This is the third in a series of posts regarding the Maryland State Board of Education’s Opinion 26-07 in the matter of requests to remove Michael Guessford from the Washington County Board of Education.
There are two sides to every story and there’s the truth.
One undeniable truth is that people may forget what was said, but they will remember how they felt in the moment when it was said.
Excerpt from the Maryland State Board of Education Opinion No. 26-07:
Read the Opinion No. 26-07 in full here
Conduct at Local Board Meetings
The Complainants also allege Mr. Guessford has engaged in repeated violations of Local Board Policy KD – Opportunity for Public Comment at Board Business Meetings, Town Meetings, and Public Hearings and the Procedures Governing such Proceedings which governs public comment at local board meetings. He is accused of engaging in an inappropriate two minute dialogue with a speaker from the organization Rising to Learn at the July 15, 2025 local board meeting. (Main Aff. p. 1). He is accused of spreading false information by claiming that Rising to Learn was founded by former local board members who he claimed, “were voted off for a reason.” (Main Aff. p. 2). The Complainants allege Rising to Learn was not founded by former local board members but that former local board members were later asked to join the organization founded by Mrs. Dottie Gruhler. Id. Complainants also allege that Mr. Guessford violated Local Bd. Policy KD, while presiding over a meeting, by failing to stop a speaker from using profanity against school staff and for discussing the speaker discussing her son, a student, and two staff members during the January 21, 2025 local board meeting. (Main Aff. p. 3). Furthermore, Complainants allege Mr. Guessford unilaterally granted "extra time" to a specific speaker, which the petition claims empowered a well-known aggressive individual and bypassed the board’s established time limits in violation of Local Bd. Policy KD. Id.
Mr. Guessford defends his actions as practical leadership decisions. He claims that his interaction with "Rising to Learn" was intended to provide transparency about the organization's leadership and lasted only about one minute. On the matter of granting "extra time" to another speaker, Mr. Guessford asserts that the previous board president had set a precedent for allowing speakers to exceed time limits, and his decision that night successfully prevented a public argument and resulted in the speaker finishing early. (Opposition pp. 5, 11, 23). The petition also alleges that at the September 2, 2025 local board work session, Mr. Guessford acted unilaterally to “table" a the presentation to a committee he chaired, which was not televised and less accessible to the public. (Main Aff. p. 4-5). Petitioners argue this was an attempt to control the narrative of school redistricting and deprived the full board of hearing recommendations first-hand in violation of local board Policies BD – Types and Notification of Meetings; BDE – Board Member Standing Committees; presentation to the local board by the Facilities and Enrollment Advisory Committee “FEAC” during a televised work session. Without a motion or board consensus, he moved BEDD-R – Rules of Order for Meetings (Regular Session); Administrative Regulations BDF-R – Advisory Committees to the Board; Robert’s Rules of Order; and local board precedent. Id. Mr. Guessford responds that the decision to table the FEAC report was discussed in an agenda planning meeting with the Superintendent, the local board president, and others to allow members more time to digest a complex 70-slide presentation. He asserts that there was no objection to table the discussion during the local board meeting and that the FEAC report was forwarded to the local board at the next meeting without change. (Opposition p. 27). In addition, Complainants allege Mr. Guessford created a hostile work environment in closed session local board meetings. One Complainant alleges that he yelled at her when she attempted to leave a meeting on February 4, 2025. (L.M. Aff. p.1). During a February 18, 2025 session, he allegedly "screamed" at the Superintendent in front of senior staff and threatened not to recommend a contract renewal. Furthermore, during a June 24, 2025 meeting, he is accused of 3 being "completely hostile" toward the local board president and another female board member, allegedly shouting at the president to "buy a hearing aid" and threatening to have her removed as president if she did not comply with his wishes. (L.M. Aff. 2). Mr. Guessford denies yelling, characterizing these interactions as "strong debates" over serious issues. (Opposition p.1). He also states that he is no longer in a local board leadership position. (Opposition p. 23).
Observation: Mr. Guessford defended his actions by stating they were “practical leadership decisions.” Whatever his intention was regarding his interaction with Roger Stenerson, Communications Director of Rising to Learn and regardless of how long it lasted, the information he claims to have been made to provide transparency was not factual and largely his opinion. Mr. Guessford was made aware of his inaccuracies and falsehoods publicly by Roger Stenersen during the Public Comment portion of a business meeting of the WCBOE on August 19, 2025.
Previous WCBOE presidents have, indeed, allowed speakers to continue past the time limit to allow them to bring their remarks to a conclusion. This was done on occasion, and not solely as a decision of the president, but at the urging of one or more board members. Mr. Guessford fails to acknowledge the difference between showing that courtesy and his announcing to a speaker, in this case Shaun Porter, “Take as much time as you need.” before Mr. Porter even began. Mr. Guessford’s claim that his decision successfully prevented a public argument and resulted in the speaker finishing early is pure conjecture on his part. Furthermore, his decision was not in keeping with the WCBOE’s Policy KD.
Mr. Guessford denies yelling in WCBOE Closed Sessions that are held out of public view, and he characterized what the complainants described as his creating a hostile work environment as “strong debates over serious issues.” He further dismisses this behavior by saying he is no longer in a local board leadership position.
Speaking to fellow board members, the superintendent, and other staff in ways that are disrespectful have no place in debate, strong or otherwise. Mr. Guessford’s behavior was reported by those who experienced it first-hand as creating a hostile work environment. Mr. Guessford is dismissive of the feelings of those with whom he works and has minimized the effects of his behavior.
This excerpt from the Maryland State Board of Education’s Opinion No. 26-07 addresses Mr. Guessford’s conduct in local Board of Education meetings:
CONCLUSION:
We find the totality of the allegations are not legally sufficient to support the removal of Mr. Guessford and we dismiss the request to issue charges for removal at this time. We do not issue charges based on the allegations before us; however, we admonish Mr. Guessford for his conduct and behavior. We caution Mr. Guessford that his pattern of behavior—particularly his public rhetoric regarding the Muslim community; his unprofessional and demeaning behavior towards his colleagues and staff; and his attempts to circumvent the superintendent—is deeply problematic, unprofessional, and beneath the standards expected of an elected official. This approach undermines effective governance and must be addressed to ensure lawful and constructive board governance. While the State Board is not issuing charges at this time, it remains seriously concerned about the pattern of conduct and urges Mr. Guessford to reflect carefully on his role and responsibilities as a member of the local board. Continued behavior of this nature, specifically that which marginalizes students and other groups; harasses colleagues or staff; or undermines statutory governance, may lead the Board to consider formal action in the future.