Prince George's accepting applications for school board positions Prince George's County Executive Rushern L. Baker III (D) and the County Council are accepting applications for four new appointed positions on the Board of Education, county officials announced Saturday. State lawmakers expanded the nine-member elected school board under a compromise bill that also allows Baker to hire the county's next schools chief. Last month, Baker sought a complete takeover of the county's public school system, asking for authority to select the school superintendent and control the school system's $1.7 billion budget. Under the measure approved by state lawmakers, Baker will hire the superintendent (now known as the chief executive officer), name three of the new members to the board, and select the board chair and vice chair. The law requires that Baker appoint board members who have experience in education, business or finance, higher education or management. The County Council's appointee must be a parent with a child enrolled in the pubic school system. Christian Rhodes, Baker's education liaison to the school board, said the county executive is looking for candidates who want to move the county forward. He wants "candidates who have a passion, dedication, experience and determination to move the school system from good to great," he said. The applications, which must be postmarked or emailed back by May 10, are available on the county website, in public libraries and at the County Administration building in Upper Marlboro.