Have you seen us around? We are calling and visiting
(socially distanced, of course!)
My hard-working team has reached approximately 6,000 of you in the past six weeks to check-in with you. We've been answering questions about voting, reminding you to complete the census, and listening to your neighborhood concerns. If one of our Team Guyton volunteers calls you, please give them a big THANK YOU! If you would like to join over 30 other volunteers to help reach voters and reach out to other constituents, please contact me.

If there is anything I can help you with please don't hesitate to reach out. Email me at michele.guyton@house.state.md.us.
Back to (Virtual) School?
For the first time in 19 years, I will not have a BCPS student of my own! My own school year started by sending my oldest to Arizona and my youngest off to Vermont to college! I miss them terribly and transition as a Freshman is tough during quarantine but so far, so good! I MAY be crying in this picture.

As an education advocate and member of the Education Sub-Committee, I am keeping a very close eye on the provision for educational services to students during this unprecedented time. Thank you for sharing so many of your experiences with me. I am strongly advocating for fixes to our most common problems and drafting legislation to address those that are more complex. The links to my recent Town Halls on special education, broadband, recreational activities, and equity during COVID-19 can be watched here on my YouTube page. The most recent education sub-committee hearing is available here.
Or Not??
Today, many teachers, staff and parents were surprised by the announcement of the reentry timeline. Unfortunately, BCPS administration did not discuss this plan with either the Board of Education or TABCO and gave no advanced warning. There are a lot of teachers who are very concerned and feel disrespected by the way this was rolled out. No matter what side of the opening/closing schools debate you are on, there are much more appropriate ways to make policy decisions. Many questions about this plan need to be answered by BCPS and I will keep working for the answers.
In the News
Thank you WYPR and John Lee for covering this important story and allowing me to weigh in and represent the viewpoints of so many concerned Maryland families! I sincerely hope that BCPS, MSDE, and The Maryland General Assembly will work together to try to address these inequities! To read and listen to the WYPR story please click here.

"Guyton said special education should be considered an essential service. Both she and Margolis at Disability Rights Maryland believe if the school system is not going to use its assistants to physically be with students who need them, then it should be willing to pay to hire one-on-one aides outside the school system." - WYPR
Student Support Network is expanding to
Cockeysville Middle School!
One of my favorite outreach organizations is expanding to Cockeysville Middle School and I am honored to be able to help. Starting in early October, Cockeysville families will be able to pick up essential toiletries and food items at Cockeysville Middle School on Friday mornings! I will be continuing my diaper / baby item drive to stock this new location. I will also be there volunteering! Please show your support by making a donation or dropping off items at various drop-off locations, which can be found on this map.
 
Be sure to earmark these for CMS! You will be receiving more information soon!
Belfast Rd Lighting Project Update
After overwhelming community opposition to a lighting project off the Belfast Rd exit off
I-83, I am happy to announce they Department of Transportation is going to re-consider and re-evaluate the scale and timeline of the project.

To read my letter to the Department of Transportation requesting reconsideration please click here.

To read the Department of Transportation's response please click here.
Baltimore County Arts & Science
Grant Application is Open!
Everybody knows my love of the arts and theater. (Can you spot me in this picture of Herford Community Theater's Addams Family?) If you are a part of a non-profit organization that offers visual and performing arts, science, and humanities programs you can apply for an operating grant through the Baltimore County Commission on Arts and Sciences! Applications are available on the Baltimore County Website and the deadline for applying is Wednesday, October 28 at 4 p.m.
Make Your Plan to Vote!
The 2020 Presidential Election is going to be quite different due to COVID-19. If you have not yet received a mail-in ballot request please request one here at the Maryland State Board of Elections website. When you get your ballot you can return it by mail or return it to one of the ballot drop box locations throughout the county. Drop boxes will put up October 1.

If you wish to vote in person, that is absolutely still an option. However, some voting centers have changed. To verify where you need to go to vote please check based on your address here on Baltimore County's "Where Do I Vote?" page.
North Baltimore County Ballot Drop Box Locations

Baltimore County Board of Elections
11112 Gilroy Road - Hunt Valley

Hereford High School
17301 York Road - Parkton

Honeygo Run Community Center
9033 Honeygo Blvd. - Perry Hall

Jacksonville Recreation Center
Sweet Air Park
3605 B Sweet Air Road - Jacksonville

Oregon Ridge Lodge
13401 Beaver Dam Road - Cockeysville
North Baltimore County Early Voting Centers

Towson University Pavilion
1 South Auburn Drive - Towson

Honey Go Community Center
9033 Honeygo Blvd - Perry Hall

Oregon Ridge Park
13401 Beaver Dam Rd - Cockeysville

Jacksonville Recreation Center
3065 B Sweet Air Rd - Jacksonville
Eviction Assistance Programs
Though the Maryland Eviction Prevention Partnership, the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) is awarding federal Community Development Block Grant funding to prevent evictions. Applications are due by October 2. For more information or questions on how to apply email dhcd.rentalinfo@maryland.gov.

In addition, Maryland has launched the Assisted Housing Relief Program to help bring rental delinquencies current and provide relief for tenants through direct payments to their eligible property management company. More information about the program can be found here.