By Lew Jan Olowski. Transitions can be difficult for children and some struggle more than others. On January 24, 2019, the Board of Education directed that HCPSS initiate a systemwide school boundary review, due to population growth that resulted in overcrowding at many schools, while others are underutilized. And despite the pandemic, the plan has been moving forward. The Howard County Board of Education on November 21, 2019, voted to revise Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) school attendance areas for the 2020–2021 school year. Redistricting in Howard County schools. Footage from the Howard County Redistricting Opposition Walk in Columbia, Maryland. That feedback period was open through November 19, 2019. Rising fifth and eighth-graders can opt-out of moving schools, as well as rising high school juniors and seniors. ELLICOTT CITY, Md. Population growth and migration among Maryland and Virginia counties is causing county school boards to rethink how they draw new public school boundaries. Families for Education Improvement is an advocate for all students in Howard County to have the resources and opportunities to achieve an outstanding education. The boundary review process continued with the release of the annual HCPSS Feasibility Study on June 13, 2019, and a feedback period extending from that time through August 1. They will make every effort to ensure this transition is as easy as possible for you and your child. Petition against school redistricting in Howard County by River Hill parents The writing of this petition was prompted by our concern regarding the “feasibility study” which advocates redistricting potentials for multiple areas of Howard County. The decision to adjust school boundaries was prompted by the need to relieve crowded schools, more effectively balance capacity utilization among schools throughout the district, and address inequities in the distribution of students affected by poverty, school officials say. On the surface, the proposed redistricting plan seems like a logical intervention, particularly as Howard County has the highest-performing schools in the state, and contains the city of Columbia, which was founded on principles of diversity.Given all this, one may assume that this plan will be easy to pass. The Political Challenge. Howard County Public Schools redistricting plan, Some Howard County Students Are Exempt From School Redistricting Plan; Parents Must Make Selections By Dec. 13, ‘I Share The Concerns Of Many’ | Howard Co. Executive Calvin Ball Reacts To School Redistricting Plan, ‘We Weren’t Heard’ | Parents Of Howard County Schools Students React To Redistricting Plan, Snow, Sleet Arrived In Maryland Monday Night, Washington Monument Lights Go Out Sunday Night, NPS Investigating Why, SCHOOL CLOSINGS: Some Schools Delayed, Most Remain Virtual After Winter Weather Hits Maryland, Maryland Expands COVID-19 Vaccine Eligibility To Phase 1C, Walmart Expanding COVID-19 Vaccinations To More States, Including Maryland, Maryland Weather: Wintry Mix Moving Through Maryland Tuesday Morning, 17-Year-Old Aberdeen Girl Killed, 2 Others Injured In Baltimore Triple Shooting, Morgan State Football Player Jordan Cofield Dies In Motorcycle Crash, COVID-19 In Maryland: Hospitalizations & Positivity Rate Continue To Decline, Photos Show Maryland Man Matthew Ryan Miller Climbing U.S Capitol Wall During Jan. 6 Riot. The school redistricting controversy in Howard County now has the attention of the Maryland General Assembly. The newly approved changes are estimated to shift roughly one in 10 students for the upcoming 2020-2021 school year. Superintendent Martirano, with the support of the Howard County Board of Education (HCBOE) and the Howard County Council, created and implemented a bold redistricting plan to combat the socioeconomic segregation that was holding back many HCPSS students. Martirano says he’ll be meeting with all of the county’s principals so that they can help students and families make this as smooth a transition as possible. According to its government, Howard County is racist, classist and does not yet pay enough taxes. FEI is an advocate for all students in Howard County to have the resources and opportunities to achieve an outstanding education. HOWARD COUNTY, Md. Howard County superintendent Michael Martirano proposed a school redistricting plan that hurts poor children by removing them from “Title I” schools where federally-funded programs help children from low-income families.. And the Board of Education spent more taxpayer … CLARKSVILLE, MD — The controversial redistricting plan proposed by Howard County Public School System Superintendent Michael Martirano has reached a new level of concern. Not all board members were in agreement with this new plan, however. Approval of the Attendance Area Adjustment Plan on BoardDocs →, Press Release: Board Takes Action on School Boundary Adjustments for 2020–2021 School Year →, Message From the Superintendent On Attendance Area Adjustments →, Attendance Area Adjustment Frequently Asked Questions →, Redistricting Exemptions: Visit HCPSS Connect for Your Child’s 2020-2021 School Placement and Possible Redistricting Exemption, 2020-2021 Orientations, January 6-31, 2020, For language supports, contact International Student and Family Services. The school system, the Howard County police and the county government can and will work together to find a solution for our community that does not dismiss racial concerns or school safety. Against tough opposition, the Howard County Board of Education just passed a plan to move over 5,000 students to ease overcrowding and diversify its schools. →Learn more about the entire boundary review process and view related documents, videos and links. But the Board of Education and the County Council have plans to change that. Immediately following the Superintendent’s proposal, the Board of Education began accepting written testimony from any member of the public. The Attendance Area Committee met in June and July to review options presented in the Feasibility Study and made recommendations to the Superintendent to help inform his proposal, which was presented on August 22, 2019. Staff Directory | Inclusivity & Accessibility, International Student and Family Services. The letters’ target was a comprehensive redistricting