that we still want to see improvement," said city school board Commissioner Jerrelle Francois. "Five years is a long time in the life of a child." erica.greenbaltsun.com twitter.comEricaLG run school. The district will also seek to take back operations of Montebello ElementaryMiddle School, considered a "contract school," from the national, for-profit organization Edison Learning. Officials recommended not renewing the contract of one "transformation school," Baltimore Civitas MiddleHigh School, and one "innovation school," the Baltimore Talent Development High School both of which are run by the Center for Social Organization of Schools at the Johns Hopkins University.

Transformation schools serve children in grades six through 12; innovation schools are small high schools operated by nonprofits. "This is an excruciating process for schools, and we have partners who have dedicated their lives to these schools," said Alison Perkins-Cohen, who oversees the district's office of new initiatives. But Perkins-Cohen, as well as charter By Erica L. Green The Baltimore Sun Baltimore school officials recommended Thursday severing ties with independent operators of six schools after a months-long review of more than two dozen diverse programs. In a presentation to city school board members, district officials recommended granting three-and five-year contract extensions to all but three of the 18 charter schools seeking renewal: Bluford Drew Jemison STEM Academy, Baltimore Freedom Academy and Collington Square ElementaryMiddle School.

Bluford and Baltimore Freedom Academy would stay open for current students until the end of 2013-2014, admitting no new middle and high school students as officials weigh whether the schools would close altogether at the end of that year. Collington Square, however, would revert to a district- Referendum sought on project in Balto. Co. Middle River property is at center of new challenge By Alison Knezevich The Baltimore Sun GENE SWEENEY JR.BALTI MORE SUN PHOTO Getting ready for the roar As happens just about every January, 1st Mariner Arena is being transformed, with the addition of about 1,500 cubic yards of soil, into a venue for Arenacross offroad motorcycle racing held indoors. The event, which runs today through Sunday, features jumps and wipeouts.

This year, contenders are looking to take the crown from defending two-time champion Tyler Bowers. Teen convicted in Halloween shooting sentenced to 115 years 19-year-old Sterlin Corday Matthews fired into crowd, killing Dequan Burks, 16 Petition signature collectors have hit the streets again in Baltimore County for a referendum effort on development issues this time targeting a recent County Council bill that would protect a Middle River project from an earlier referendum challenge. Last month, County Councilwoman Cathy Bevins, a Middle River Democrat, sponsored and won approval for a bill that would let a Middle River development proceed, even if the zoning is overturned through a pending referendum attempt. Now, petition workers are asking residents to sign forms to put that legislation on the 2014 ballot as well. If successful, the referendum would let voters decide whether to repeal Bevins' measure.

County Board of Elections members learned of the new referendum drive at a Thursday meeting, just as election staff is scrambling to count thousands of signatures from the earlier referendum effort. That drive seeks to overturn all zoning votes approved by the County Council during its 2012 zoning review for two specific districts the 6th District represented by Bevins and the 2nd District represented by Councilwoman Vicki Almond. A developer, Middle River Station Development LLC, wants to turn the vacant, 65-acre Middle River Depot site along Eastern Boulevard into a mixed-use project with retail, office and residential space, but those plans could be derailed if voters overturn the council's zoning maps. Stuart Kaplow, a lawyer representing organizations behind both the old and new efforts, said people are opposing Bevins' new bill because it is "a politician's end-around the already pending referendum." "It's a private law to benefit one property, not a public law, which violates the Maryland Constitution," he said. Those behind the referendum effort are "a group of Baltimore County businessmen," according to Kaplow, though he said he does not know specifics.

They're calling their organization "Let the People Vote," he said. Kaplow said those involved in the petition drive would be identified in financial disclosure statements that will be filed later. Organizers of the new drive will have to collect more than 28,000 signatures to the put the issue on the ballot. One-third of the signatures are due in early February. A group financed by firms tied to developers and shopping center owners promoted the initial referendum effort.

They hired a petition management company to collect signatures. Bevins called the new drive "ridiculous" and said it's an example of money influencing politics. She said the community wants to see the Middle River site redeveloped. "I did what my community wanted me to do," she said. Meanwhile, county elections staff have been working evenings and weekends to finish counting thousands of signatures seeking the initial referendum.

About 20 employees almost the entire staff are counting petitions, Deputy Director Rena Waggoner told board members Thursday. The agency is "severely behind" in other work because of the petitions, she said. 'We're overloaded, to say the least." Officials initially believed that they had to finish counting by mid-January but found that they could wait until Feb. 6 and still meet legal deadlines, board attorney Andrew G. Bailey told members.

