Barbara L. Salisbury/The Gazette "Your right to vote has been taken away from you," claimed David Cahn, chairman of Citizens for an Elected Board, during a rally Monday night. The group is fighting against extension of the appointed school board's term beyond 2006.

Citizens for an Elected School Board formed in 2002 shortly before state lawmakers voted to throw out the elected board and replace it with one appointed by former Gov. Parris N. Glendening (D) and former County Executive Wayne K. Curry (D).

Now, the group is trying to make sure the Maryland General Assembly does not extend the term of current board and wants the law to be changed to avoid at-large elections, which they argue would neglect local concerns.

Mary Lehman, one of the organizers, said the group is worried about talk of an extension among some lawmakers.

"They think [school board members] are doing a good job and they think it should be extended," Lehman said.

Opponents of the appointed board have charged that not all residents in the county are heard because none of the current board members live inside the Beltway.

State Rep. Rosetta C. Parker (D-Dist. 47) of Hyattsville encouraged the group to propose legislation asking for single member district representation in the next school board by the middle of November. The bill would then be heard by the Prince George's County delegation.

"We need to tell our legislators that we want our right to vote back. We want single member districts," said June White Dillard, president of the county chapter of the NAACP.

The 2002 law would require all nine school board members to be elected countywide, although at least one member would have to live in each of five new school districts.

County Councilman Thomas Dernoga (D-Dist. 1) of Laurel, who attended rallies to save the previous board in 2002, pleaded with state representatives to continue to give residents a voice.

"Deal with problems of people on the board, but don't take away our right to vote," Dernorga said he told state lawmakers. "We have a law that says we can get back to an elected board. And we want to make sure that doesn't go away."

A plan needs to be put in place to get qualified people to run for seats on the school board, Dernoga said.

"We need people who want to reform the school system and improve the school system," he said. "We need to think ahead. What do we need to do to let out a result that's good?"

Dernoga criticized the appointed board, saying members are not always accessible. "There's a lack of knowledge that's currently being created right now," Dernoga said, adding that residents are often not well informed of school proposals, such as the budget and other issues.

Email Angela Swinson Lee at alee@gazette.net.