Kathleen V. Hanks

From: Peihua Jiang Sent: Tuesday, August 27, 2019 11:36 AM To: Hcpss Redistricting Subject: [External] opposing Superintendent's Recommended AttendanceArea Adjustment Plan

To whom it may concern,

1 am writing to express my concerns aboutthe superintendent's plan for redistncting I live in Polygon 1189. Though theplan does not seem to affect me much. ] am deeply concerned about the whole process and the misconceived proposal by Dr Martirano for the following reasons: 1. Community cohesion. Moving move than 7, 000children istoo disruptive andradical. On top ofthat, who to move and which school to move seem illogical, unfair, andnot well planned. In contrast the study conducted byIhe school board (feasibility stLidypaid bytaxpayer's money) provided reasonable andnot too dismptive options for solving over- crowding issue in HCPSS. We spent time, effort and money to conduct such a study. It appeared that it was well-received by the community, why should we abandon such a proposal?

2 Educationfirst. In hisproposal. Dr. Martiranoemphasized that equity is theunderpinning for hisstrategic call to actionand guides his decisions and strategies. His argament is thatall^students may haveaccess andopportunity to receivethe best educational serviceand sappons. I supportthis. However, I don't seethat simpiy shufflingstudents will make all students having full accessto the bestediicational sen/icesand supports. My understandingis thai all schoolshave the same or similar resources Howcome redistricting will help students'-" Ifwe really wantto help FARM students, weshould bemore creative than simple andarbitran, 'reshuffling withsuch negative impact for many communities in Howard Countv.

3. Stability. Howard County has been consiantly redistncting, which invokes a great deal ofstress andfrustration. Wcjust did this two years ago. Now, again. I^ighschool #13 will open in a couple ofyears. Do we needto havethis redistricting again?How this will impact ourstudents and families'?We need to havelong-term vision andplan, not the misconceived plan by the superintendent. Furthermore, howcomes this is so drasticallydifferent from the feasibilitystudy (I supposethis is doneby a reputableagency) I hopethat the HowardCounty Boardof education will considerthe negative impactthis would haveon all familyand vote againstthe proposal.

Thank yoii,

Best regards,

Peihua Kathleen V. Hanks

From: H Ho13009 Sent: Tuesday, August 27, 2019 11:35 AM To: Hcpss Redistricting Subject: [External] Redistricting proposal is a huge burden with no evidence to support success in equity

Dear BOE members,

I readthe new redistricting proposal carefully. I appreciate the goal ofEquity in Action but failed to seeany evidence to support this will actually achieve real equity. It is a huge Action that will impact lots of students. My son will be sentto a school muchfarther than his current school. Canthe Superintendent showus a piece of evidence that it will benefit all students eventually in this school district? Who gavehim the right to shuffle around families and students just to show some good numbers on paper based on his definition ofequity? Does he really care about real benefits to all kids and families? If so I would like to see solid evidence for some real benefits from his proposed move. All families impacted are entitled to see evidence how this will benefit the school district. Thanks.

Best, Hong Kan polygon 1186 Mr. Mit'h'. K'l M'. 'ir'iiriliin.

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From: Chandra Nanjappa Sent: Tuesday, August 27, 2019 11:28 AM To: Hcpss Redistricting Subject: [External] redistricting proposal - Opposition

I am a resident of Howard County living in Polygon area -176. 1 am writing today to express my concerns regarding your redistricting proposal. I am concerned that the proposal that is recommended did not follow the due process ofopen communication, public hearing and feedback ; also not sure why the options provided by the county hired and paid for consultants over the summer which followed the process was put by the wayside. These are public schools that are funded by tax paying Howard county citizens and such decisions impacting families across the county should be made with adequate feedback following democratic structure.

Redistricting should also be based on proximity to school to help with kidsand parents with travel time. With new proposed plan, board has overlooked the basic principal of getting the kids to and from school. In our case, We live 1 mile from RHHS, and we are being redistricted to WLHSwhich is 6. 3 miles from our house. We must passthrough RHHS andtravel 5 times more than our present travel time whichalso mean county must spent5 times more ontransport expenses.

Board also has not taking the effect of redistricting on kids in the middle of high school years. It does not make any sense to move the kids that are near to RHHS to WLHS and vice versa impacting kids from both schools and at additional expensesto county. Boardsfirst preference should be kids and not new experimentation.

Also, just 2 years ago the Jump Start program was introduced in the county to solve some of the high school issues and Equity related concerns. There are quite a few kids already coming to RHHSand RHHS kidsgoing to other schools to get their course work completed. There is no mention ofthis program in the proposal and how many kidsare distributed from it.

Some of our major concerns:

1. Due to proximity:

. Kids spend more time on unnecessary travel wasting their valuable time . Less time for sleep and may not be able to concentrate on studies . Less time for study and it may affect their grade and future prospect in life . May not be able to take part in after school activities like sports effecting their physical condition . May not be able to take part in club and extra-curricular activities effecting their social behavior . County must pay more towards transportation which is already in debt. We should be planning to save money and not wastingon experimentation, causing adverse effect on kids.

2. Redistricting in the middle of high school:

. Separating the kids from their friends that were made over the years will impact them psychologically. . Affects kids sports asthey need to play with new teammates/team. This may affect their interest with sports. . Affects kids who are participating in other club and extra-curricularactivities. . Changing the environment in the middle of all this would negatively set the kids backto a great extent. . We came acrossa studywhere redistricting increase in kidsschool dropout and boardshould pay more attention to these studies and basic needs of kids first. As a voting citizen of Howard County, we do not support this proposal to disrupt the lives of our children and residents. Please considerthis as our feedbackto the proposal.

Thank you for your service and hope you consider our request.

Chandra Nanjappa (Residents of HC) Jennv.liane # 1028 Dear BOB members.

n. w'. it"1gto exPrcss mv serioiis concerns about (lie scliool redistrictiiig proposal, recommended to BOE by Dr. Michael J. Martirano, the superintendent of Howard Countv Public School System, on August 22, 2019. I'm writingthis letter as a parentof a 1 ICPSSstudent who has lived in Howard County for over 15 years.

My main concerns about the proposal by Dr. Manirano are: '['lie proposal unnecessarily adds travel distance and time for some stiidents. vvitliout alleviating overcrowding at their scliools. Specifically, the proposal calls for moving over 200 students from Clarksville Middle School (CMS) to Harpers Choice Middle School (HCMS). while sending 87 students in the opposite direction Bothschools arewell withinthe target iitilization rateset by HCPSS. and swapping students between the two scliools will add typically 4-5 miles and at least 20 min ol'travel for each stucfent^nvolved on a daily basis. This puts undue burdens on students, families, and the community. The added travel distance will have negative impacts on traffic, 1 IC'PSS budget. public health and the climate. The proposed move of over 200 students from CMS to HCMS will require an estimated 1000 student*mile of additional travel provided by school buses every school day, or roughly 30 additional miles on school buses per day. Tliis would add -1200 gallons in fuel consumptioii and several thousaiid dollars in fuel costs every year, not to mention additional costs for drivers and maintenance. In addition, school buses are kiioivn to be s of air The additional Pollutants- travel would add over 18, 000,()00 of .18.':"2",tfl micrograms PM2. 5 (fine particle) per year to the air we breathe. Tlie toxic PM2. 5 is the niimber one polliitaiit that harms airqiiality and hiinian healtli in Maryland, and is strongly correlated with premature deaths. On top of that. the additional greenhouse gas emissions vviil have neeative. irreversible impacts on the climate.

The proposal will fractiire thecommunity and disrupt community continuity. Tlie stiidents proposed lo be moved froin CMS to HCMS all attend Clarksville Elementary School (CES). Withthe proposed move, CESwill feed intotwo middle schoolsand this will undoubtedly disrupt friendsliips and social and emotional support networks formed between CES students and families Thiscan have significant, negative iinpact. s on ihemental liealtliof students as they ;rovv into teenagers.

I understand the of importance diversity and eqiiity and support reasonable. sensible approaches to balancethe student population at different schools. But 'I feel that it is iitterlv uiifair'to^biis' stiidents aroundjust to achieveihis goal, withoiit considering any otlier factors or allevialiiig overcrowding at schools. I strongly urge tliat ROE members'carefullv consider all factors els' stated in HCPSS policy during the deliberate process and reject this unbalanced, one-sided redistricting proposal.

Thank you for your consideration. Regards.

Jenny Jiang Kathleen V. Hanks

From: Vivek Subramaniam Sent: Tuesday, August 27, 2019 11:26 AM To: Hcpss Redistricting Subject: [External] Proposed redistricting plan

Dear members of the Howard County Board of Education,

I am writing to you express my disappointment and frustration over the proposed plan to redistrict schools in our county. This plan, which I am sure was well thought out and supported by research, does not take into account the physicaland emotional stress it placesnot onlyon the students attendingthe public schools, but also on the parents.As a parent, we spent a considerable amount oftime and resources in ensuringthat we reside in an area wherethe schools are excellent in terms of education and extracurricular activities. Another key determinant was the distance from the physical location of the school. Uprooting children who are 5-10 minutes away from the schools and shuttling them around for 20+ minutes each day causesa significantamount of stress and significantly impacts their involvement in after school activities. Secondly, uprooting children and changing schools mid-term disturbs life-long friendships they have built with their schoolmates.

The current redistricting plan misses the mark on these two very significant aspects, along with other difficulties such as overcrowding, increased traffic during school hours, and impacting continuity of educational institutions amongst siblings.

I sincerely hope this plan is reconsidered and better alternative is provided with significant input from citizens of the community.

Thanks

VivekSubramaniam

5306 Catalpa Court Ellicott City MD 21042 Kathleen V. Hanks

From: Leo Sent: Tuesday, August 27, 2019 11:26 AM To: Hcpss Redistricting Subject: [External] I'm opposing the superintendent's redistricting plan

Leo Du Polygon#176

Dear BoE, Im opposed to this redistricting plan for a multitude of reasons. The plan will cause people in some polygons to drive for an unreasonably long amount of time. For example, as I'm sure you know, the polygon 176 in which I live is around a 5-minute drive to River Hill High School, which is my current school. If the plan goes through, I will be redistricted to Wilde Lake High School, which is a 20-minute drive and for a novice driver could be potentially unsafe. The plan will also separate several friend groups, whichhave been together for a potentially long amount oftime, apart even though there should be no reason for their polygons to get redistricted.

Thanks for reading, Leo Du Kathleen V. Hanks

From: Xiufen Sui Sent: Tuesday, August 27, 2019 11:24 AM To: Hcpss Redistricting Subject: [External] Objection to the redistribution proposal

Dear BOE members,

This is Xiufen Sui. I am living at Trotter rd, Clarksville. Our polygon # is 1186. I have to say the superintendent has no common sense to propose this redistribution plan. I have been living at Clarksville for more than 10years. We spent a lot oftime to choose a place to live and atthe same time to give our children and ourselves most convenient to go to school and work. Unfortunately this redistribution plan will mess up everything. We have to go to opposite direction to send kids to school and then goto work. And my daughter need go to an after school Ballet Academyto practiceright after school finished. Weagain have to driveopposite directionto pickupher and the class starts at4:00pm. We won't even have enough time to make it. My daughter loves ballet. We are fully support her to pursue her dream. She is an internationally awarded ballerina. I hope you could help us to make it possible for herto keep this training by not making significant changes to our life. We voted for you to make our life better, but not mess up our life. Please stop him doing this!

Thanks for your attention!

Regards, Xiufen

Sent from my iPhone letter to BOE Dear Board of Education

I live in Clarks Glen Community In Clarksville, polygon # 1189. I was very upset with the proposed school redistricting proposal raised up by superintendent Michael ]. Martirano. I have below voice want to be heard :

1. Our county already run deep deficits with our education system, we even see a 34% hike in terms of fire and rescue tax this year, extra busing students from one neighbor-hood to another will further elevate the problem, who will be responsible for extra budget. His proposal does not make economic sense to our county budget system.

2. In our online survey summary results published in ]une, question 5 list the 3 MOST important for consideration for boundary review proces and they are keeping feeds of students together from one school to the next, maintaining contiguous communities and transportation considerations, but the superintendent's proposal not only did not address any of the feedback concern, but on the contrary will make the three MOST important factor very worse in nature. I don't see a fit of our superintendent s work together community integrity. the community is breaking up if his plan was carried out.

Please stop superintendent's proposal from carrying out. thanks

Kimbol Zhang 6420 Shannon Ct, Clarksville, MD 21029

Page 1 Kathleen V. Hanks

From: Jasleen Bajaj Sent: Tuesday, August 27, 2019 11:14 AM To: Hcpss Redistricting Subject: [External] HCPSS Redistricting Proposal

Dear Board of Education.

I am writing to you out of concern if this new redistributing proposal. We have recently move to Walnut Creek area and love the sense of community we have with our neighbors. Redistricting on the basis of FARM Scores is unjust to everyone. It isn't tackling the problem but redistributing it essentially. It is unwarranted to make our children move from a underpopulated school ( RiverHill)to an overcrowded school (Wilde-Lake). In addition, the commute time would double whichhighly impacts high-school children's performance, extra- curricular activities and the ability of parents to reach their children in case of emergencies. Lastly, we strongly urge you to reconsider this proposal due to the fact that this process will be repeat itself in 2023 and more students will get displaced. Thank you.

Dr. Jasleen Bedi

Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone Dear Board of Education Members,

I am writing here to express my extreme disappointment over the recently proposed school redistricting plan by the School Superintendent. I was in shock when I saw this massive plan by sending 7000 students off in different directions throughout the county!

1. Distance, sleep deorivation and safety: We live at polygon 3176. According to this proposal, we will be moved from River Hill High School (RHHS) to Wilde Lake High School (WLHS). We are only 1. 5 mile/ 5 minutes drive from RHHS, while WLHS is 4 miles /15 minutes away (nearly tripled!). Everyday, we will have to drive past RHHS to go to WLHS! With the morning traffic, the drive to RHHS is 15-20 minutes. In contrast, the drive to WLHS can easily take 35-40 minutes during rush hour. Can you imagine those sleep deprived high school kids losing more sleep to just make the FARM numbers look "better"? By shuffling them to much further away school would make it harder for them to participate in after school sports and activities, and tougher for working parents to drive them around. They could use the wasted time behind the wheels to get more sleep or study more. Needless to say, longer commute would also increase the car-related incidences for high school drivers!

2. School capacity: Feasibility Study indicates that RHHS is within Target Utilization through the 10 year projection period of the study. It doesn't make sense to move 478 students out, then 741 students into a school at 94% capacity. This is extremely disruptive and unnecessary! This massive move will separate neighbors and friends, and destroy the continuity of our community. Instead of moving 1200 students around, wouldn't it be more efficient and economical to keep the current students in River Hill while receive more students from nearby schools such as Wilde Lake? Wouldn't it make better sense to save the $60K busing cost on music programs and other educational resources? Speaking of budget, It really hurts to see $400K was wasted on external consultants for option 2 redistricting plan, which was abandoned thereafter and replaced with the new proposal in a month!

3. Equity: A better way to address the equity issue would be to add educational resources to the schools at needs or share what River Hill School has to offer without uprooting existing families. To manipulate the FARM ratios by hiding the students and averaging them out is not a true solution. And to reach this goal by sacrificing the opportunities in education for other students is unethical!

