Are you keeping up with the redistricting process (School Boundary Review Process) for the schools in Howard County? Did you know that we will get the recommendation(s) from HCPSS Superintendent Martirano to the Howard County Board of Education on August 20th? We will…and here are a few things that I will be watching for:

1. What options will come forward from the Superintendent?

Many options were provided in the 2019 Feasibility Study that started this process. Will one of those options be the recommendation or will one or more recommendation be tweaked or will we get a new set of recommendations based on the meetings from the Attendance Area Committee (AAC) and the public sessions and public input provided online?

2. Will High School #13 be addressed in the recommendations?

A “Sample High School #13 Boundary” was provided in the 2019 Feasibility Study…so will that come forward as an official recommendation in this redistricting plan? If not, will we be doing this all over again in a couple of years to deal with that new high school coming online? If it comes forward I am hoping it changes from the current plan…because kids living on Mission Road (and in the near vicinity of the school) should all attend that school…and that is not necessarily the case right now.

3. Will Fulton Elementary School be addressed in the recommendations?

Someone correct me if I am wrong…but I do not believe that any of the previous recommendations from the 2019 Feasibility Study included Fulton Elementary School. We were recently told that (Fulton Elementary School has enrolled its 1000th student and exceeds 120% capacity)…so if that is the case, shouldn’t it be included in the recommendations?

4. That silly flyer from a few members around Rockburn Township…will that play into this process?

Many were disappointed in that flyer in our community. It was great to see principals and the Superintendent address it publicly. The question now is will that have any affect on the recommendations? Obviously is should not…but it is something to keep an eye on when the recommendations come out.

Do you have specific things you are looking to see? Let me know in the comments.

After the recommendations are presented…here are some other important items and dates:

Feedback to the Board: AUGUST 21-NOVEMBER 19, 2019

Beginning August 21 and through 4:30 p.m. on November 19, the Board of Education will receive written testimony via USPS mail or emailing it to redistricting@hcpss.org. Any testimony received prior to this date will not be accepted. Additionally, testimony sent to individual Board members or to the BOE email address will not be accepted.

Board Public Hearings:

Tuesday, September 17, 7 p.m.

Families currently zoned for Centennial HS, Howard HS, Mt. Hebron HS, Oakland Mills HS

Tuesday, September 24, 7 p.m.

Families currently zoned for Atholton HS, Hammond HS, Long Reach HS, Wilde Lake HS

Thursday, September 26, 7 p.m.

Families currently zoned for Glenelg HS, Marriotts Ridge HS, Reservoir HS, River Hill HS

Board Public Work Sessions:

Thursday, October 10, 6:30 p.m

Thursday, October 24, 6:30 p.m.

Wednesday, October 30, 6:30 p.m.

Thursday, November 5, 6:30 p.m.

Tuesday, November 12, 6:30 p.m.

Thursday, November 14, 6:30 p.m..

Monday, November 18 Preliminary decision

Board Decision: NOVEMBER 21, 2019

Scott E