Despite pleas from parents and the recommendations from two Board of Education members to delay the vote, the board still plans to decide on a 2012 redistricting plan Thursday, Nov. 17, that would move more than 1,200 Howard County elementary school students.
"I urge you, don't redistrict at all right now," said parent Christine Dietrich, whose comments drew the loudest applause at a packed public hearing Tuesday, Nov. 15. "No plan seems effective or long-term. Don't be tempted to rush a plan through, just to move forward. Delay the vote until open enrollment or expansion units can be adequately evaluated."
Board members Brian Meshkin and Allen Dyer voiced similar concerns.
"There are people in the community who are scared to death," Dyer said. "The public deserves an extra delay, and it deserves a final proposed plan (it can provide input on)."
Meshkin said a final decision should be pushed back to December.
Meshkin and Dyer also supported the discussion of instituting open enrollment — a practice that hasn't been used in county schools for at least 10 years. Earlier this month, school system staff recommended against that option.
More than 40 parents, residents and students testified before the board Tuesday evening in front of packed room filled with almost 150 people. It was the second and last public hearing. Afterward, the board held its third and last public work session on the proposed 2012 elementary school redistricting that will affect the county's southeastern elementary schools. Together, the public hearing and work session lasted nearly four and a half hours.
Many testified in favor of the plan known as "BoE 1," the second plan up for discussion during the three-week input-gathering process. The first plan, recommended by the school system staff, was presented to the board on Oct. 20. Subsequent plans include "BoE 1" and "BoE 2," which were created after a work session Nov. 3 and at a work session Nov. 10, after the first public hearing last week. "BoE 2" received much criticism from many at the meeting, who viewed it as a last-minute curveball.
"It is so divergent from plans available to the public at this point," said Guilford parent Chris Martin. "There was no time for the public to adequately understand it, or provide feedback to you."
However, a group representing Hammond Elementary did speak in favor of that plan, which would spare many children from being redistricted. The original staff plan suggested moving almost 200 students from Hammond to Fulton Elementary.
"That would not minimize impact," said Chioma Onwuanibe. "'BoE 2' minimizes that impact, eliminates the ripple effect … I hope we do not have the original plan presented by staff."
At the end of the meeting, the board came away with a fourth and final plan. Under that plan, most of the board's first plan remains — with slight adjustments, like portions of the Fulton attending area remaining at Fulton, instead of being moved to Pointers Run Elementary. Other elements of the staff plan remain the same — like Fulton students also being moved to Dayton Oaks Elementary, and students at Laurel Woods Elementary moving to Forest Ridge Elementary.
Board member Sandra French noted that, in the case of any change, the negatives are always seen first, but she wanted to point out the positives that would come of the redistricting.
"Our class size remains constant in staffing and our curriculum is uniform and consistent through the county," she said. "We have an excellent staff who want to make sure every child's experience is a successful one."