4. Negative psychological impact: Many studies have shown that youth who switch schools are more likely to demonstrate a wide array of negative behavior and educational outcomes, including dropping out of high school. The new proposal may cause psychological stress on the students who are forced to switch schools. A reasonable plan should aim to minimize the numbers of students involved in switching. Howard County's school system has been a primary driver for us to move to this area. With the new high school #13 coming in two years, I hope that you can put off the redistricting plan or conduct it at a much smaller scale with minimal disruption.

Thanks for your consideration!

Sincerely,

Linglei Ma Polygon3176 August 27, 2019

Dear Board Members,

I am writing to express my disappointment. We moved to Howard County 6 years ago, with our then 10 month old baby. We now have two kids, both of which will be elementary school age when this redistricting takes effect. My husband grew up in Howard County and attended Stephens Forest ES, and he loves this county. I grew up in Montgomery County. We never once in my 13 years of education were redistricted. I knowthat HowardCounty does not haveas much money, butstill the developers are somehow building. In Ellicott City, I strongly believethat the landat 8510High RidgeRd, Ellicott City, MD 21043 needsto beturned backinto an elementary school asit once was.The county alreadyowns the land, if the building is old knock it down and rebuild. But we need that school reopened. Thisplan would split our neighborhood downthe middle. Kidswould growup not knowingtheir neighbors, creatingtwo separate communities withinthe boundariesof one neighborhood. Ifyou need to redraw the lines, they should be completely redrawn so that neighborhoods stay together. My daughter has already formed bonds with classmates. I think about that and I know that as a child growing up, there were a few years in elementary school during which my parents were going through a divorce. Thecounselor at my elementary school wassuch a brightspot for me duringthose difficult years. It is not fair to disrupt children and move them to different schools, you don't know what major changes they could already be going through in their lives. Maybe school isthe only stable thing they have?

We came here for the schools. We picked our neighborhood based on the wonderful sense of community. One ofthe thingsthat attracted usto this community wasthat StJohns Lane elementary school is right outside the neighborhood. We are a two-parent working family. But I am able to work at home 3 daysa week. I love that I wasable to go into the classroom to volunteer duringmy lunch break every so often. I would not be able to participate like this if my daughter is moved to Manor Woods, it's too far. With distance being a major issue, this new plan would make it harder for working parents to participate in their children's school activities.

All children deserve a stable schoolenvironment. I hopeyou will takethese thoughts into consideration.

Sincerely,

Kristin Yakas

Polygon 1159 Kathleen V. Hanks

From: Susan Ludeman Besok Sent: Tuesday, August 27, 2019 10:56 AM To: Hcpss Redistricting Subject: [External] OPPOSED TO REDISTRICTING

Dear Sir,

With regard to the issues at hand..... has anyone thought about the impact that redistricting will cause for our austistic students and special needs children? These individuals need structure and routine. Moving them out of their "normal" known schools isjust beyond upsetting/frustrating/incomprehensible. With alldue respect, this proposal is one of the worst ever to be considered. We love our county and we chose to move here because of what it offers, why would you upset so many people by making this change? Of course, minor changesshould be made to accommodate specific issues, but to turn over and change upthe ENTIRE way we currently do things is absolutely absurd. What will the backfire be should all ofthis'be a complete failure, which it will? We have enough issues to deal with at hand, rather than something so important as school redistricting. Our tax dollars need to be applied to things in need, not new structure that isn't needed with costs of buses, fuel, longer rides - this list goes on and on. I begyou to abandon this idea/proposal. Please open your minds and take more into consideration. Family impacts for children who live close to schools so that kids can walk. Many children will NOT be able to walk to school as they will live too far away. I see NOgood coming of any of this.

We are grateful for our representatives, but please put your efforts into other projects. This is goingto be a disaster in the end.

Sincerely,

THE BESOK FAMILY BUCKSKIN LAKE DRIVE CONCERNED FAMILY HOWARD COUNTY Kathleen V. Hanks

From: Amanda Clifton Sent: Tuesday, August 27, 2019 10:43 AM To: cbball@howardcountymd. gov; Hcpss Redistricting; Superintendent; councilmailOhowardcountymd.gov; katiefry. [email protected]. md.us Subject: [External] Redistricting Proposal 2020-2021 School Year

Good Morning, No doubtyou've receivedmany e-mails echoing the communities concernsover the proposed redistricting. As a parent ofchildren who currently andwill be in the next yearjoining the Howard County Public School System, I'd like to express my opposition to this decision. After thoroughly reading the multiple studies I have grave concerns over the reality ofimplementation andwhat that means for our children. Many childrenare looking at hour plus bus rides, being separated from friendships they've cultivated over the years and the potential to be unable to participate in after school activities due to these bus rides. Shortly i'll be faced with two childrenon opposing sidesof the county. Asa workingparent, it isnear impossible forme to meetmy work hourobligations andretrieve my childrenfrom school activities withinthe limited time aftercare provides. I will most certainly befrequently facedwith paying Howard County Parksand Recreation feesfor late pickups in order to accommodate my children or I will have to explain to my employer why I canno longer work the hours I was hired for, putting me in a true situation between being able to financially provide for my children and getting them to and from school. Beyond my own personal issues, how does HCPSS plan to plan for the additional bus drivers? From personal experience, CDLdrivers are not in abundance. I myself used to have to searchquite vigorously to staffdrivers formy retirement community. Givenall ofthis, I thinkthis proposal seems haphazard and ill advised.

A thousand percent I believe that this entire community believes all children should be provided a quality education but the truth is, this redistricting amounts to no more than shuffling kids to improve our statistics. In no way does it actually address the heart ofthe problem which is that Howard County has a poverty issue and schools who are underperforming for a multitude ofreason. Redistricting is not going to fix this. Dr. Martirano cannot argue that we are shuffling for better education if in the nextbreath he is goingto say all our schools are equal in level ofeducation. Thatis absolutely incorrect orthis wouldn't bean issue. Ifs contradictory andto me speaks to the fact that we are refusing to address that certain schools do need more help and do require additionalresources. That'sa bigshame HCPSS for not wantingto actually fixthings. 'It'seasier to burythe problem in a spreadsheet andcount us heros for making it look like we've actually done something to improve the poverty issue.

I will not stand for a proposal that impacts thousands of students lives and not for the better. I won't allow anyone onthis e-mail to make a reckless decisionthat hurts communities andstudents futures becauseyou do want to put in the hard work to actually help those kids struggling. Nope for you it's simply easier to spread the peas out on theplate to look like you've actually made animpact andthat is unacceptable. Howard County has to acknowledge the need to pour resources into helping the students in the schools that need it the most. You need to redistrict because wecontinued to allow community after community after community to crop up without proper planning? Then redistrict in a manner thatmakes geographical sense rather than forcing our childrenup in the wee hours of the morning only to returnlate and forego things that allow children to grow themselves such as sports, music programs, dance lesson. They are only children for so long before they will bethrust into the real adult world where they are faced with debt, work obligations and adult struggles oftheir own. Please don't rob them of hours to be children because of anill devised redistricting planwhich takes a minimum of2 hours ifnot more from theirdays on bus rides. Remember that at present you are now talking to adults who currently can and high school seniors who will be ableto vote in the next election. This will showthem wheretheir leaders stand onpromises andvalues in community. Beyond that, many of our children will be able to remember this well into the point they can vote. With the fact another High School will be added in 2023, 1 think it is more advisable to take a geographical and logical approachto current needsto relieve overcrowding in schools while thinking future forward onhow Howard County canalleviate overcrowding without adversely impacting student andparent lives. I sincerely hope you will consider the vast opposition to this plan andtruly instead invest in making a better choice for communities and students with your final proposal.

Sincerely, Amanda Clifton Kathleen V. Hanks

From: Chris Martin Sent: Tuesday, August 27, 2019 10:33 AM To: Hcpss Redistricting Subject: [External; Feasibility and use of Boe campus

2 points on HS redistrict proposal

.l. )-please<:;onsidermovmga11 staffa"d Programs at BOB (including homewood) to underutilized buildings in we$teml:ounty:. Thisis the logical way to. t:orrectthe error ofwestern county underutilization due to expansion ofschool capicityfor wealthycounty residents. Are younot consideringthis because that move istoo difficult andinconvement forcentral officestaff? Hmmmm. thatis how the communities youare forcing to move to new^schools feel only more so because the impact is on kids. Moving students to a new schooTat Boe/homewood site would be easier due to its more eastern location. 2) recentproposal from superintendent isn'tthe same as one of two options in feasibility study (highly different forAtholton HS and perhaps others). Membersof community look at the feasible options to make decisions. Proposinga somewhatradically different option 2-3 months prior to adoption is bad policy and will see greater resistance than adopting a pre-published feasible plan. Suggestion:^Before next border change - sendout a survey... askcommunity whatchanges they want or what's important about their school and try to honor the results ofthe survey.. not arbitrary utilization numbers.

Chris Martin Kathleen V. Hanks

From: Sandra Sent: Tuesday, August 27, 2019 10:13 AM To: Hcpss Redistricting Subject: [External] HCPSS Redistricting Proposal

Dear Howard County Board ofEducation, Weare writing to voice ourconcerns withthe HCPSSredistricting proposal. ^! ?^reunt!_whoa!'e ;ictivei!1 PTSA: athletic P. rogramsand Boosters programs, we'vespent many years working forthe betterment ofour school andcommunity. Removing familiesfrom their schools disregards the countless rsoftimeand energy they've to their schools. The h?u, put in proposed plan essentially disassanbles'the support of these schools and forces it to start their programs from scratch. Andon behalf of our neighbors and friends being redistricted to schoolsacross the county, we are concerned for their well-being and their communities. Your proposal divides them and removes them from their neighborhoods, places of business and social structures. . ?^.ch001^extremely imPorta"tto a studentas they start to navigate the journey intoSAT's and preparing to apply to colleges^Uprooting these students forces them to abandon the relationships with their teachers. administrators, coaches and colleagues at a critical time in their high school career. The BOE voted last year anddecided NOT TO REDISTRICTuntil HS13 wasbuilt. Nowwe have been presenteda planthat uproots most of Howard County. There must be other ways to solvethe inequities'in our county to ensure thatALL Howard County students receive thetop-notch education they deserve. We rcspect. yurge, youto c:onsiderthe real-world county-wide negativeimpact that this plan (or anything like it in the future) will haveon the students ofHoward County.

Regards,

Bruce and Sandra Barton Kathleen V. Hanks

From: Shannon Sent: Tuesday, August 27, 2019 10:04 AM To: Hcpss Redistricting Subject: [External] Thank you

Thank you for your thoughtful approach and plan, Dr. Martirano. I hope the BOE is able to drown out the static andrhetoric thatwill definitely beamplified the closer it getsto November andapprove this plan as submitted as it goes a long way in addressing several critical issues. While this won't be the last time HCPSS has to wrestlewith redistricting, this could be the prime opportunity to showall ofHoward County that h~ can" be done thoughtfully, quickly and in the best interests of children and families. WhIe children areresilient andneed chances to makechange while having lots ofadult support, onerequest is to pleaseexempt rising Juniors and Seniors from the plan as this will allowthem the opportunity to focuson theirfuture withoutstress and to maintaintheir established relationships thatcan help guideand propel themto their post high school opportunity.

Thanks again,

Shannon Campbell

Sent from my iPhone Kathleen V. Hanks

From: ALPA VASHIST Sent: Tuesday, August 27, 2019 9:54 AM To: Hcpss Redistricting Subject: [External] appeal

Respected Board of education members,

I hope my email finds you well. I am writing today to express my concerns regarding your redistricting proposal. I have reviewed your live presentation, the proposal document, the prior feasibility study documents and also watcheda video ofyour comments regardingthe process to a group ofconcerned parents and students. We moved to Howard county from St. Louis to provide stability, diversity and good education to our kids. With my commute to work to DC It is already a big challenge for us to drive around kids to all different afterschool programs and activities .

I wishto expressthree concerns I have with the hope that you will considerthese as inputs to your consideration process as you continue to refine the proposal and seek board adoption.

First, I am very concerned that a significant component of the proper community comment period has been skipped by the eventuality ofthis proposal timeline. There are multiple phases to this process and as you know, the phases for open community comment - which are very valuable in shaping the process - ended last month. The next phasewill focus only on specific localized feedback (community members not part of specific affected areas are DENIED the opportunity to comment) and is structured to address details and not the full structure of the proposal. In a situation where your proposal includes minor adjustments to the original studies/proposals this makes sense - an initial feasibility study, open comment period, tweaks, refined comment periods, voting. However this does not describe your proposal - which you yourself characterize as "dramatically different" from the original studies in your submission. This "dramatic difference" means that the open comment periods were based on plans not similar in any regard to the proposal now in front of the board. This proposal is not a simple refinement and as such the new proposal is different enough that it requires a full reset to provide community comment on its overall structure. I would encourage you to consider evaluating whether it is fair, equitable and follows due process to submit this dramatic change in proposal AFTER full and open public comment periods are closed.

Second, I am concerned that the adjusted proposal does not contain sufficient analysis and detail on the impacts of the proposal to future expenses such as busing. With regard to school district expenses, which are a burdenplaced on the entire community (who are robbed ofthe opportunity to comment on this proposal), the new proposal does not address what the impacts will be of the much-extended bus routes that can be surmised from a review ofthe newboundary line maps. It also doesn't address the health andsafety impacts ofso many additional miles of busing, nor the impacts to the school district's green initiatives to reduce pollution - which this proposal will certainly be counter to. It also does not properly describethe impacts ofthe changes to the overall budget ofthe district, which we have been informed is already so severely strained that music and after school activities across the county had to be cut this year. Finally, with regardto the students andtheir families, the additional distancesinvolved embody additional expenses in gas, vehicle maintenance, loss ofjob time and related effects. The proposal suggests imposing these additional costs onFARM students who arean extremely cost sensitive segment ofour community. I do not believe the proposal, rushed as it is and without adequate time for public comment, properly addresses the significant financial burdensplaced onthese FARM students andtheir families by shiftingthem around the community into furtheraway schools. Parentswho already cannotmake endsmeet andwho struggle with multiple jobs do not need the added burden ofa25+ minute commute to attend their child's sporting event or bandperformance in a strange part oftown. The commute both ways is certainly impactful to the student's abilityto complete school workand engage in positive activities outsidethe school day- andyet this proposal forces ourFARM students, whoneed our support, to sufferthese impacts on a dailybasis. This is an area that requires furtherreview and study, which is notproperly addressedin yourproposal asit standstoday. I apologize for the long letter but I do hope you take these points into consideration as we are all focused on having a strong, successful school district for years to come.

Thanks,

Alpa Vashist Resident and Parent" Kathleen V. Hanks

From: Sara Benjamin Sent: Tuesday, August 27, 2019 9:49 AM To: Hcpss Redistricting Subject: [External] written testimony

I sentthis to thegeneral BOEbox a fewdays ago and I wastold thattestimony wasonly acceptedat the redistricting email, so I am resending here.

