Redistricting is on the horizon for Howard County schools and it could start in the 2012-2013 academic year in the southeast region.
About 50 people attended the first of two community meetings Tuesday, Sept. 6, at Hammond High School to learn about first-round redistricting plans. The second meeting, scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 7 at 7:30 p.m. at Centennial High School, was postponed due to the heavy rain and flooding and has been rescheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 14 at the same time and place.
A concern echoed by several parents at the Hammond meeting was that of continuity for their children. Scaggsville resident Michael Musser has two sons who attend Hammond Elementary School, one of the schools that could be redistricted in 2012, when his eldest son would be entering fifth grade.
If the current redistricting plan is approved, Musser said, his son would attend fifth grade at Fulton Elementary before moving up to Hammond Middle School, which might be redistricted in 2015. Then, Musser said, his son could be moved to Lime Kiln Middle School before finally moving up to Reservoir High School. Musser's son would attend five schools over the course of six years.
"Once you've moved on out of elementary school, you're back on the table for middle school (redistricting)," Musser said after the meeting. "We're talking about molding the minds and personalities of these students, by changing their educational environment so often. It's not fair to them."
Joel Gallihue, manager of school planning, addressed similar concerns from other parents, who asked if their students would be redistricted more than once while in elementary school. Gallihue said with certainty that students will only be redistricted at a certain level once.
"Board policy would not allow us to redistrict at one level more than once during the time period that child would matriculate through that level," he said. "No staff plan would ever recommend that."
School staff will present final recommendations on 2012 redistricting to the Howard County Board of Education at its meeting Oct. 20, which could include feedback from the two community meetings, and the recommendations of the Attendance Area Committee, comprised of citizens from each of the school system's six planning regions. The final recommendations would be made available in early October, Gallihue said.
Not yet taking into account the public feedback or the committee's input, the staff recommendation for 2012 redistricting include shifting around students in the southeast region of the county. Students from Guilford Elementary could be moved to Atholton and Hammond elementary schools, while students from Bollman Bridge and Atholton elementary schools could in turn be moved to Guilford.
Fulton Elementary would also see turnover, with some of its students moving to Dayton Oaks and Pointers Run elementary schools, and new students coming in from Hammond and Gorman Crossing elementary schools.
The last batch of 2012 southeast redistricting could also impact Forest Ridge Elementary, with students moving to Bollman Bridge and new students coming in from Laurel Woods Elementary.
Following the staff's presentation to the board, the board will hold a public hearing Nov. 8 and work sessions Nov. 3, 10 and 15 if necessary. The goal, Gallihue said, is for the board to make a decision by Thanksgiving.
Gallihue reminded audience members that the same process — community meetings, feedback, public hearings, etc. — would be followed for subsequent redistricting. A second round of elementary school redistricting could occur in 2013, with the addition of a new elementary school in the northeastern region, and middle school redistricting would follow in 2015.
For a more complete look at the 2011 Feasibility Study and potential redistricting, visit hcpss.org.