Bill would shrink Maryland School for the Deaf board and require a deaf majority

Delegate Jessica Feldmark introduced House Bill 1052 on March 4, asking the Ways and Means Committee to reduce the Maryland School for the Deaf (MSD) Board of Trustees from 19 to 13 members and to require a deaf majority on the board. Feldmark said the change would align MSD’s governing body with comparable entities and “ensure that the deaf perspective is always centralized in the board’s work.”

The bill’s sponsor told the committee a smaller board would “promote more focused engagement, clearer roles and accountability” and reduce delays in decision‑making. Feldmark said the proposal preserves representation while improving operational efficiency.

John A. Serrano, superintendent of the Maryland School for the Deaf, said the board and the MSD leadership support the bill. Serrano told committee members that resizing the board and requiring at least seven trustees who are deaf would “ensure leadership is rooted in the lived linguistic and cultural expertise our students need.” He argued that a leaner board would ease quorum and administrative burdens and help the school operate more transparently.

Representatives from the governor’s Office of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing also testified in favor, saying the change aligns governance with the office’s mission to promote equitable access and lived‑experience representation. The office’s director described HB 1052 as “a vital step in modernizing MSD’s governance” and said the proposal advances educational equity for deaf and hard‑of‑hearing Marylanders.

Committee members asked no substantive questions during the panel, and the hearing concluded without debate. The bill sponsor requested a favorable report.

What happens next: The committee will consider the testimony and any drafted amendments before deciding whether to advance HB 1052. If favorably reported, the bill would proceed to floor consideration and additional committees as required.