1 am writing in support ofthe superintendent's plan. I think that it is a good start in making the schools more economically diverse. I would hope that long term this could continue so thateach school could represent the diversity ofthe County. I am in area 56 and this plan also provides a larger feed from our elementary school to a middle school. I hope that the board can stand strong against those who feel entitled to keeping their communities elitist and insular Theywill fighthard, I know,and the children who are most vulnerable haveless strong advocates. My thought is that if the schools are more equitable, in a few years these people will see that their worries are true short term. Thanks Sara E Benjamin 6662 Mohawk Ct Columbia 21046

Sara Kathleen V. Hanks

From: qianlee2011 (Sgmail. com Sent: Tuesday, August 27, 2019 9:17 AM To: Hcpss Redistricting Cc: Kelly Bu; Kelly Bu Subject: [External] Dr. Maturation.you cried with her that morning.

Qian Li( Polygon 176)

You cried with her that morning

(Please let us attend our neighborhoodhigh school)

We moved to Howard county three years ago as family of 5.

Two years ago when there was a proposal of redistrict of high school , I was kind of indifferent. Because I know nothing about our community , about our high school. even I truly didn't know that much about my family and my children . How many ofus as parents can say hey I truly know my kids?

But things have changed. River hill high has transformed my first born into that kind of young citizen every parent would be proud of, as a young caring responsible community leader.

You, Doctor Martirano helped shape her into that way.

That morning, you cried with her.

It was the dreadful morning that she insisted to go to high school even I asked her to stay home because I was worried she wouldn't be able to handle the situation. She was the manager of river hill high school. That past weekend, the team lost one of their teammate. She went to school, comfort everybody on the team even tried to talk to the teacher coachesbut finally she knew she couldn't hold it long so she found a classroom to sit down and cry. She cried her heart out. In the middle of her sorrow , she noticed somebody got into the classroom and sit on front of her. Silently but firmly. And cried with her. No words exchanged but only two hearts which are deep sorrowed but also so determined to rebuild our team , our high school, our community. That was you, as our superintendent, came to river hill high to show your support and your leadership. That was the day my daughter came back home and told us she wants to go back as a stronger manager to mange the team and be a caring leader just like you. Once a hawk, always a hawk, she told herself, and she encouraged all the teammates to come back stronger to honor that lost teammate. The best way was to win a state champion as the late teammate always thinks we deserve. Yet our track team finished another second place. Again.

My daughter was not upset. She knew she is going to college but her baby sister and brother will join the track team to reach that goal for her , for the team, for the rh high school, for the Clarksville community. She left her legacy to her siblings, she can't wait to know her baby siblings to get to know her old teammates and her favorite coaches. She truly believes our family would make rhh a better community and finish her dream for her and for all the people care about OUTteam and our community. That day she cried with you.

That day she found a role model from you.

That day she was determined to be a role model for her baby siblings and all the younger siblings who will be hawks in the future.

Please let her keep her legacy and let the to be hawks carry her dream and work for it.

That day, you cried with her, with us.

Please let us attend our local high school.

Sent from my iPhone Kathleen V. Hanks

From: AadvikVashist Sent: Tuesday, August 27, 2019 8:50 AM To: Hcpss Redistricting Subject: [External]

Dear Board of Education Members. 1m writing this letter to express my extreme disappointment over the proposed school redistricting plan by the School Superintendent tlie Attendance Area Adjustment Plan. dated August 20, 2019. ~ , ----. _.., Theproposal isnot just flawed butcompletely misses themark byfocusing onthe wrong goal. The goal ofany public school is to improve educational opportunities and outcomes for students. Not only doesthe redistricting remove opportunity, but it also increases the commute for students. For many families being redistricted, the drive to River Hill takes less than five minutes. Under this proposal, they will be forced to drive 20-25 minutes to Wilde Lake. This increased drive time will deeply impact sleep issues students faces nowadays- not able to get enough sleep- affect their learning. Also impact after school learning opportunities for children and generate work-life balance issues for the parents who take them to school. Somewill makethis proposal, andany associated protest aboutrace and thrive on dividing our community andcounty. I hopethat doesn't happen, asthis is notabout race or aboiit denymg underprivilegedchildren a greateducation: it isabout uprooting families and denying certain opportiinities to some while giving them to others. A better wayto address these issues would be to add resources to other schools or share what River Hill School has to offer- without unrootir existing families. As noted in the Executive Summaryon Page4, this proposal wasdeveloped withthree primary goals as excei-pted below: The driving priorities for this process: 1. Balance capacity utilization among schools throughout HCPSS. cost effectively. 2. Advance equityby addressingthe distribution ofstudents participating in theFree and Reduced price meals program (FARMs) across schools to the extent feasible. 3. Plan ahead for the High School #13 redistricting by minimizing double moves as much as possible. We havealso^studied and respect the piiblished policies whichthe Board ofEducation utilizes in making decisionswith regard to school attendance areas, specifically Policy 6010 (httI's://www. hcDssorg/Dolicies/6000/6010-school-attendance-areas/'l: Unfortunately, thePresentation ofAttendance AreaAdjustment Plan.dated August 20, 2019 is no!conslstent. with theguideli"es ofPolicy 6010 anddoes not achieve the three~'primary goals as stated hi Dr Martirano's letter. Please consider the following facts. School Attendance Area: SchoolAttendance areaand geographic proximity isa consideration ofPolicy 6010. The proposed redistricting ot'Polygon 176 would more than double the distance students travel to set to school. ^usmg. GoogleMaps'. wal""tcreek / polyg°" 176is 2. 1 Miles t-romRiver Hill HighSchool creek / poly80n 176 is 5-8 miles Irom Wilde Lake High School ,, l.tls);, nfa!^ul, (WLHS). ^ Using WAZE,tlie comniute time from Polygon 176to Wilde LakeHigh Schoolwould be 3x as long as the commute to River Hill High School. ^Inaddition, many of the students from Polygoil 176would have to drivethrough River Hill HighSchool bus and car traffic, en-route to Wilde LakeHigh School under the August 20. 2019 1 proposal. Capacity Utilization: Policy 6010 identifies three key aspects to school capacity which are (1) Projections [item P], (2) Target Utilization [item S] whichis definedas enrollment between 90% and 110%utilization of program capacity and (3) Utilization [item T]. The 2019Feasibility Study (https://www. hcDss. org/f/schooloIannine/2019/2019-feasibilitv- study. pdf) notes the following findings: 1. River Hill High School is projected to be at 94% Projecled Utilization for 2019/2020 school. This is at the lower end of the Target Utilization range. 2. Page33 ofthe Feasibility Study indicates that River Hill is within Target Utilization through the 10 year projection period of the study. 3. Under Dr Martirano's proposal, River Hill would send 478 students to other schools and receive 741 students from other schools. This is extremely disruptive and unnecessary for a school that is currently operating within each of guidelines [P], [S] and [T] of Policy 6010. 4. We believe the board should reject a plan which moves approximately 7, 400 total students including 478 students from River Hill High School which is currently operating within Board Policy guidelines with regard to Projections, Target Utilization and Utilization. 5. Webelieve anyre-districting proposal should instead befocused on those five High Schools that are operating above Target Utilization levels (110%). 6. We believe the Board of Education should support a plan that includes less disruption at schools that are operating within the guidelines of | P], (SJ and [T]. For instance, since River Hill High School is operating well withinthe target utilization range, perhaps it should receive students from nearbyschools such asWilde Lid

Equity: The very first sentence ofthe Policy Statement ol'HCPSS Policy 6010 is The Board of Education of Howard County, with the advice of the Superintendent, establishes school attendance areas to provide quality equitableeducational opportunities to all students andto balancethe capacity utilization of all scliools. Furthermore, "equitable" isdefined in thepolicy statement as: Justor fairaccess, opportunities, andsupports needed to helpstudents, families, and staff reach their full potential by'r'emoving baiTiers to success that individuals face. It does not mean equal or everyone having the same things. The Presentation ofthe Attendance Area Adjustment Plan dated August 20. 2019 is not consistent with the Board of Education Policy Statement 6010, nor does it follow the BoE's definitionof achieving "equitable" educational opportunities. Weliereby request the Board of Education identify ways to provide additional educational resources to the students in need. Transferring students from a school with a low FARM ratio to a school with a high FARM ratio. only results in better -averages" for the schools. IT DOES NOT PROVIDE ANY INC.REMENTAL EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES OR OPPORTIWITES DIRECTLY TO THE

In conclusion, we recommend the Board ofEducation reject the Presentation ofAttendance Area Adjustment Plan dated August 20. 2019 due to the numerous aiid serious inconsistencies wth" regard to both Policy 6010 and the stated goals of the proposal. - The proposal would triple the commuting time of students in Polygon 176 ^Manv affected schools including River Hill [ligh School areoperatiiig within the Boardof Education^projection, utilization andcapacity guidelinesand would experiencea tota] student transfer ofover 1, 000 children inclusive ofstudents being sent and received. Boundary adjustments should be focused on schools operating over capacity or projected to be over capacity based on the 2019 Feasibility study. - The proposal does not provide additional resources directly to students in need. it siinply provides more consistent FARM ratios across schools. Children do not need consistent FARM ratios, they need additional education resources provided directly to their schools.

Thank you,

Aadvik Vashist Proud resident of Howard County, Ml) Email to:

! IV^U^>i>.

Board of Education 10910C]arksvillePike EllicottCily. MD2I042

Dear BOE members,

1m writing to express my serious concerns aboiitthe school redistricting proposal, recomiTieiidcd to BOE by Dr. Michael J. Martirano, the superintendent of Howard County Public School System, on August 22, 2019. I'm writing this letter as a parent ol'a IICPSS student and as a citizen who has lived in Howard County for iiearly 10 years.

My main concerns aboiit the proposal by Dr. Martirano are:

Tlie proposal iinnecessarilv adds travel distance aiid time for SOITIC stiidents. witliout alleviatine overcrowding at their schonjs. Specifically. the proposal calls for inoving over 200 students [rom Clarksville Middle School (CMS) to Harpers Choice Middle School (HCMS). while sending 87 stiidents in the opposite direction. Both scliools are well within the target utilization rate set by HCPSS,and swappingstudents between tlw two schools will add typically 4-5 niiles and at least 20 min ol travel for each student involved on a daily basis. Tliis piits undue burdens 011 stiideiits, families, and the communitv.

The added travel distance will have neiiative impacts on traffic. HCI'SS budget, public health and the cliniate. The move of over 200 students from proposed CMS to HCMS ivill reqiiire an estimated 1000 student*mile ofadditional travel provided by school buses every schooldav. or roughly 30 additional miles on school buses per day. This would add -1200 gallons in fuel consumption and several thousand dollars in fuel costs every year. not to mention additional costs for drivers and maintenaiice. In addition, school buses are known to be big emitters of air pollutants. The additional travel ivoiild add over 18, 000, 000 micrograms ot'PM2. 5 (fine particle) per year to the air we breathe. The toxic PM2. 5 is tlie number oiie pollutant that harms airquality andhuinan health in Maryland, and is strongly correlated with premature deaths. On top ofthat. the additional greenhouse gas emissions will have negative, irreversible impacts on the climate. [lie proposal will fractiire the coinmunity and disrupt comniunitv continuity, Tlie students proposed to be inoved from CMS to HCMS all allencl Clarksville Elementary School (CES). With (lie proposed move. CES will feed into two middle sctiools and tliis will undoubtedlv disrupt friendsliips and social and emotional support networks formed between CES students and families. This can have significant, negative impacts on the mental health of students as Ihey grow into teenagers.

I understand tlie importance of diversity aiid equity aiid support reasonable. seiisible approaches to balancethe student population at different schools. But I feel that it is utterly iinfairto bus students around just to achieve this goal. ivithout considering any other factors or alleviating overcrowding at schools. I strongly urge tliat BOE meinbers carefully consider all factors as stated in HCPSS policy during the deliberate process and reject this unbalanced, one-sided redistricting proposal.

Tliank you for your consideration.

Regards, Can Li. Polygon 1028 Kathleen V. Hanks

From: Vivica Williams Sent: Tuesday, August 27, 2019 8:02 AM To: Hcpss Redistricting Subject: [External] Polygon 1200

Dear BOE, I am very upset about the proposed redistricting plan. I live on Greenberry Lane in Clarksville. We have been redistricted to Wild Lake HS. Wild Lake! Do you realize how difficult it is to drive there from where we live???? There are three ways to get there. 1) 32 to 108 to Harpers Farm to Twin Rivers (passes in front of River Hill), 2) 32 to Cedar Laneto Little PatuxentPwy to Harpers Farm to Twin Rivers (passes in front of Atholton), or 3) 32 to 29 to Broken Land Parkway, pass the Mall to Twin Rivers. Any ofthese routes are complicated, full of traffic lights, full of traffic, and take at least 30 min in the morning g rush hour. From where we live and our accesspoints, this proposal is incredibly dangerous and disruptive to students, parents, and our community.

Also, I am not sure if you realize this but we live in a close knit enclave, isolated to the North ofRt 32 at Linden Church Rd. This neighborhood consists ofBroadwater (Districted to Glenelg), Linden Church Rd, 12 Hills, and Greenberry Lane. We alway have been together. I would know, I have lived on Greenberry Lane for 44 years. This proposal would absolutely tear apart our community and is geographically bizarre.

Please put the best interests of our kids first. Displacingus to a school, frankly, horrifically difficult to get to, is not the answer.

Thank you,

Vivica Williams (443)710-5700

Sent from my iPhone Kathleen V. Hanks

From: Kyungsook Gartrell Sent: Tuesday, August 27, 2019 7:34 AM To: School Planning; Hcpss Redistricting; Superintendent Subject: [External] Fwd: Howard county redistricting proposal should not be implemented, POLYGON 1186

My polygon number is 1186 names are kyungsook gartrell, douglas gartrell

Best regards, Kyungsook Gartrell (C) 443-955-8326

Begin forwarded message: From: Kyungsook Gartrell Date: 8/26/2019 To: schoolplanning@hcpss. org, redistricting@hcpss. 04 Subject: Fwd: Howard county redistricting proposal should not be implemented

Begin forwarded message: From: Kyungsook Gartrell Date: 8/26/2019 To: supenntendent@, hcDss. orE, mavis_ellis@hcpss. org, kirsten_coombs@hcpss. org, vic ky_cutroneo@hcpss. org,christina delmont- small@hcpssorgjennifer_mallo@hcpss. org, sabina_taj@hcpss. org, chao_wu@hc pss. org, ewalsh@howardcountymd. gov, ojones@howardcountymd. gov,cngby@ho wardcountymd. gov, djung@howardcountymd. gov, dyungmann@howardcountymd

. gov, katiefry. hester@senate. state. md. us Cc: Kyungsook Gartrell , "Douglas M. Gartrell" Subject: Howard county redistricting proposal should not be implemented

Dear Mr. Martirano, Board of Education members, & Council members: I donot agreewith your newproposal that was presented onAugust 22, 2019: https://www. baltimoresun. com/marvland/howard/cne-ho-schools- redistrictine-recommendations-0822-20190822- rxprk5uf4zcqllhtmotuxe4i5i-storv. htm]

I do not think that it is based on rigorous studies and opinions from all parents and children who will get infliienced by your proposal. All our communities are very concerned about this irrational plan. Please hear all our voices from parents, children, and communities, who have to deal with this ordeal.

Pleasethink aboutthe disruption ofthe psychological well-beingof our children: separating from friends, complicating daily routines with nonsensical bus routes, unreasonable commuting time to panicipate in extra-curriculum, etc.

Please provide rigorous evidence that was studied, and potential adverse outcomes related to your plan. Your new proposal must be based on rigorous measures over time.

