Can't Legislate Common Sense
It is a tribute to the political abilities of administration at the Howard County Department of Education that a change in policy has been implemented to address the 1993 transfer disaster. From all indications, the problem was a diversion generated by administrators preparing for major changes in the Howard County education program. It was necessary that the latest theories, being tested on Howard County students, not be closely examined or questioned by parents and teachers prior to implementation.
Among the major changes now in effect throughout the county (( are:
* Reductions in time allowed for academic instruction.
* De-emphasizing academic achievement.
* Redistricting community (neighborhood) based schools into "socio-economically" balanced (Columbia-type neighborhood) schools.
* Academic grouping without regard to ability of all students.
Normal scrutiny of implementing these changes has been reduced due to confusion of parents and fear of teachers generated by transfers. The results are questionable. Changes are being made in education without normal consideration and the county will be saddled with a more cumbersome policy when dealing with the teachers' union in the future.
. . . Common sense and honesty would have prevented this whole regrettable episode. Future transfer problems could easily avoided by issuing several letters of reprimand and perhaps a termination or two to address the 1993 mess.
Louis N. Reinthaler
Ellicott City
The writer is president of the Dunloggin Middle School PTA.
Columbia Association's Budget
It is always good to hear people talking about the Columbia Association's annual budget and urging each other to testify. We have a public budget process and the more people who participate the better we are all served. However, Alex Hekimian's Jan. 29th letter to the editor misinforms the reader by giving only half the information. As president of the Columbia Association, I am compelled to respond.
* Package Plan: In the next fiscal year, the Columbia Association will open three new package plan facilities, the Kendall Ridge and the River Hill swimming pools and the Fairway Hills Golf Course. In addition, the capital budget proposes reinvesting more than $1 million in making Package Plan facilities even better. Membership rates need to be adjusted annually to keep pace with expenses. However, in an effort to keep basic Package Plan increases to a minimum, the fiscal year '96 budget proposes a new type of membership -- Package Plan Without Golf. Golf has a higher "per user" cost than, for example, the "per user" cost at fitness facilities. . . . Golfers recognize this and independent surveys taken before the construction of the new Fairway Hills golf course indicated that golfers were willing to pay more (higher rates) for additional golf facilities. By introducing a Package Plan "with golf" and one "without golf" a greater portion of the increased golf costs can be shifted to golf users. . . . Thus, Package Plan members who do not play golf, the great majority, are able to choose a less expensive plan. Renewing members who choose this Package Plan option will pay $9 a year more (75 cents per month) than their current membership. This is considerably less than the $24 to $36 increase that would have been proposed if only one type of Package Plan was offered. The fiscal '96 budget also proposes a Package Plan With Golf. Package Plan With Golf is proposed to be $75 more than the plan without golf to reflect the generally higher costs of golf. However, the budget proposes a $50 introductory discount making the effective price increase $25 in the first year.
* Recreational Vehicle Storage: Storing recreational vehicles such as boats, trailers and campers (RVs) on residential property is prohibited by Columbia's architectural covenants. Yet it is a recurring covenant violation. (Reston has similar covenants and a similar problem which it helped to resolve by providing an RV storage facility). In response to the Columbia Council's renewed focus on good covenant enforcement, the CA staff was directed to look at potential sites for developing an RV storage facility. The search involved properties both within and outside Columbia. In discussions with HRD (Columbia's developer) about available properties in their inventory, HRD agreed to place the Snowden Square Complex (Hechinger's, BJ's, etc.) as well as 650 new residential townhouse and condominium units under the CA covenants if CA purchased an undeveloped parcel of land from them. Those properties were not planned to be part of the Columbia Association. The additional assessment revenue from those properties would more than offset the acquisition, development and operational costs of the new RV storage facility. After considering the proposal, the council agreed that it should be proposed in the fiscal '96 budget so that the community would have the opportunity to comment on the development of an RV storage facility as well as the specific proposal at hand. . . . * Salary Increases: It is true that the proposed budget shows an overall 6.6 percent increase in the salary line. In fiscal '96, the Columbia Association will open two HTC new pools, a golf course, expand camp offerings and add a midnight basketball program. Part of the increase reflects the additional staff needed to operate those facilities and programs. The salary line also includes an annual increase for existing staff. That is limited to a 4 percent average. Unlike most governments, the Columbia Association does not have an automatic Cost of Living Allowance increase. All increases are based on performance. . . . The proposed budget under consideration is just that -- proposed. It is subject to a long public process so that all residents will have the opportunity to make their opinions known. The Columbia Council wants to hear from you. If you were unable to attend the public hearing, please call your council rep with comments or send them in writing addressed to the Columbia Association. The final vote on the budget does not take place until the end of February. We look forward to hearing from you.
Padraic M. Kennedy
Columbia
The writer is president of the Columbia Association.