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You are here: Home / Research / Top 10 Reasons to reject the redistricting Plan

Top 10 Reasons to reject the redistricting Plan

1.      The plan does not adhere to Board of Education Policy 6010 standards

  • Policy 6010 IV.B2 c frequency of moves, given the opening of New HS #13;
  • Policy 6010 IV.B2 b. contiguous communities, a map showing Polygon 256 and 1256 moving from Fulton ES to Laurel Woods ES;  
  • Policy 6010 IV.B1 c. operating costs, https://www.hcpss.org/policies/6000/6010-school-attendance-areas/

2.      The plan does not focus on, nor appear to be driven by directly addressing over-capacity issues (swapping students: P17 of superintendent proposal)

  • Atholton HS receiving 471, and sending 610;
  • River Hill HS receiving 741, and sending 478;
  • Oakland Mills HS receiving 257, sending 256;
  • Wilde Lake HS receiving 373, sending 197

3.      The plan does not reflect community survey results with regard to what factors are most important to residents

  • Limiting student travel times, maintaining walkable distances, boundary continuity. (P7 of superintendent proposal)

4.      The plan is highly disruptive

  • Uprooting 7396 students, about 1/8 of HCPSS students: 3194 Elementary School, 1351 Middle School, and 2851 High School. P9 of superintendent proposal.
  • Dramatically changes student population of Atholton and River Hill HS: Atholton HS receiving 471, and sending 610; River Hill HS receiving 741, and sending 478. P17 of superintendent proposal

5.      The plan posts many risks to students

  • Longer commute time (http://education.penelopetrunk.com/2013/01/14/the-bus-is-the-most-exhausting-part-of-school/),
  • Driving safety
  • Less sleep
  • Mental health (1 in 4 high school students experienced sad or hopeless feelings; 1 in 6 high school students seriously considered attempting suicide; and 1 in 7 high school students made a plan about how they would attempt suicide. https://www.howardcountymd.gov/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=6nrdbJlH7JI%3d&tabid=1413&portalid=0, “HCPSS promotes the mental health and wellness of each of our students to develop their unique strengths, abilities, and characteristics towards success and well-being.” https://www.hcpss.org/supports/mental-health-wellness/; “Mental health concerns are a priority for Martirano.” https://www.baltimoresun.com/maryland/howard/columbia/ph-ho-cf-social-workers-0215-story.html),
  • Less parents and students involvement (https://poverty.ucdavis.edu/policy-brief/school-closures-and-redistricting-can-reproduce-educational-inequality, second paragraph under section “Impact on Disadvantaged Families”),)

6.      The plan does not demonstrate clear benefits to students

  • “It is not clear from the research available today that socioeconomic integration alone would produce the hoped-for gains on the academic side of the integration equation”. https://www.future-ed.org/a-reality-check-on-the-benefits-of-economic-integration/

7.      The plan is against Dr. Martirano and BOE’s own statement and priorities

  • “children must be at the center of all decision-making”  (https://www.hcpss.org/, scroll down to the bottom under section “Superintendent” )
  • Mental health concerns is a priority for the Superintendent (https://www.baltimoresun.com/maryland/howard/columbia/ph-ho-cf-social-workers-0215-story.html),
  •  “HCPSS promotes the mental health and wellness of each of our students to develop their unique strengths, abilities, and characteristics towards success and well-being.” (https://www.hcpss.org/supports/mental-health-wellness/),
  • BOE’s commitment to promote family and community involvement (https://www.hcpss.org/about-us/handbook/involvement/))

8.      USDA does not recommend FARM data to be used in isolation for determining the socioeconomic status of a student (https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED569416).

  • The use of the FARM ratio as a leading factor in the redistricting efforts does not provide actual resources to students (This redistricting plan does not directly address Maryland’s seven recommendations https://wamu.org/story/19/06/14/marylands-new-education-formula-is-being-hailed-as-a-breakthrough-is-it-too-soon/).

9.      The proposal lacks a cost analysis, and could result in an even deeper budget shortfall.

  • The BOE has already surplused many teachers to balance the fiscal year 2020 budget (https://www.baltimoresun.com/maryland/howard/ph-ho-cf-schools-budget-work-session-0606-story.html),
  • Talbot Springs ES replacement – from SY2022 to SY2027
    Hammond HS renovation and addition – from SY2023 to SY2026 (https://go.boarddocs.com/mabe/hcpssmd/Board.nsf/files/BBYRJY6E4AC8/$file/05%2008%202019%20Budget%20Work%20Session%20Documentss.pdf. https://news.hcpss.org/news-posts/2019/09/superintendent-presents-fy2021-capital-budget-proposals/ )

10.   There are alternative solutions:

  • Directly address over-capacity issue first,
  • Set up buddy school system,
  • Use the additional transportation cost to provide more resources directly to students in need
  • Utilize evidence-based programs to help close achievement gaps

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