Better options to addressthe educational crisishave not been fully explored. The redistricting plan must be based on experts opinions, rigorous studies, parents and children opinions, and communities opinions.

Pleasebe transparent and rigorous asproposing a planby includingall opinions from parents, children, and communities who will be influenced.

Thank you! Kyungsook Gartrell

Clarksville Elementary School Parent The Redistricting Proposal

1. Is a tool for unwarranted upheaval 2. treats students as inevitable casualties on the battleground

Upon moving to Maryland, we identified Howard County as an outstanding school system and chose our residence after careful evaluation so that the school district we joined would share our values and principles to safeguard our children's education. Our criteria were academic rigor, the tradition of parental dedication and a bedrock community. This decision came with a personal and financial sacrifice which we accepted willingly and that would shape our future [in our case, the next 10 years). While we understand the importance ofredistricting to remedy capacity issues and ensure adequate resources, the latest recommendation is a sledgehammer: it causes irreparable harm on multiple fronts to achieve a level of data uniformity that appallingly masks weak performances and detracts from the need for substantive changes to improve all schools (especially those that are underperforming).

By reframing the need for redistricting as a need to achieve "equity" we diminish the importance of true improvements and present merely a facade of positive changes in our school system.

There is no urgency from a legal perspective and from a community perspective to justify such seismic changes. An incremental approach would allow a judicious assessment of the consequences of each change and lead to modifications that would be more readily accepted over time. Incorporating flexibility in planning would also bring more parents and students to buy-in to this decision.

Harms

Disruption of community fabric: each school and district is strengthened by the bonds of the students and families who share activities and interests. My son is not gregarious and has a few close friends. High school is a vulnerable time-especially for children who are not particularly skilled in making new friends. The loss of his relationships which have been cultivated over time will undermine his high school experience and likely academic performance. . Blatant disregardfor the deliberate choicesthat were made by families: In many cases, these sweeping changes will have an intensely negative impact on a segment of the population that will carry the burden of change that is *not* shared by the rest. It is incumbent to demonstrate concrete proof that an overall positive outcome has been achieved in order to justify this drastic reorganization. . Injustice to the student's desires: Ifmy child is passionate aboutbeing in a particular district in orderto challengehis intellect, it is his/herright to have that choice honored. We readily reward excellence in all fields with awardsand titles at every turn-why would we hypocritically discouragethis innate desire? This striving is the core to success. . Detrimental effects on students and parents: High school is a period of transition fraught with anxiety, high stress and sleep deprivation. As a primary care physician, I can attest to the deleterious effects of these changes (longer commutes, weakened social supports)and the correlation with increased depression and anxiety. . Neglectins root causes ofunderperformingschools/students . Environmental pollution- This will worsen with increased commute times and longer bus routes. As a primary carephysician I feel strongly that every individual hasthe right to accesshigh quality care. Ourpractice accepts all patients regardless of socioeconomic status, type of insurance or even lack thereof. I treat each individual based on his/hervalues and I avoid lumping patients into categories or makinggeneral assumptions in order to improve their overall health. Although I maynot always agree, I respect the decisions eachpatient makes because autonomy is a central tenet in my practice. I do not feel I have the right to impose mypersonal beliefs; instead I focus onproviding the best care I can to each individual. Myfamily and I have abidedby this philosophy which is beingtrampled upon bythe proposed redistricting plan. The school system hasbeen entrusted with the education and welfare ofevery child and should employ fairness in all of its actions. The Howard County school system must be held accountable for the proposed changes and the potential aftermath. For education, as in other fields that provide a valuable service (hospitals, health care, government programs), there should be clearly defined metrics besides just socioeconomic status and test scores that evaluate its performance in the delivery of our children's education. Only this level oftransparency and nuanced assessment can truly bolster our commitment to quality.

Let's support all of our students and not assume that they will "be fine" with these changes. Manyprogressive school systems nationwiderecognize the importance ofstudents' well-being [physical, psychological, and social) and have implemented changes accordingly: modifying school start and end times to minimize sleep deprivation, allowing mental health days, etc. In stark contrast, this proposed plan directly assails these priorities.

Since its inception in 2007, our community located in polygon 1199 has been historically assigned to River Hill H. S.The proposed redistricting plan expands the region assigned to Glenelg H. S. [including our polygon) to massively comic proportions with no obvious benefit to the general composition ofGlenelg. Our current bus route will inevitably be much longer whereas River Hill H. S. is significantlycloser. The proposed plan appears to target andimplode communities in the Atholton and River Hill area while leaving largely untouched other borderingregions (Centennial, Marriott's Ridge). This appears biased and the justification for these decisions needs to be elucidated for the general public. One suggestion to alleviate overcrowding until the new high school is built is to transport specific pockets that are over capacity to other schools that are under capacity even if it means crossing the county. It may be offered as a voluntary option for some congested areas as well. This action would still be overall less disruptive to the majority ofthe population.

Sincerely,

Kendra Kay

Polygon 1199 Kathleen V. Hanks

From: linglei ma Sent: Tuesday, August 27, 2019 2:02 AM To: Hcpss Redistricting Subject: [External]

Dear Board of Education Members,

extreme Lamr.^'!Ti9^he_reJ.o. e'

1. Distance, sleep deprivation and safety: We live at polygon 3176. According to this proposal, we will be movedfrom_Ri'/e'' HillH19h School (RHHS) to Wilde Lake High School (WLHS). We are only 1. 5 mile/5' m'nutesdrive, from RHHS;. whi!ewLHS. is 4 mi'es / 15 minutes away (nearly tripled!). Everyday, -we will have to drive past^RHHS to go to WLHS! With the morning traffic, the drive to RHH'S is 15-20 minutes'in'contrast'. 'the'' 35'40 ?!. re-ti°WLHSCan-easilytake. minutes d^rin9 rush hour can you imagine those sleep deprived high school kids losing more sleep to just make the FARM numbers look letter"?' By shuffling'them'to'muchTurther away. schoolwould make it harderfor them. to Participate in afterschool sports and activities, and'tougherfo'r' usw.o^,in9pare-ntsto drive them around'They c°"id use the wasted time behind the wheels to get~m°ore sleep or study. Needless to say, longer commute would also increase the car-related incidences-for-the~hiah"schoo7 drivers! 2:sch°°lcapacity:. Feas'.bil'tystudy irldicEltes that RHHS is within Target Utilization through the 10year doesn't prorie?ti°npenod ^f. the-stu. dy'Jt make sense to move 478 students out, then 741 s'tudents'into'a school at. 94%capacity' Th's is extremely disruptive and unnecessary! This massive move will separat'enei'ghbors i, and destroy the community's integrity. Instead of moving 1200 students around, wouldnTit'be" more efficient and economical to keepthe current students while receive more students from nearby schools such as WNdeLake? Wouldn't it be nice to save the extra $60Kof busing cost on education're'sour'ces~f'oi:~ hurtsto stuldent-s?. speak'n9-°fbud9et;"really see that $400K was wast"ed on externaTconsu'lta'nts~'fo'r option 2 plan, which was abandoned and replaced with the disruptive new proposal in one monthi' 3.^ Equity: A better way to address the equity issue would be to add educational resources to the schools at needs.or s:harewhatRlver, Hl"sch001 hasto. offerwithout UPro°ting existing families^To manipulate the FARM hiding the students and averaging them out is not a real solution. And to reach'thisaoalb'vsacrificir opportunities in education for other students is unethical! ^Negative psychological impact: Many studies have shown that youth who switch schools are more likely to -aw'de. array of ne9ative bshavior and educational outcomes, including dropping outof'hic il. The superintendent's proposal may cause psychological stress on'the students-who'lre~forceds'to switch schools. A reasonable redistricting plan should aim to minimize the number's'of'stu'dent's'involwd1' Howard County's school system has been a primary driver for us to move to this area. With the new hic chool-#1, 3 c°mirlg "1two yeare'1 hopethat you can haitthe redistrictingplan or conduct'it ata small "s'ca\e with

Thanks for your consideration!

Sincerely,

Linglei Ma Polygon 3176 Dear Members of BOE, Dr. Martirano, Mr. Ball, and Council Members.

We are Hong Zhou and Xiaomin Lin, from Polygon 3176. We have lived in Howard County since 1998. We have 2 sons, one isa graduate from Cedar LaneSchool, and the other an incoming junior at River Hill HS. The redistricting plan won't affect our boys, but we are still writing to you to voice our opposition to this plan.

The first goal ofthe redistricting isto balance capacity utilization, alleviate crowding. Our home school River Hill HS is under capacity, and the distancefrom our neighborhoodto River Hill HSis 4. 2 miles. Common sense would dictate no base to move our kidsto any other school but to keepthem in River Hill HS. But to everyone's surprise, instead of simply proposing moving in more students to RHHS, The redistricting plan calls to move out 478 RHHS students (202 RHHS students to Glenelg HS, 276 RHHS students to Wilde Lake HS), move in 741 students from other schools (96 students from Reservoir HS. 132 students from Wilde Lake, 513 students from Atholton HS) for the mere net increase of 263 students. Instead ofaffecting 263 students/families, this nonsensical plan isto disrupt the life of 1219 students/families, involving total 58 polygons. Anyone can see this plan is not solving the problem of crowding or under capacity, butcreating more problems suchas wasting precious resources on busing, dramatically increasing commute time and stress on students and families ofour neighborhood. The basicconcept for school districting is the close proximity from home to school, and it should be the guiding principle for redistricting aswell. Keeping our kids from Polygon 3176 in River Hill HSis the only sensible solution.

Second goal of the redistricting is to advance equity by addressing FARM distribution. FARM rate indicates students' household financial situation. Byaveraging out FARM rates ineach school, it only achieves the appearance ofequal household financial situation in each school, it does not help out students who use FARMprogram inany meaningful way. Programslike FARMactually helpout these students. BOEshould try to find real solutions like FARM program to help these students. Forexample, creating free after- school programs for students who uses FARM program, setting up funds for these students to use for certain academicenrichment programs, etc. Furthermore, using FARM rate as one criterion for achieve equity among schools is misconstrued at best. Wevalue education becausewe thinkgood education isthe only wayfor personal advancement in society. That meansone can overcome theircircumstance bydoing well in school. That meansfamily resources do not determine one's education and success. Using FARM rate in each school as an indicator for equity basically sends out the opposite message. We are for equity, but do not think addressing FARM distribution isthe wayto go. Therefore, we oppose your plan to move our kids based on this. The3rd goal of this redistricting isto preparefor newhigh school#13. Weare for it. Wemoved from Baltimore County to Howard County in 1998. One reason wasthat so our elder son could attend Cedar Lane School, the old Cedar LaneSchool in Harper's Choice Village. Another reason isto reduce Hong's commute time. These are the 2 most common reasons for families to decide where to live, good schoolsfor kidsand lesscommute time for parents. We hopeyou agreefamilies havethis rightto make this decision and their decisions honored and respected. Your redistricting plan seems to take awaythis rightfrom families. Asschool system officials,your goal should be to improve everyschool, to provide same opportunity to each kids, to achieve real equity for our kids. We don't see meaningful gains in your very disruptive redistricting plan. We oppose it strongly. Weencourage you to readall the communications from residents regardingthis redistricting plan, organize more community gatherings in every part of Howard County to hearout families. We hope you will come to a sensible conclusion which is to abandon this redistricting plan.

Best Regards,

Hong Zhou and Xiaomin Lin Kathleen V. Hanks

From: ChuanqingWu Sent: Monday, August 26, 2019 11:4S PM To: Hcpss Redistricting Subject: [External] Object HoCo Superintendent Redistricting Proposal

Dear BOE: Myfamily have lived in Clarksville, MDfor 10years and we loved the great community as whole. My kids enjoyed the school, their teachers andmore importantly their friends. I trained as a medical doctor, pediatrics in particular, I know better thananyone abouthow important a stable living andstudying environment isfor the growing kids. A massiveredistricting will certainly hurtevery kids whichcan be a horrible traumain theirlife. As a parentof two girls in highschool andmiddle school, I standin solidarity withthose who oppose this ill-conceived proposal. Notonly is it unjust andyet another example of problems that arise from centralized decisions made by a few, but it will set a terrible precedent for the future of HCSPSS and HoCo as a whole. Theseactions and the misguided belief system behindthem destroycommunity cohesionand morality. Communitycohesion and parental involvement have a muchbigger impact on a school'sperformance (and a child'swell-being) thanmoney redistribution andattempts atsocial reform madeby a small group ofpeople outside of said communities.

I urgeeach member ofBOEto rethinka planto minimizethe change to avoidawful chaos to thecommunity (e. g., messy traffic, extra cost oftransportation, stress and anxiety ofboth parents andkids).

Best regards Charles Wu- polygon-186

Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone I, Lu Jiang (Polygon number 1028), strongly object Dr. Martirano's 2020 redistricting plan due to the following reasons:

1. Distance from our houseto Clarksville Middle School is only halfof the distanceto Harpers Choice Middle School;

2. My daughteris a 6 graderthis year, she feels very depressed that she will be separated from a lot of her friends starting Year 2020. After she heard this disappointing news she even thought about not going to school anymore.

Therefore, I believe Dr. Martirano's 2020 redistricting plan has significantly cause anxiety to my kid, which may lead her more psychologic health issue. Longer busing simply means more spending in county's education program. Please stop this plan, Kathleen V. Hanks

From: Vivian Yao Sent: Monday, August 26, 2019 11:33 PM To: hlcpss Redistricting Subject: [External] Student Perspective on Redistricting Proposal

Dr. Martinaro,

Goodevening sir, I hopeyou aredoing well. My name is VivianYao, andI amgoing to bea sophomore at River Hill High School this upcoming school year I live offof Sheppards Lane in the neighborhood Walnut Grove. As a part ofthe newredistricting planfor the 2020 - 2021 schoolyear, I will beredistricted to WildeLake High School. I underetandthe reasons behind creating such a plan but I do not agree with the approach taken to solve the issue. I am writing to express my firm opposition to thisredistricting plan forthe three following reasons: motive, transportation, andcommunity. ^ mdforfmost'' recog"izethe fact that there are more studentsthan should be that are relying on FARM. 1 alsoagree withyou in theaspect of providing the necessary resources to thesefamilies andmaking getting an education in Howard Countymore^equitable foreveryone. Froman average person's perspective though, it seemsasiftheredistrictingplan will only shiftchildren inneed of FARM aroundrather than addressing the issueof providing more resourcesto the students who need thern^ The plan will only make the ratios better in each school but on a county level, nothing will have dianged^According to^BIair Mann, equity is considered giving "more for those who need it" (Equity and Equality Are Not Equal)^. Rather than redistributing the students who need more financial support, the Board ofEducation could alTocate more fundingtowards the schools who need it more Thiswould entail a more practicalway to solvethe current poverty sues. Instead of sure each school has a similar is making ratio of FARM dependent student^ work to give the schools'the fundingeach needs with more impoverished schoolsreceiving more while more well off schools receiving less. c^^i y.':^"f!her^suejsrhe P, racticaHtyof transportation Currently,1 ama fiveminute drive away from River Hill High sc OOIJithnotrafflc' D"e.to^theearly moming schooltraff]c. my busride isstill roughly fifteen minutes long Without anytraffic, Wilde LakeHigh School isroughly a fifteen minute carride. Withthe early morning schooltraffic, the bus ndewould teke at least forty minutesif not longer. Toa highschooler, an extra twenty five minutes of sleep means all the difference between being exhausted and being well rested. ln addition, the longer commute also makes-it-harder~for' participation in after school activities, Since Wilde Lake is so much farther from home than River Hill, it would make it harderfor my parents to makethe drive to pickme up from club meetings or sports practices. Currently, it isat leasta ten mmutejourneym all to pick me up. With the new redistricting plan, a round trip to my high school wou'ld take at least thirty minutes, three times the amount that is now. Consequently, my participation in school activities may be limited as compared to now. Lastbut not least, despite only spending a yearat RiverHill, 1 havefallen in lovewith the community hereand can not magine^leaving this community behind. I was a part ofthe JV Soccer and Lacrosse teams as well as'am-ember: o7th'e~ FutureBusiness^Leaders^of America and Man in the Mirror clubs. In addition to this, I holdthe position of'CI'ubs'Liaison as. ^p.artofthe. sl,"dCTlG ovemm,e"t Associati0"- During these events, I have met the majority of my'friends'who mak'e'up my support net. With the new net will be redistricting plan, my support cut line by line as many of my friends will either"' rema!'.LatRJ.VerHi" °r beredistr":ted to GlenelgHigh School.With the recent death of Eric this past'year at my school,' !"p.porti.ve. frie"dsaremove im. porta"ttha"ever- The community hasgrown closer in the face of the" tragedy and with"th'is new plan, all of this is the jeopardized. Tearing community apart may~only create a more hostile and vuTnerabie" environment making it harder for new students to integrate into the community that I have grown to \ove. !.n.s"mmary'.I.".",CIersta"clthe need for a "ewredistricti"g Plan. however, there are some big issues with the plan that is nowb.ei"gco"sidere(1'' knowthatyou arereceiving a lotof emails from concerned parents', butI'thoughttha'tTsh'ould voice my concerns from ^student perspective sothat the Board ofEducation cantake a student's perspectiveinto account makingdecisions. I havealways taken great pride in being a studentin the Howard County PubHc School Sy7tem" andI trust thatthe BOEwill dowhat is bestfor its students. Thankyou somuch for reading myemail and I hopethat you take some of my points into consideration during the board review process.