proposal offered by Howard County schools superintendent Michael Martirano. This was a compromise from Superintendent Michael J. Martirano’s original proposal to move more than 7,000, or […] Learn more. Community input sessions were held in July for families in all regions. ELLICOTT CITY, MD – Howard County Executive Calvin Ball has released the following statement on Howard County Public School System Superintendent Michael Martirano's proposed school redistricting plan: “I am appreciative of Superintendent … There are several exemptions. October 9, 2019 by Editor Editor. ELLICOTT CITY, Md. The source of the commotion? Howard County School Superintendent Michael Martirano wants to reassign some 7,400 students from their current schools to other schools in the county. The prospect of school redistricting is roiling politics in two major Maryland counties. “Now that we know what schools our students will attend next year, we must articulate our needs to families, partners, and elected leaders so that we are able to provide individualized support for every student and fully demonstrate equity in action,” Howard County School Board Superintended Michael Martirano said. The views expressed in this article are the views of the author. September 13, 2019 Media Contact: Scott Peterson, Director of Communications, Office of Public Information, 202-277-9412. In Howard County, a battle is raging on that is dividing parents, teachers and students. The battle in the Maryland suburbs started shortly after Howard County announced a school redistricting plan far more ambitious than many had expected. “We teach our children to compromise and this is the compromise that we made tonight for all our children,” a member of the Howard County School Board said. “We could have done better.”. A desire to be close to top-performing schools could also be a factor in why a school redistricting plan passed in Howard County last month was met with such strong opposition from the community. Many parents in attendance expressed disappointment over the board’s decision, pointing to ling commutes and difficult transitions from one school to another. HCPSS welcomes nearly 1,000 new students to our schools annually, and school administrators and staff in every school are prepared to support students in adjusting to a new school. Howard County school redistricting highlights how school segregation still exists today. Update, Nov. 22: The Howard County Board of Education approved a school redistricting plan Thursday evening that will reassign thousands of students for the 2020-2021 school year. (WBFF) - Howard County school board members were greeted with protests Tuesday night as they arrived for a lengthy public hearing on redistricting… (WJZ) — The Howard County Board of Education voted Thursday to revise Howard County Public School System school attendance areas for the 2020–2021 school year. School Redistricting May Impact Village September 5, 2017 / 0 Comments / in News / by SandAdmin On August 23, 2017, during a special meeting of the River Hill Board of Directors, a vote to sponsor a community forum on the proposed school redistricting in Howard County resulted in unanimous approval by the members in attendance. “Do you think it’s reasonable for a high schooler to get up that early, go to school, and then sit on the bus again for another 45 minutes?” Sharad Bhargava, a parent, said. When the redistricting plan goes into effect in the 2020-2021 school year, 5,402 students will be moved to a new school, including: The only motion not to pass involves polygon 189. ... / Redistricting in Howard County schools. The Superintendent’s Proposed Recommendation aimed to balance school capacity utilization, provide relief to schools most impacted by crowding, and address inequities in the distribution of students affected by poverty. WBAL NewsRadio 1090/FM 101.5 - After several work sessions and much scrutiny, the Howard County Public School Board approved the superintendent's redistricting plan Thursday. Thousands of Howard County students will be redistributed to different schools next year under a contentious school redistricting plan aimed at easing crowding and increasing equity among socioeconomic and racial groups. Comments at the end of the article and opposing views are welcome. By Savannah McShane on October 23, 2019. At its meeting November 21, 2019, the Board voted to revise HCPSS school attendance areas for the 2020–2021 school year. Our plan focuses on providing additional resources directly to the students, utilizing empirical evidence on the best way to achieve improved educational results, adheres to Policy Statement 6010 and listens to the feedback of ALL Howard County … School redistricting should promote student and community members’ welfare to the greatest extent possible. — The future of where over 7,400 students will go to school could be changing in Howard County. On Wednesday night Indivisible Howard County held an informational meeting about the school boards proposal for redistricting to alleviate overcrowding issues at many of the schools. ©2021 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Howard County must create and maintain a variety of housing options alongside a commitment to long-term affordability to realize these values. Howard County Public School System 10910 Clarksville Pike Ellicott City, MD 21042 Main Phone: (410) 313-6600 Business Hours – 8:30 a.m. through 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday Recommended to you based on your activity and what's popular • Feedback The meeting lasted about four and a half hours as the board went through each individual polygon, or neighborhood, and passed all but one of its motions. During that time, the Board also held seven public hearings and nine work sessions. It appears some Howard County parents are considering private schools as alternatives to the school system's controversial redistricting plan. By viewing our video content, you are accepting the terms of our. However, the currently propposed Howard County Public School Redistricting, as it is currently, has introduced insurmountable doubt in the process’ integrity, transparency, consistency, impartiality, and intent to consider the interests of the community at large. 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