They also must consider legal arguments filed by opponents of the referendum. alisonkbaltsun.com twitter.com aliknez excessive. A juvenile at the time of the shootings, Matthews was tried as an adult "The purpose of incarceration should not only be punishment and public safety, but it should also be rehabilitation," Buie said. "This is a young man who made a very severe mistake in his life. However, he's so young there's a possibility his life could be redeemed." Baltimore County jurors spent less than an hour deliberating in the case, in which they heard how Matthews ran across Burks, 16, and his friends while trick-or-treating.

A witness testified that she saw Matthews following her group and heard shots. Burks was later found dead in front of a rowhouse in Baltimore County. Police discovered bags of candy nearby. Two other teens in his group were shot but survived, though prosecutors say one victim will carry a bullet inside his body for the rest of his life. Prosecutors had called the shootings "senseless." Prosecutor Danielle Williams said the state reminded the judge Thursday of Matthews' "lack of remorse." The state's attorney's office had offered Matthews a deal before trial in which he would serve 15 years in prison, but Matthews did not accept the deal.

Buie said he tried to argue that his refusal showed that Matthews did not fully understand the consequences of his actions. "A rational person would have decided to take the plea," Buie said. A previous trial had ended in a hung jury, but this time, prosecutors presented evidence that Matthews attempted to intimidate witnesses from the Baltimore County Detention Center. At the trial, prosecutors played jailhouse phone calls between Matthews and his friends in which Matthews tried to get help stopping witnesses from testifying in court. Matthews' attorneys acknowledged that that helped jurors decide he was guilty.

cwellsbaltsun.com twitter.comcwellssun By Carrie Wells The Baltimore Sun A trick-or-treating teenager who shot at another group of teens on Halloween 2010, killing one, was sentenced to 115 years in prison Thursday by a Baltimore County judge. Sterlin Corday Matthews, 19, was found guilty in October of second-degree murder and other charges in the killing of Dequan Burks. On the night of Burks' death, Matthews was wearing a "Hellraiser" mask with pins protruding from it when his group of friends encountered a group of teens that had crossed into their neighborhood. Matthews' public defender, William R. Buie III, said the 115-year sentence was GENERAL ASSEMBLY Dwyer reassigned after drunken-boating charge Alcoholics Anonymous.

"It is extremely difficult to lay bare a deeply personal issue in such a public way," he wrote. "However, I believe it is the right thing to do, as I feel answerable to the Del. Don Dwyer charge of the case. The Anne Arundel County state's attorney sought an outside prosecutor because two of Dwyer's House colleagues, Anne Arundel Del. Ted Sopho-cleus and Baltimore Del.

Luke H. Clip-pinger, work in that office. The Ways and Means Committee, which deals with tax and education issues, is viewed as one of the more prestigious assignments a House of Delegates member can receive. But for Dwyer, an outspoken opponent of gay-rights legislation and same-sex marriage, it means a lesser role on the social issues he has emphasized since he was elected to the House in 2002. Dwyer's reassignment is one of several moves within House committees expected to be announced today.

'We think Delegate Dwyer's talents would be better used on the Ways and Means Committee," Busch said. Baltimore Sun reporter Andrea F. Siegel contributed to this article. mdresserbaltsun.com ecoxbaltsun.com By Michael Dresser and Erin Cox The Baltimore Sun The Pasadena delegate charged with recklessly operating a boat while under the influence of alcohol has been moved off a committee that oversees criminal matters, including legislation about drunken driving. Del.

Don H. Dwyer Jr. faces alcohol-related charges in a powerboat crash on the Magothy River that injured him and six others last August House Speaker Michael E. Busch moved Dwyer to the Ways and Means Committee. "It wasn't where I wanted to go, but I understand it," Dwyer said.

"It is what it is, given my legal situation. We'll make the best of it" Dwyer, 54, previously served on the Judiciary Committee. This week he posted on Facebook an open letter to constituents that said he "turned to alcohol to cope" with personal and professional challenges. He wrote that he has completed an alcohol treatment program and continues to attend folks who chose me to represent them in the Legislature." Last month, Natural Resources Police charged Dwyer with operating a vessel while under the influence of alcohol, reckless operation of a vessel and other violations. The driver of the other boat was also charged in the crash, and investigators have said both operators appeared to be at fault Dwyer said the other boat, which carried five children, hit his boat, The Legislator.

A toxicology report showed Dwyer's blood-alcohol level was 0.24 percent, three times the legal limit of 0.08 percent Dwyer's trial is scheduled for May 14, according to Howard County prosecutors in.