Sincerely, Vivian Yao, River Hill High School Student Kathleen V. Hanks

From: Ming Du Sent: Monday, August 26, 2019 11:25 PM To: Hcpss Redistricting Subject: [External] Opposing Superintendent's redistricting plan

Ming Du Polygon 176

Dear BoE members,

Asa parentof a freshmanin River Hill HighSchool, I'mwriting to expressmy strongopposition to Superintendent Dr. Martirano's redistricting plan. It will force my son to go to a school that's 3 times farther away and will greatly disrupt his daily life.

My sonwas born 7 weekpremature, weighingonly 3 pounds, 14years ago. Comparing to othermembers inthe family, I observedthat he's much weaker in bodytemperature regulation, andhe sleeps a lot more every day.If he doesn't have enough sleep, he will feel very cold and can't perform daily work well. Soto make sure he had enoughsleep in ESand MS, I senthim to school onmost ofthe days. Withhim going to River Hill HSthat's just over 2 miles away, he will haveprecious extratime in bed. However if he gets redistricted to WildeLake HS, his sleep time will be cut much shorter. And I'm still wondering howwe will be able to handle aTltheafter- school activities should hegoes to WLHS- should hecut back on the activities that he'sinterested inor drop somesubjects that he really likes to learn?This is not the school system I everimagined - theschool systemris suppose to encourage a student to explore, not discourage the learning. And we have not even touched the issue of emotional and psychological distress this plan will put on students.

Superintendent Martirano's redistricting planon paper may seemlike simplyjust somenumbers goinghere and thereand some numbers going upand down butwhen it applies to eachindividual family andstudent, it gets real personal and affects in total thousands ofpeople's daily lives. And it does not solve ANY fundamentaTissue ofour education system at all. Sure, FARM rates will be averaged out, but we still have the sam'eamount'of" FARMstudent across the county, plus weakened sense of communities, whole lot of busing, extra burden on families, worsening traffic and tons of gasoline burning.

^encourageall ofyou go out and listen to eachevery family's story, really feel people's pain and concerns, and find out how personal it is this plan to them.

I strongly opposethis plan and I hopeyou see that it actually improves nothingat all andultimate I hovethat you will vote against it.

Sincerely, Ming Du Polygon 176

Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone Dear BOE member, I livedat Polygon 1129in Riverhill village. I wasso shocked when 1 sawthe superintendent's proposal to force ourchildren to leavePointer Run ES. 1 don'tknow how to explainto my daughtersthat they have to leave their friends. River Hill village is a very good community, in whichmy daughters know many friendsand grow up with them thengo to the sameelementary school. Theyplay together inthe school and train together in River Hill Pool, which is 5 min walk from our home. 1 can't image how much hurt this redistrictingproposal will bringto my daughtersby rudely cuttingtheir relationship withtheir friends.

Thebeauty of Howard County hasalways been thoughtful approachesto anychallenge that have the interestsof the entire community in mind. Thissuperintendent appearsto careabout one thing only: makinga namefor himselfunder the guise of "equity. " Shippingkids all acrossthe countyto achievehis personal goals is not "equity" and it is disruptive in so many ways. Many working parents, like me, chose to live and work in close proximity to their children's schools so they canjuggle the demands ofwork and caringfor school-agedchildren more easily. Movingchildren to attendschools much further away makes it more difficult, if not impossible, for working parents to achieve this. In current proposal, we will be movedto SwansfieldES, which will doublethe school bustime. Thiswill decreasethe kid'ssleeping time and do harm to their health. Therefore, please object to this proposal for the mental and physical health for our kids.

Thanks,

Wenbo Li (Polygon 11 29) Kathleen V. Hanks

From; Ming Du Sent: Monday, August 26, 2019 11:01 PM To: Hcpss Redistricting Subject: [External] Opposing Superintendent's redistricting plan

Dear BoE members,

Asa parent ofajreshman in RiverHill HighSchool, I'mwriting to expressmy strongopposition to Superintendent Dr. Martirano's redistricting plan. It will force my sonto go to a school that's 3 times farther away and will greatly disrupt his daily life. My son was born 7 weekpremature, weighing only 3 pounds, 14 years ago. Comparing to other members inthe family, I observedthat he's much weaker in body temperature regulation, andhe sleeps a lot more everyday. If he doesn't have enough sleep, he will feel very cold and can't perform daily work well. So to make sure he had enoughsleep m ESand MS, I senthim to schoolon most ofthe days. Withhim goingto River Hill HSthat's just over 2 miles away, hewill haveprecious extratime in bed. However if hegets redistricted to Wilde Lake HS,his sleep time will becut much shorter. And I'm still wondering howwe will be able to handle alltheafter- school activities shouldhe goes to WLHS- shouldhe cut back on the activities thathe's interested in ordrop' some subjects that he really likes to learn? This is not the school system I ever imagined - the school system is suppose to encourage a student to explore, not discourage the learning. And we have not even touched the issue of emotional and psychological distress this plan will put on students. SuperintendentMartirano's redistricting plan on paper may seem like simply just somenumbers going here and thereand some numbers goingup and down but whenit applies to eachindividual family andstudent, it gets real personal andaffects in total thousands ofpeople's daily lives. And it doesnot solve ANY fundamentaTissue ofo_ur education system at all. Sure, FARM rates will be averagedout, but we still havethe sameamount~of~ FARM student across the county, plus weakened sense ofcommunities, whole lot ofbusing, extra burden on families, worseningtraffic and tons ofgasoline burning. Uncourageall ofyou go out and listen to eachevery family's story, really feel people's pain and concerns, and find out how personal it is this plan to them.

I strongly oppose this plan and I hope you see that it actually improves nothing at all and ultimate I hope that you will vote against it.

Sincerely,

Ming Du Ninghai Sun and Li Bi 11758 Chapel Estates Dr. (Polygon 1185) Clarksville, MD 21029 August 26, 2019

Howard County Board of Education Members, and Dr. Michael J. Martirano, Superintendent, Howard County Public School System

Dear Board of Education (BOE) Members and Dr. Martirano,

We are parents of three kids living in Chapel Woods neighborhood (Polygon 1185). The elder two are going to Clarksville Middle School for 6th and 7th grades this year, respectively. According to current school boundaries, both of them will be attending River Hill High School in two to three years. However, we are deeply concerned with the Dr Martirano's Presentation of the Attendance Area Adjustment Plan, dated August 20, 2019 (the "Plan"). As noted in the Executive Summary on Page 4, this proposal was developed with three primary goals as excerpted below: The driving priorities for this process:

/. Balance capacity utilization among schools throughout HCP55, cost effectively. 2, Advance equity by addressing the distribution of students participating in the Free and Reduced price meals program (FARMs) across schools to the extent feasible. 3. Plan ahead for the High School ttl3 redistricting by minimizing double moves asmuch os possible. We have also studied and respect the published policies which the BOE utilizes in making decisions with regard to school attendance areas, specifically Policy 6010 (httfi5://www. hcDss. org/policies/6000/6010-school-attendance-areas/l: Unfortunately, recommendations from the Presentation of Attendance Area Adjustment Plan, dated August 20, 2019 is NOTconsistent with the guidelines of Policy 6010 and does NOTachieve the three primary goals as stated in Dr Martirano's letter. Please consider the following facts. School Attendance Area:

School Attendance area and geographic proximity is a consideration of Policy 6010. The proposed redistricting of Polygon 1185 would dramatically increasethe distance students travel to get to school. Using Google Maps, Chapel Woods / Polygon 1185 is O.Z Mile from River Hill High School (RHHS). but 4. 3 miles from Wilde Lake High School (WLHS). Using WAZE, the commute time from Polygon 1185 toWilde Lake High School would be lOx as long as the commute to River Hill High School.

Page | 1 In addition, the elementary school for Polygon 1185 is Clarksville Elementary School, which is right next to River Hill High School.

Capacity Utilization:

Policy6010 identifies three keyaspects to school capacitywhich are (1) Projections [item P], (2) Target Utilization [item S] which is defined as enrollment between 90% and 110% utilization of program capacity and (3) Utilization [item T]. The 2019 FeasibilityStudy (httos://www.hcpss. org/f/schogl study. pdf) notes the following findings: 1. River Hill High School is projected to be at 94% Projected Utilization for 2019/2020 school. This is at the lower end of the Target Utilizationrange. 2. Page33 ofthe Feasibility Study indicates that River Hill is within Target Utilization through the 10-year projection period of the study. 3. Under Dr Martirano's proposal. River Hill would send 478 students to other schools and receive 741 students from other schools. This is extremely disruptive and unnecessary for a school that is currently operating within each of guidelines [P], [S] and [T] of Policy6010. 4. We believe the board should reject a plan which moves approximately 7, 400 total students including478 students from River Hill HighSchool which is currently operating within Board Policy guidelines with regard to Projections, Target Utilization and Utilization. 5. We believe any re-districtine croposal should instead be focused on thosefive HiehSchools that are ooeratine above Target Utilization levels (110%). 6. We believethe Board of Educationshould support a plan that includes less disruption at schools that are operatingwithin the guidelines of [P], [S] and [T]. Forinstance, since River Hill High School is operating well within the target utilization range, perhaps it should receive students from nearby schools such as Wilde Lake, Atholton or Howard, without sending 478 students out to other schools. Certainly, the Board of Education can request a plan that achieves better capacity utilization with less than 7, 396 total students beingrelocated.

Thevery first sentence ofthe PolicyStatement of HCPSSPolicy 6010 isThe Board of Educationof Howard County, with the advice of the Superintendent, establishes school attendance areas to provide aualjty^eguitoble educationalopDortunities to all students andto balance the caaacit^ utilization of all schools^

The Presentation ofthe Attendance Area Adjustment Plan dated August 20, 2019 is NOTconsistent with the Board of Education Policy Statement 6010, nor does it follow the BoE's definition of achieving "equitable" educational opportunities. We hereby request the Boardof Education identify ways to provide additional educational resources to the students in need. Transferring students from a school with a low FARM ratio to a schoolwith a high FARM ratio, only resuIts in better . averages" for the schools. IT DOES NOT PROVIDE ANY INCREMENTAL EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES OR OPPORTUNITES DIRECTLY TO THE STUDENTS.

Page | 2 In conclusion, we strongly urge that the Board of Education reject the Attendance Area Adjustment Plan Recommendations dated August 20, 2019 due to the numerous and serious inconsistencies with regard to both Policy 6010 and the stated goals of the proposal. The proposal would dramatically increase 10 times more the commuting time of students in Polygon 1185. Chapel Woods community remains zoned for Clarksville Elementary School, which is right next to River Hill High School. It is a chaotic planning to redistrict Polygon 1185 to a much farther high school. Many affected schools including River Hill High School are operating within the Board of Education projection, utilization and capacity guidelines and would experience a total student transfer of over 1, 000 children inclusive of students being sent and received. Boundary adjustments should be focused on schools operating over capacity or projected to be over capacity based on the 2019 Feasibilitystudy. The proposal does not provide additional resources directly to students or schools in need, it simply provides more consistent FARM ratios across schools. Children do not need consistent FARM ratios, they need additional education resources and funding provided directly to their schools. More importantly, potential negative psychological impact on underage children, which are equal to students from other school districts, to adapt to an unfamiliar environment.

We hope that the Attendance Area Adjustment will be revised based on comments received from all concerned students, parents and constituents. Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

^;%>-*-i/-ifi

C. z^^-

Ninghai Sun & Li Bi

NinRhai. Sun(5>email. com Billie68(Shotma|l. com

Page | 3 Kathleen V. Hanks

From: Fang Sent: Monday, August 26, 2019 10:39 PM To: Hcpss Redistricting Subject: [External] Object to redistrict

BOE,

This is Fang Liu. I live in 176 school zone. I strongly object to redistrict !!!!!! Before you give this proposal, have you thought how many families will be affected and how many children will be affected just only because of one criterion FARM rate? and ridiculously enough, how much budgets needed only for the increasing number of school buses? And the 13th high school in on the schedule, I don't understand, why give this proposal is so rush !?

Best regards, Fang Kathleen V. Hanks

From: Lijie Sent: Monday, August 26, 2019 10:33 PM To: Hcpss Redistricting Subject: [External] Redistricting

Hi my name is Jenny I can talk well English, But writing is bad. Beacsuce I am not even have my high school degree. I am should you got a lot ofmail.... Only I say it. ...REALLY.REALLY. REALLY. WHEN YOU GUY STOPTO KEEPPLAYING AROUND MOVEWG THE SCHOOL. Do you guys have that more time should think about how to get the kids more rest and more time to study. OR. WHY SUMMER HAD THREE MONTHS OFF. LET CHANGE IT SHORT. I am working 60 more hours week to pay my house and kids tutor just try to get my kids have better future And happy. Safe to live and study. Pleases. Please. Pleases. Let our parents get less one think outer their minds and rest. Thanks !

Sent from my iPhone Kathleen V. Hanks

From: Sharon Wen Sent: Monday, August 26, 2019 10:24 PM To: Hcpss Redistricting Subject: [External] Superintendent Marirano's Redistricting Proposal is FLAWED

As a .concemed res"jer't of Howard County, I find Superintendent Marirano's Redistricting Proposal deeply FLAWEDbecause it failed to address the following:

1. Budget for the extra buses, drivers, fuel; 2. Environmental impact with extra buses and hours of driving; and 3. Burden on local traffic with new bus routes and parents picking up/dropping off students.

Budget The school budget is already over-stretched as is. In fact, this year's budget planning included considerations of cutting programs like technology, orchestra and even a number'of teacher" positions. Superintendent's Redistricting Proposal would require significant increase in number of buses, drivers, and cost ofgas Where is the extra money going to come from? Are some school programs going to be cut in order to fund the extra busing? We, the taxpayers, demand to see a clear showing of"allocations"of our tax money.

Environment _Superintendent's Redistricting Proposal would significantly increase driving distances for buses and ?ar^'_, ^"s tl'an.slatesto increase fuel consumption and emission of air pollution and greenhouse gases leading to global warming. This proposal comes at the time that fighting climate change is at'the utmost global urgency. If adopted^ it would not only set a bad example for our own residents'but also send a sig'nal to the world that Howard County is not committed in fighting climate change.

Traffic Superintendent's Redistricting Proposal would add many bus routes for the extra distance the students would have to travel to get to a farther school. Parents would have to drive longer distances to drop off and pick up students. With all the additional buses and cars on the road, it would add tremendous burden to the local traffic that is already very congested during commuting hours. In addition to the added burden on commuters, with longer time riding or driving in traffic, the students would be exposed to a higher risk of accidents and air pollution.

In conclusion, Superintendent Marirano's Redistricting Proposal, if implemented without providing satisfactory solutions to each one ofthe above mentioned issues, would have dire consequences to our school system (i. e., school budget) and community as a whole (i. e., environment and traffic). Therefore, it would be negligent on the part of our elected officials (i. e, BOE members) to adopt such a thoughtless p\an without' doing any feasibility study to address these critical issues which are important to all residents of Howard County.

Sharon Wen 5661 ChamblisDr, Clarksville, MD21029 Polygon #200 Kathleen V. Hanks

From: Lisa Tavelli Feinberg aol. com> Sent: Monday, August 26, 2019 10:12 PM To: Hcpss Redistricting Subject: [External] Fwd: RECKLESS SCHOOL REDISTRICTING

The terrible plan put forward by Martirano uses children as pawns & will destroy communities. It solves no student inequities & will create havoc in schools. STOP THIS CHILD ABUSE NOW! IT IS RACIST TO LIST_FARMCHILDREN (Howard County Times) BY RACJAL BREAKDOWN NOT TO MENTION ILLEGAL!!!! THERE IS ENOUGH HATRED BEING SPREAD ACROSS THIS NATION WE DON'T NEED^J-i-ilS IN HOWARD COUNTY. Lisa Feinberg Kathleen V. Hanks

From: l^lffi Sent: Monday, August 26, 2019 10:02 PM To: Hcpss Redistricting Subject: [External] Oppose Redistricting

Dear Sir or Madam

I am Wei Zhou, My home is at 1196. I oppose redistricting Although I do not been impact by it this time. When I buy my house at 2018, The fist consideration is school zone which is so important to my kids who s my super star. I accept to pay more money for house and more money for property tax just because my kids can go to better school. If the redistricting can be pass, I ivill lose money and my kids will lose the opportunity to go to better school and lose his good friends.

1 oppose redistricting!

B. RGDS Weizhou-1196 Kathleen V. Hanks

From: Tzeghereda Sent: Monday, August 26, 2019 10:02 PM To: hlcpss Redistricting Subject: [External] Redistricting Input

Dear Board Members, As residents ofpolygon 181 we are deeply concerned with the proposed redistricting proposal to send our children from our neighborhood school. Our current high school is vibrant and diverse and thejump start program added to that diversity and increased school utilization. We urge the board to consider open enrollment, magnetprograms andprograms likejumpstart to increaseschool integration. Artificially drawing lines will not improve the quality ofeducation to all our kids. Increased funding, quality teachers, and enrichment programs will. The current proposed plan is not equitable. It punishes the children who are movin; out from their current schools while it still leaves few schools athigh wealth andpoverty concentration levels. Please vote no for this proposal.

Respectfully, Tzeghereda

Sent from my iPhone Kathleen V. Hanks

From: Musa Subasi Sent: Monday, August 26, 2019 10:00 PM To: Hcpss Redistricting Subject: [External] Redistricting

Hi,

My name is Musa Subasi. My son, Mehmet Subasi, is going to start the second grade at Pointers Run Elementary next week. My polygon number is 64. I amwriting to let youknow that I amdeeply concerned about Dr. Martirano's proposal thatwill result inmy son being assigned to Swansfield elementary school. The primary reason I bought a house in River Hill was for my son to go to highly rated schools and Dr. Martirano's proposal, if accepted, will force me to either send Mehmet to a private school or sell my houseand relocate to anotherdistrict wherethe likelihood ofsuch unexpected and radical moves is minimal. Many ofthe parents on Quiet Night Ride are also concerned about this proposal and I am sure they will reach out to you to raise their concerns.

Best regards, Musa Subasi

Assistant Professor ofAccounting and Information Assurance Robert H. Smith School of Business University ofMaryland-College Park Kathleen V. Hanks

From: Yang Ma Sent: Monday, August 26, 2019 9:57 PM To: Hcpss Redistricting Subject: [External] I am against the superintendent's proposal

Dear BOE,

I am writing this letter with great sadness as this proposal is disrupting our quite life again, and this time, even worse than two years ago.

We moved to Howard county 3 years ago seeking quite life, good education for our son andclose proximity of his schools. It took time forhim to makenew friends andnot until last year thathe finally settled into this new school and made two newfriends. He is about to start high school next week and ifthe proposal is approved, he will lose his two new friends next year and it would so sad for him.

I don't understand the logic of this proposal. Moving 7000 kids around like this makes no sense. The cost and harm will be a lot more than the gain, if there is any!

Please stop the proposal and return our peaceful quite life.

Thanks, Yong Ma Resident ofEllicott City August 26, 2019

Vishnu and Neelima Busireddy 5002 Crape Myrtle Ct EllicottCity, MD21042 vishnubusireddv|a)gmail. com nbusJreddv(5)Emas!.com 410-294-1120

To: redislnctina&jlicpss. ^rg

Howard County Board of Education Members Ms. Mavis Ellis mavis ellis®hcpss.ora Ms. Kirsten Coombs kirsten_coomj3^ffihc^ss^rg Ms. Vicky Cutroneo YJcky ciilroneo/a:hcpss. ori; Ms. Christina DeImont-Smatl Christina delmont-smallfi; ss. ory Ms. Jennifer Mallo jeiinil'er mallowhcDSs. org Ms. Sabina Taj -iabina lai@hcpss. ora Mr. Chao Wu chap wu@licpss. oru ^{_ydcnl_me"iber®hcpss.oi'2. and

Superintendent, Howard County Public School System Dr. Michael J. Martirano,

Dear Board of Education (BOE) Members and Dr. Martirano. We are parents ofa 7thgrader going into Folly Quarter Middle School. As longtime residents of Howard County, our intent is to stay here and raise our son in this wonderful and diverse community ofours. Based on the current school boundaries, he will be attending Folly Quarter Middle and River Hill High. We are writing to you about the proposed impact ofDr Martirano's Presentation ofthe Attendance AreaAdjustment Plan, datedAugust 20, 2019. As noted in the Executive Summary on Page 4, this proposal was developed with three primary goals as excerpted below: The driving priorities for this process: /. Balance capacity utilization among schools throughout HCPSS, cost effectively. 2. Advance equity by addressing the distribution of students participating in the Free and Reduced-price Meals program (FARMs) across schools to the extent feasible.

3. Plan ahead the School #13 for High redistricling by minimizing double moves as much as possible.

1 I P age We have also studied and respect the published policies which the BOE utilizes in making decisions with regard to school attendance areas, specifically Policy 6010 (iT t!M^LW'!iwJicj)S;y)rg/policies/6()00/6()l()-schooi-attendance-areas/): Unfortunately, recommendations from the Presentation of Attendance Area Adjustment Plan, dated August 20, 2019 is jifit consistent with the guidelines of Policy 6010 and does not achieve the three primary goals as stated in Dr Martirano's letter. Please consider the following facts. School Attendance Area: School Attendance areaand geographic proximity is a consideration ofPolicy 6010. The proposed redistricting ofPolygon 176 (we reside in this area) would more than double the distance students travel to get to school and does not make any logical sense. My son and other kids in the neighborhood think of River Hill High as their future high school from the time we moved to our current neighborhood more than 5 years ago from a different part of EIIicott City to be closer to our friends, and their families and to have the kids continue their bonding and brotherhood. The proposed redistricting plan is going to crush their childhood dreams by forcing upon them this unreasonable, thoughtless, and divisive redistricting plan which will not only separate kids from their friends, take the communities apart, and introduce them to the political games that the so called leaders are shoving upon the kids, families, and the community. My son and his friends dreamt of representing the River Hill and River Hill Hawks in activities, ranging from sports to educational competitions and other school programs, not only because of its proximity to our house and go past the school whenever we have to step out of our neighborhood, but also because of seeing older kids in the neighborhood and cousins representing the school, participating and contributing in school fundraiser events, which led to these innocent young brains to create affinity and bonding to the River Hill High and make them believe and think that they will one day be attending the same school which they drive past few times every day. Our neighborhood kids also got acquainted to the school, as they go there to play tennis and other sports during summer holidays and on weekends and evenings. It is not fair to shatterthe dreams ofmy son andother kids in this great neighborhood and acrossthe county, by saying that "NO YOU CAN-1 VTTFM) YOI'K I OCAL SCIIOOI.". Using Google Maps, Walnut Creek / Polygon 176 is 2_L Miles from River Hill High School (RHHS). Walnut Creek / Polygon 176 is 5^_miles from Wilde Lake High School (WLHS). Using WAZE, the commute time from Polygon 176 to Wilde Lake High School would be 3x as long as the commute to River Hill High School. In addition, many of the students from Polygon 176 would have to drive past the River Hill High School andthrough River Hill High School bus and car traffic, en-route to Wilde Lake High School under the August 20, 2019 proposal.

2 I P age Capacity Utilization: Policy 60)0 identifiesthree key aspects to school capacity whichare (1) Projections [item P], (2) Target Utilization [item S] which is defined as enrollment between 90% and 110% utilization of program capacity and (3) Utilization [item T]. The 2019 Feasibility Study (ime^^wwAcESS.ora^fcchodEi^^ sliidy. pdf) notes the following findings: 1. River Hill High School is projected to be at 94% Projected Utilization for 2019/2020 school. This is at the lower end of the Target Utilization range. 2. Page 33 of the Feasibility Study indicates that River Hill is within Target Utilization through the 10-year projection period of the study. 3. Under Dr Martirano's proposal, River Hill would send 478 students to other schools and receive 741 students from other schools. This is extremely disruptive and unnecessary for a school that is currently operating within each ofguidelines [P], [S] and |T] of Policy 6010. 4. We believe the board should reject a plan which moves approximately 7,400 total students including 47S students from River Hill High School which is currently operating within Board Policy guidelines with regard to Projections, Target Utilization and Utilization. 5. We believe any re-districtins proposal should instead be focused on those five Hieh Schools that are operatine above Target Utilization levels_[110%). 6. We believe the Board of Education should support a plan that includes less disruption at schools that are operating within the guidelines of [P], [S] and [T]. For instance, since River Hill High School is operating well within the target utilization range, perhaps it should receive students from nearby schools such as Wilde Lake, Atholton or Howard, without sending 478 students out to other schools.

We believe it is a wonderful idea to bring students from underperforming schools to better performing adjacent schools, but moving students the other way with the specific purpose of adjusting the statistics is misguided and sets a terrible precedence. We respectfully request that the BOE request a plan that achieves better capacity utilization with less than 7, 396 total students being relocated. Efluity: The very first sentence ofthe Policy Statement ofHCPSS Policy 6010 is The Board of Eilucalion nf Howard Cinimy, with the advice of the Super/nleiideni, esiah!ishes .wlwol attendance areas to provide malilv, equitable eihicalional oDiwniinities lii aUsliicienls ami lo balance the capacilv iilii 1201ion of all sch(wl:-:. Furthermore, "equitable" is defined in the policy statement as: Just or fair access, opportunities, andsupports neededto help students, families, andstaff reach theirfull potential by removing barriers to success that individuals face. It does not mean equal or everyone having the same things.

3|Page The Presentation ofthe Attendance AreaAdjustment Plan datedAugust 20, 2019 is not consistent with the Board of Education Policy Statement 6010, nor does it follow the BOE's definition of achieving "equitable" educational opportunities. It is quite evident that the recommendations for redistricting is a case of social engineering and purely based on race and ethnicity. There is no logic or case studies offered to show this type of social engineering will be successful. We hereby request the BOE identify ways to provide additional educational resources, funding for schools in need, raise awareness, create plans to include parent volunteers and others to contribute their time and effort to enrich kids with activities ranging from education to recreational, author new programs to have peer to peer learning and knowledgesharing sessions which will benefit all the kids across the county, rather than adjusting the statistics to make you feel good. Transferring students from a school with a low FARM ratioto a school with a high FARM ratio, only results in adjustingthe statistics for the schools, but DOESNOT PROVIDEANY INCREMENTALEDUCATIONAL RESOURCESOR OPPORTUNITESDIRECTLY TO THE STUDENTS. Socioeconomic issues such as income equality, better employment opportunities should be addressed by our elected officials at the County and State levels. In conclusion, we recommend the Board of Education reject the Attendance Area Adjustment Plan Recommendations dated August 20, 2019 due to the numerous and serious inconsistencies with regard to both Policy 6010 and the stated goals ofthe proposal. We recommend the BOE to be considerate and sympathetic to the magnanimous negative effect this plan will shower on the county residents and their families, to the quality of life that Howard county has been providing so far, please STOP and NOT ALLOW this dreaded Number Game to be Played with the county residents! The proposal would triple the commuting time ofstudents in Polygon 176. Many affected schools including River Hill High School are operating within the Board of Education projection, utilization and capacity guidelines and would experience a total student transfer of over 1, 000 children inclusive of students being sent and received. Boundary adjustments should be focused on schools operating over capacity or projected to be over capacity based on the 2019 Feasibility study. The proposal does not provide additional resources directly to students or schools in need, it simply provides more consistent FARM ratios across schools. Children do not need consistent FARM ratios, they need additional education resources and funding provided directly to their schools.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely, ^\mJ\^i^i>iJ^f AAaelh Vishnu and Neelima Busireddy

4 I Pag e Name: Siddeswar Ambarkar

Polygon: 1183

My son is a raising sophomore this year in River Hill High school. The sudden change of plan by the Board to move students from RHHS to Wild Lake High school is already causing tremendous stress and strain on my family. There are other alternatives to raise the TEST SCORE and FARM adjustments of Wild Lake High School. Moving students in the Junioryear is not a solution in any shape or form. Some of his friends get to stay in River Hill High School when he must move, for no reason.

Junior year is a very critical year for any high school students. They prepare for the SAT's and start their college preparation in this year and a good community and school board should boost their confidence and not shatter them.

Moving to Wild Lake High School is goingto increase the travel time by 30 minutes every day. Having to make new friends, miss the old friends with whom they spent most of their school life adds more stress and demotivates the students.

The logic of moving out students from schools with high test scores and low Farm percentage and bringing in students with low test scores and from financially challenged families defies logic and common sense.

This kind of strategy will result in River Hill High School goingsignificantly low in test scores and over the years become a school that requires high performing students from other schools. This chain reaction in a cluster of schools will make all the schools perform worst. Simple solution to improve the Test Score of Wild Lake High School isto focus on the student's interest and teacher's capabilities. Not moving good students from one school to another. I sincerely request the board to reject this plan and work towards good alternatives to help the students andcommunity. STUDENTSFIRST, interest ofthe students should be key requirement forany planthat the board approves, and the proposed plan does not do any good to the student community.

Warm Regards,

SiddeswarAmbarkar Kathleen V. Hanks

From: Jasleen Sent: Monday, August 26, 2019 9:35 PM To: Hcpss Redistricting Subject: [External] HCPSS Redistricting Proposal

Dear Board of Education,

I am writing to you out ofconcern if this newredistributing proposal. Wehave recently move to Walnut Creek area and love the sense of community we have with our neighbors. Redistricting on the basis of FARM Scores is unjust to everyone. It isn't tackling the problem but redistributing it essentially. It is unwarrantedto make our children move from a underpopulated school ( RiverHill)to an overcrowded school (Wilde-Lake). In addition, the commute time would double which highly impacts high-school children's performance, extra- curricular activities and the ability ofparents to reach their children in case of emergencies. Lastly, we strongly urge you to reconsider this proposal due to the fact that this process will be repeat itself in 2023 and more students will get displaced. Thank you.

Jasleen Bedi Kathleen V. Hanks

From: deepak baskaran Sent: Monday, August 26, 2019 9:15 PM To: Hcpss Redistricting Subject: [External] School change

Hello,

My name is Deepak Baskaran, I live at 5123 Honey Locust Ct. Polygon 176, I am very concerned aboutthe current proposal to move our Polygon and Adjacent ones from River Hill to Wilde Lake HS. I thought the first objective is to decrease overcrowding. The facts state that River Hill is under capacity and Wilde Lake is at capacity or slightly over. I never heard of a school district moving students from an under capacity school to one that is at capacity. Another objective is trying to keep students close to the school. River Hill is about 2 miles from my home and Wilde Lake is over 6 miles away. Moving students from a closer school to a farther school does happen occasionally BUT when their previous school is overcrowded that's not the case with us. I would have to drive past River Hill school to reach Wilde Lake. The superintendent mentioned in his presentation aboutthe increasingequality of distribution of FARM students. I have no major reservations of this but he did mentioned that every student hasthe same opportunity to an excellent education so why do we have to redistribute the FARM students. Nevertheless they can still move the proposed Wilde Lake Students to our district without moving us, we HAVE the capacity. I don't understand the need to move approximately 500 students from Atholton to River Hill when they are farther awaythan us, andthe School FARM rates are below 10%. If it is due to overcrowding then move about 200 and keep us at our school and redistribute the students when the new HSopens since it will be closer to that area. This would keep less people from moving. Accordingto the graph that was in the Superintendent presentation River Hill will lose 478 students and gain 741 students, thats a net gain of 229 student and more important a turnover of 1229 students!! All ofthe feasibility studies haveshown that the western highschools are under capacity and moving students west, so it doesn't seem logical to move our students east. The superintendent also mentions empathy, he must have empathy for our kids also, to be moved from a less crowded school to a school 3 times the distance away for no apparent reason. I worked very hard in my life to provide for my family and try to give them the best opportunity to go to a great school. I am not sayingthat Wilde Lakeis a bad school and openlywelcome students to help FARM rates but I don't feel that weshould haveto bere-districted especially when the school that we currently are in is under capacity and 2 miles from our home. I would like to know what reason was given to move our polygons and urge to reconsider, I just don't see the logic in moving us. There are other neighbors from overcrowded schools that truly have a need to be moved!!! Thank you for your time.

Deepak Baskaran Kathleen V. Hanks

From: Nancy Xu Sent: Monday, August 26, 2019 5:42 PM To: Hcpss Redistricting Subject: [External] Concern about involuntary busing of students awayfrom their communities

Dear Mr. Martirano,

I am writing to express concern for the involuntary busing of students away from their communities. While I support the need to address the school-wide achievement gap between highly scoring schools and underperforming schools and I support the busing children into high performing schools that are under-utilized, I believe the involuntary busing of students from their existing schools (some ofthe existing schools might even be underutilized) into underperforming schools might only artificially lessen the school-wide gap and does not address the deeper underlining systemic problems. Furthermore, the current plan neglects to address and track the educational and emotional needs of the students who would be involuntarily busing of students away from their communities.

Better options to address our educational crisis have not been fully explored. If there are too few schools in the area, why not offer vouchers to volunteers to attend other public or private schools until new schools are built? I believe you promised to offer-and not take away-educational choices to parents and students in Howard County. I hope you will success in doing that!!

Respectfully,

Nancy Polygon 1185 Kathleen V. Hanks

From: Ben Sheppard Sent: Monday, August 26, 2019 5:06 PM To: Hcpss Redistricting Subject: [External] Redistricting

Howard County redistricting!

Simply put the most egregious blatant redistribution of wealth plan perpetuated against Howard County Citizens Under the fraudulent guise of helping those less fortunate. Let's be honest redistricting is 100% inconvenient for 100% of those affected. While the estimated loss of home values of those affected would be in excess of $250, 000, 000. 00 conservatively. Other areas values would substantially increase. This proposal is at best a fraud being pemetuated aQainst our children and our assets.

Let's talk about other more palatable solutions that would be impossible for the Board of Education to debate. . Re-align the programs to assist where assistance is most needed! Move Muhamad to the mountain not the Mountain to Muhamad as the saying goes, . Raise the Real Estate tax, close to 100% of those affected by a redistribution would much rather pay another 300-$1000. 00 a year then have their children bused! Don't increase home taxes for those below income or certain home values! . Maximize after and before school care for those that need it! Do so for the schools most convenient for them near their homes! An injunction stopping such a blatant short sighted poorly thought out plan should be teed up immediately should such a plan come to fruition. Those responsible need to be fired or voted out of office. Be clear those less fortunate need the help and support of us all! Most all of us would and will step up! But we will step up for a plan that is not flawed/ and a blatant attempt to redistribute wealth! Bureaucrats shame, for assuming those in HC, will allow this fraud to be perpetuated! Go back to your office and rethink what your real goals are and a much better way to achieve them! "Redistricting" Should be called "REDISTRIBUTION" and will not be accepted!

^ea- "Daw^, S^efaft

From: Kyungsook Gartrell Sent: Monday, August 26, 2019 4:59 PM To: School Planning; Hcpss Redistricting Subject: [External] Re: Howard county redistricting proposal should not be implemented

By the way,

We are belong to polygon 1186. Our full names are: Kyungsook Gartrell Douglas Gartrell

Sent from my iPhone

On Aug 26, 2019, at 2:36 PM, Kyungsook Gartrell wrote:

Begin forwarded message:

From: Kyungsook Gartrell Date: 8/26/2019 To: superintendent@hcDss. ore. mavis ellis@. hcpss. orii.kirsten coombs@,hcES^org,Yic ky cutroneofflhcpss. org. christina delmont- small(a), hcpss. ore. jennifer_mallo(2), hcDss. ore. sabina tai@, hcDss. ore. chao wu@. hc ES^.org,ewalsh(2!howardcountvmd. gov.oiones@,howardcountvmd. sov, cngbx(S).ho wardcountvmd. eov. diung@howardcountvmd. gov, dvungmann@, howardcountvmd ^QY,katiefrv. hester(a!senate. state. md. us Cc: Kyungsook Gartrell , "DougIasM. Gartrell" Subject: Howard county redistricting proposal should not be implemented

Dear Mr. Martirano, Board of Education members, & Council members:

I do not agree with your new proposal that was presented on August 22, 2019: https://www. baltimoresun. com/marvland/howard/cn£-ho-schnnl. s- redistrictine-recommendations-OS22-2ni 90822- rxprk5uf4zcqllhtmotuxg4i5i-storyJitml

1 do not think that it is based on rigorous studies and opinions from all parents and children who will get influenced by your proposal. All our communities are very concerned aboutthis irrational plan. Please hear all our voices from parents, children, and conimunities, who have to deal with this ordeal. Please thiiik about the disruption of the psychological well-being of our children: separating from friends, complicating daily routines with nonsensical bus routes, unreasonable commuting time to participate in extra-curriculum, etc.

Please provide rigorous evidence that was studied, and potential adverse outcomes related to your plan. Your new proposal must be based on rigorous measures over time.

Better options to address the educational crisis have not been fully explored. The redistricting plan must be based on experts opinions, rigorous studies, parents and children opinions, and communities opi nions.

Please be transparent and rigorous as proposing a plan by including all opinions from parents, children, and communities who will be influenced.

Thank you! Kyungsook Gartrell

Clarksville Elementary School Parent Kathleen V. Hanks

From: Judah Landzberg Sent: Monday, August 26, 2019 1:08 PM To: Hcpss Redistricting Subject: [External] Please do not redistrict my son

Hi,

My name is JudahLandzberg, and I wrote previous testimony which was emotional and did not hit on the main point of hardship that this creates for my wife and I.

My wife and I live in polygon 186 with our son Solomon. He will be attending Clarksville ES and Clarksville MS and River Hill HS, all of which are on walking paths and within 15 minute walk and about 1 mile from our home.

In the superintendents plan, we would have to apply for a hardship, so that if our son missed the bus he would not have to stay home from school. I am a teacher and the main reason my students performance and grades drop is because of absences. My wife and I leave for work in the city before 7 am every morning and we are not available to stay at home and make sure our son makes it to the bus. I will not let my son be in a situation where he is forced to miss school because he woke up 5 minutes late.

I am unable to accept this redistricting plan. But, so are the tens of thousands of residents that live in Clarksville Elementary district. Imagine if all of these students had to apply for hardship to send to a local school, because nearly all the parents work and are in our situation. Where would these hundreds of students go to school? Wouldn't they have to go to Clarksville MS?

THIS PLAN WOULDENSURE THAT STUDENTS (AND MY SON) WOULD MISS MORE DAYS OF SCHOOL, AND THIS LIMITS MY SONSACCESS TO EDUCATION, WHICH IS MY SON'S RIGHT TO HAVE ACCESS TO.

-Judah Landzberg Kathleen V. Hanks

From: TylerSutch Sent: Monday, August 26, 2019 12:20 PM To: Hcpss Redistricting Subject: [External] Redstricting

This redistricting proposal is unfair in so manyways, you are forcing students to leave schools were they have already built relationships with other students andteachers, andmake it much harderfor students to getto school in the morning for students who don't feel comfortable riding the bus. You are also making students switch schools, who's parents pay Western Howard County taxes to go to a school in a completely different area, where it is a less expensive cost to live. All because the board thinks it's good to spread out people who are on meal plans, does that really make sense? In my case i have grown up in the Ellicott City area, and have built relationships, with people who i have grown up going to school with and at my high school river hill. Your proposal will causeme to go to Wilde Lake. Whichdoesn't make any sense considering i live 5 minutes away from glenelg, 10 minutes away from River Hill, and 23 minutes from Wilde Lake. All because i don't need a meal plan

Sent from my iPhone Kathleen V. Hanks

From: ALPA VASHIST Sent: Monday, August 26, 2019 11:05 AM To: Hcpss Redistricting Subject: [External] Appeal and request

Dear Board of Education Members, I m writing this letter to express my extreme disappointment over the proposed school redistricting plan by the School Superintendent the Attendance Area Adjustment Plan, dated August 20, 2019. The proposal is notjust flawed but completely misses the mark by focusing on the wrong goal. The goal of any public school is to improve educational opportunities and outcomes for students. Not only does the redistricting remove opportunity, but it also increases the commute for students. For many families being redistricted, the drive to River Hill takes less than five minutes. Under this proposal, they will be forced to drive 20-25 minutes to Wilde Lake. This increased drive time will deeply impact sleep issues students faces nowadays- not able to get enough sleep- affect their learning. Also impact after school learning opportunities for children and generate work-life balance issues for the parents who take them to school. Some will make this proposal, and any associated protest about race and thrive on dividing our community and county. I hope that doesn't happen, as this is not about race or about denying underprivileged children a great education: it is about uprooting families and denying certain opportunities to some while giving them to others. A better way to address these issues would be to add resources to other schools or share what River Hill School has to offer- without uprooting existing families. As noted in the Executive Summary on Page 4, this proposal was developed with three primary goals as excerpted below: The driving priorities for this process: 1. Balance capacity utilization among schools throughout HCPSS, cost effectively. 2. Advance equity by addressing the distribution of students participating in the Free and Reduced price meals program (FARMs) across schools to the extent feasible. 3. Plan ahead for the High School #13 redistricting by minimizing double moves as much as possible. We have also studied and respect the published policies which the Board of Education utilizes in making decisions with regard to school attendance areas, specifically Policy 6010 (https://www. hcDss. org/Dolicies/6000/60lO-school-attendance-areas/): Unfortunately, the Presentation of Attendance Area Adjustment Plan, dated August 20, 2019 is not consistent with the guidelines of Policy 6010 and does not achieve the three primary goals as stated in Dr Martirano's letter. Please consider the following facts. School Attendance Area: School Attendance areaand geographicproximity is a consideration ofPolicy 6010. Theproposed redistricting ofPolygon 176 would more than double the distance students travel to get to school. - Using Google Maps, Walnut Creek / Polygon 176 is 2. 1 Miles from River Hill High School (RHHS). Walnut Creek / Polygon 176 is 5. 8 miles from Wilde Lake High School (WLHS). - Using WAZE,the commute time from Polygon 176to Wilde LakeHigh School would be 3x as long asthe commute to River Hill High School. - In addition, many of the students from Polygon 176 would have to drive through River Hill High School bus and car traffic, en-route to Wilde Lake High School under the August 20, 2019 proposal. Capacity Utilization: Policy 6010 identifies three key aspects to school capacity whichare (1) Projections [item P], (2) Target Utilization [item S] which is definedas enrollment between 90% and 110%utilization ofprogram capacity and (3) Utilization [item T]. The 2019 Feasibility Study (httDS://www.hcpss. org/f/schoolDlanninB/2019/2019-feasibilitv-studv. pdf) notes the following findings: 1. River Hill High School is projected to be at 94% Projected Utilization for 2019/2020 school. This is at the lower end of the Target Utilization range. 2. Page 33 of the Feasibility Study indicates that River Hill is within Target Utilization through the 10 year projection period of the study. 3. Under Dr Martirano's proposal, River Hill would send 478 students to other schools and receive 741 students from other schools. This is extremely disruptive and unnecessary for a school that is currently operating within each of guidelines [P], [S] and [T] of Policy 6010. 4. We believe the board should reject a plan which moves approximately 7, 400 total students including 478 students from River Hill High School which is currently operating within Board Policy guidelines with regard to Projections, Target Utilization and Utilization. 5. We believe any re-districting proposal should instead be focused on those five High Schools that are operating above Target Utilization levels (110%). 6. We believe the Board of Education should support a plan that includes less disruption at schools that are operating within the guidelines of [P], [S] and [T]. For instance, since River Hill High School is operating well within the target utilization range, perhaps it should receive students from nearby schools such as Wilde Lake, Atholton or Howard, without sending478 students out to other schools. Certainly, the Board of Education can request a plan that achieves better capacity utilization with less than 7, 396 total students being relocated.

Equity: The very first sentence ofthe Policy Statement ofHCPSS Policy 6010 is The Board of Education of Howard County, with the advice of the Superintendent, establishes school attendance areas to provide quality, equitable educational opportunities to all students and to balancethe capacity utilization of all schools. Furthermore, "equitable" is defined in the policy statement as: Just or fair access, opportunities, and supports needed to help students, families, and staffreach their full potential by removing barriers to success that individuals face. It does not mean equal or everyone having the same things. The Presentation ofthe Attendance Area Adjustment Plan dated August 20, 2019 is not consistent with the Board of Education Policy Statement 6010, nor does it follow the BoE's definition of achieving "equitable" educational opportunities. We hereby request the Board of Education identify ways to provide additional educational resources to the students in need. Transferring students from a school with a low FARM ratio to a school with a high FARM ratio, only results in better "averages" for the schools. IT DOESNOT PROVIDE ANY INCREMENTALEDUCATIONAL RESOURCES OR OPPORTUNITESDIRECTLY TO THE STUDENTS.

In conclusion, we recommend the Board ofEducation reject the Presentation ofAttendance AreaAdjustment Plan dated August 20, 2019 due to the numerous and serious inconsistencies with regard to both Policy 6010 and the stated goals of the proposal. - The proposal would triple the commuting time of students in Polygon 176 - Many affected schools including River Hill High School are operating within the Board of Education projection, utilization and capacity guidelines and would experience a total student transfer of over 1, 000 children inclusive of students being sent and received. Boundary adjustments should be focused on schools operating over capacity or projected to be over capacity based on the 2019 Feasibility study. - The proposal does not provide additional resources directly to students in need, it simply provides more consistent FARM ratios across schools. Children do not need consistent FARM ratios, they need additional education resources provided directly to their schools.

Thank you,

AIpa Vashist Proud resident of Howard County, MD Kathleen V. Hanks

From: Jennifer Adewale Sent: Monday, August 26, 2019 10:21 AM To: Hcpss Redistricting Subject: [External] Top 3 most commented issues totally ignored in current proposal

Looking at the report and on page 7 the 3 most commented issues were contiguous grouping (neighborhoods wanting to stay together in schools), moving more kids together through ES, MS, HS, and transportation issues. The current proposal addresses none ofthose. The top three most commented on topics and the proposal actually makes those worse. Listen to the people please, stop the gerrymandering.

Jennifer Adewale Kathleen V. Hanks

From: Jared Barsky Sent: Monday, August 26, 2019 10:19 AM To: Hcpss Redistricting Subject: Fwd: [External] I oppose the proposed redistricting plan

Dear Board:

Thank you for all that you do. Please reconsider school reassignments that will be harmful to children on both sides.

My daughters have made wonderful friendships with a diverse group of students that have enriched their lives and educational experiences. These relationships will be harmed if they are required to move. I also believe that changingthe schools in the manner proposed fails to address facility utilization, equity, and farm program distribution in an equitable manner. We love our community and want to remain a part of it.

Removing students from CMS and moving others to CMS is not done solely to help utilization. Additionally, CMS has a proposed utilization of 95 percent after adding students from other schools to CM. This showsthat many students could be left at CMS without harming utilization, especially if others are not swapped in.

Changes appear to inequitably reassign CMS students. The test score differential after moving CMS students and Harper's Choice students shows substantially greater disparity than with any other school reassignment by double. Such score differentials will make such transition harmful to both Harper's Choice and CMS students. More importantly, moving a child for the purpose of increasing test scores is unethical.

Pleasework to find another solution to creating equity in schools that does not require student reassignment and does not move students unethically to increase test scores. I would like to help be part of a solution, but strongly oppose this solution.

Thank you, Jared Barsky 6035 Red Clover Lane Clarksville, Md 21029

Sent from my iPhone Kathleen V. Hanks

From: Miranda, Rose Sent: Monday, August 26, 2019 9:54 AM To: Hcpss Redistricting Subject: [External] Rising Juniors and Seniors

Hello,

My son will be a rising Senior at River Hill High School in the school year 2020/2021. My understanding is that the redistricting will take affect that year. Will he be allowed to stay at River Hill his final year and graduate with his class? Or will he have to move to a new school for his final year?

I understand that the Board needs to work through this... but I believe that leaving classmates during your last year of school and not being able to graduate with your friends, friends that have been establishedover the 4 yrs of school, is a bit unfair.

I ask the Board to consider the rising Senior and Juniors when making these moves.

Thanks, Rose

Rose Miranda Senior Application Analyst, Nursing Clinical Support MedStar Health 2301 Broadbirch Drive, Silver Spring MD (0) 301 680 8295 (0 443 686 2247 [email protected]

MedStarHealth ii, y sioE-for-profit inEegrat&dheslthcaiy ueiivery sywv^,, thti iaiqyhi if! Mafviiim.l ^r. ri (heWEishing)on. DC . region. Nafionqlly recogr>i7ec( for cifnic'li oi!F>iity in heart, orthopaedics, cancer and Gi. iMFOR ANT: This e-rnaii ('nduding any altachmenis) inay contain iofonnationthat is private, confidentiai, or protected by attoniey-clienf or other priviiege. If yoi received Ihis e-inail in error, please delete i! froni your sysleii'i with0!;tcopyiny it and notify senderby cepiy e-niaii, so that ouf records can be corrected Thank yoii. i'ielp conserve valuatsle resources - only print this emai! if necessafy. Kathleen V. Hanks

From: Nancy Kusmaul Sent: Monday, August 26, 2019 9-11 AM To: Hcpss Redistricting Subject: [External] Questions about needing more information

Dear Board Members,

My name is Nancy Kusmaul and I live in polygon 1268. My students are currently walkers to Bryant Woods Elementary and Wilde Lake Middle School. We are slated to be moved to Longfellow Elementary and Harpers Choice Middle School. My concern about redistricting has nothing to do with the schools but with the lack of information about transportation. While on paper, these schools are just as close as our current schools, the path by which my students would need to walk is wooded and unlit. We are concerned about their safety. No information has been provided about whether we would be considered walkers to these new schools or whether a bus would be provided, nor how we would be able to provide feedback about that specific item. This is a significant concern for us. Please let us know how we can address this specific issue.

Thank you,

Nancy Kusmaul

. MQ Virus-free, www^avflxom Kathleen V. Hanks

From: Jennifer Adewale Sent: Monday, August 26, 2019 9:05 AM To: Hcpss Redistricting Subject: [External] Fwd: Concerns about Superintendent's Proposal - Not testimony, concerns for my elected official

Hello.

I am a home owner in polygon 1014 currently slated for Atholton ES and now being proposed to attend Guilford ES in the 20-21 school year under Martirano's plan.

I was dismayed last night when I looked at Superintendent Martirano's proposal. I had previously reviewed the Feasibility Study (FS) report that HCPSS provided for Attendance Area Adjustment and am shocked at how divergent the two proposals are. In all the twelve courses of action (COA) in the FS none are even close to Martirano's proposal. I am not sure how an adjustment that was supposed to address predominately High School overcrowding has now become an adjustment to the entire school system. It is disingenuousfor such a divergent plan to be proposed after so much time and effort was put into the Feasibility study. Please stick with a COA in the FS report.

I have looked at the polygon map and request an explanation as to why polygon's 1017, 2048, 17, 1018, and 18, which are all geographically closer to Guilford ES, were jumped over and will continue to go to Atholton and the three polygons of 16, 1014, and 1016 are slated for Guilford. The jumping ofpolygon's will create an island ofHCPSS students who will feel alienated due to being separated from going to school with all their neighbors.

We as a community on Carnage Hills Drive (Polygon 1014) are obviously very concerned and request that the BOE use the thoroughly researched and reviewed feasibility study. While you are elected officials and so campaigned for your positions, I understand that you will be getting a lot of opinions and requests from many different parties and I appreciate you taking the time to read, hear, and consider our concerns. August 26, 2019

Dear Board of Education Members,

I am writing as a concerned Howard County resident (Polygon 176)and parent about the proposed impact ofDrMartirano's Presentation of the Attendance Area Adjustment Plan, dated August 20, 2019. As noted in the Executive Summary on Page 4, this proposal was developed with three primary goals as excerpted below:

The driving priorities for this process:

1. Balance capacity utilization among schools throughout HCPSS, cost effectively.

2. Advance equity by addressing the distribution of students pacttcipattng in the Free and Reduced price meals program (FARMs) across schools to the extent feasible.

3. Plan ahead for the High School ffl3 redistricting by minimizing double moves as much as possible.

We have also studied and respect the published policies which the Board of Education utilizes in making decisions with regard to school attendance areas/ specifically Policy 6010 {J3tt&£''. ZZwwwJ_icpss, Qr^/pp I icie s/600Q/60^10- s choqS- ane ndanc e-area s/) ;

Unfortunately, the Presentation of Attendance Area Adjustment Plan, dated August 20, 2019 is not consistent with the guidelines of Policy 6010 and does not achieve the three primary goats as stated in Or Martirano's letter. Please consider the following facts.

School Attendance Area:

School Attendance area and geographic proximity is a consideration of Policy 6010. The proposed redistricting of Polygon 176 would more than double the distance students travel to get to school.

Using Google Maps, Walnut Creek / Polygon 176 is 2. 1 Miles from River Hill High School (RHHS), Walnut Creek / Polygon 176 is 5,8_miles from Wilde Lake High School (WLHS). Using WAZE, the commute time from Polygon 176 to Wilde Lake High School would be 3x as long as the commute to River Hill High School, In addition, many of the students from Polygon 176 would have to drive through River Hill High School bus and car traffic, in-route to Wilde Lake High School under the August 20, 2019 proposal. This additional driving distance will be costly for the school system and potentially dangerous for children.

Capacitv Utilization:

Policy 6010 identifies three key aspects to school capacity which are (1) Projections [item P], (2) Target Utilization [item S] which is defined as enrollment between 90% and 110% utilization of program capacity and (3) Utilization [item T). The 2019 Feasibility Study (http_s://wwv/. hcpss. org/f/schoolplanning/2019/2019-feasibilitv-study_gdf) notes the following findings:

1. River Hill High School is projected to be at 94% Projected Utilization for 2019/2020 school. This is at the lower end of the Target Utilization range. 2. Page 33 of the Feasibility Study indicates that River Hill is within Target Utilization through the 10-year projection period of the study. 3. Under Dr Martirano s proposal, River Hill would send 478 students to other schools and receive 741 students from other schools, This is extremely disruptive and unnecessary for a school that is currently operating within each of guidelines [P], [S] and [T] of Policy 6010. 4. The board should reject a plan which moves approximately 7/400 total students including 478 students from River Hill High School which is currently operating within Board Policy guidelines regarding Projections/ Target Utilization and Utilization, 5. Any re-districting proposal should instead be focused on those five High Schools that are operating above Target Utilization levels (110%). 6. I believe the Board of Education should support a plan that includes less disruption at schools that are operating within the guidelines of [P], [S] and [T). For instance, since River Hill High School is operating well within the target utilization range, perhaps it should receive students from nearby schools such as Wilde Lake, Atholton or Howard, without sending 478 students out to other schools. Certainly, the Board of Education can request a plan that achieves better capacity utilization w[th_less than7,396_total students being relocated.

The very first sentence of the Policy Statement of HCPSS Policy 6010 is The Board of Education of Howard County, with the advice of the Superintendent, establishes school attendance areas to provide quality, equitable educational opportunities to all students and to b£ilan£g_the_caeacit^_utjMzgtiQn^^Qf_gll, schools.

Furthermore, equitable" is defined in the policy statement as: Just or fair access, opportunities, and supports needed to help students, families, and staff reach their full potential by removing barriers to success that individuafsface. )t does not mean equal or everyone having the same things.

The Presentation of the Attendance Area Adjustment Plan dated August 20, 2019 is not consistent with the Board of Education Policy Statement 6010, nor does it follow the BoE's definition of achieving 'equitable" educational opportunities. We hereby request the Board of Education identify ways to provide additional educational resources to the students in need. Transferring students from a school with a low FARM ratio to a school with a high FARM ratio, only results in better "averages" for the schools. IT DOES NOT PROVIDE ANYJNCREMENTAL EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES OR OPPORTUNITES DIRECTLYTQJHE STUDENTS.

In conclusion, we recommend the Board of Education reject the Presentation of Attendance Area Adjustment Plan dated August 20, 2019 due to the numerous and serious inconsistencies regarding both Policy 6010 and the stated goals of the proposal. The proposal would triple the commuting time of students in Polygon 176 Many affected schools including River Hill High School are operating within the Board of Education projection, utilization and capacity guidelines and would experience a total student transfer of over 1, 000 children inclusive of students being sent and received. Boundary adjustments should be focused on schools operating over capacity or projected to be over capacity based on the 2019 Feasibility study. The aspect of this proposal intended to create "equity does not provide additional resources directly to students in need. Children do not need consistent FARJVI ratjosithey need additional education resources provided directly to their schools and classrooms.

Thank you,

Matthew Jones

ec:

Ms Mavis Ellis mavjs e|]is(6>hcpss.orf

Ms Kirsten Coombs KJrsten coombs@hcpss. org

Ms Vicky Cutroneo Vicky cutroneo@hc^ss^org

Ms Christina Delmont-Small Christina delrnont-smal

Ms Jennifer Mallo Jennifer.m aj.!Q(a3hcpss. org.

Ms Sabina Taj satbinci_tai^hc05S. org

MrChaoWuchao wu@hcpss. ore Kathleen V. Hanks

From: Gallagher, Matthew

OBJECTION TO THE REDISTR1CTING OF PQLYGQN 1179 FOR THE SECOND TIME SINCE 1018- 201?

I live in polygon 1179. Inthesuperintendent'srecommendation, aswellasinthefeasibility study Western Option #2, my polygon, along with 179, 178, and 1178, are slated to be moved from West Friendship ES to Triadelphia Ridge ES. As you should know, these polygons were redistricted during the 2018-2019 school year from Manor Woods ES to West Friendship ES to reduce the overcrowding at Manor Woods ES due to all of the new developments in the area. At that time, many polygons were proposed to move, and in the end, we were among the few to move to a new school.

My wife attended the community meeting for our area in July 2019, and in speaking with one of the members from the consulting group, she was told that one of the purposes of the current proposed move was to relieve overcrowdingat West FriendshipES. Currently, this is not a factual statement, West FriendshipES is not overcrowded. The statement that West Friendship ES was overcrowded was challenging to hear as this was the samemessage from the 2018-2019redistricting. We are a neighborhoodestablished in the early 1970s. There are no new houses being built in our neighborhood. To be bounced around like a ping pong ball to reduce overcrowding caused by new developments is absolutely frustrating.

Policy 6010 (School Attendance Areas) identifies the factors to be considered when adjusting attendance areas. One of those factors is the "Frequency with which any one student is reassigned, making every attempt to not move a student more than once at any school level or the same student more frequently than once every five years. " (Emphasis added).

If this plan is approved, I will have two children that will have attended three elementary schools, while living in the same house. My son will have attended Manor Woods ES from K-2"d grade, West Friendship ES from 3rd-4th grade, and finally Triadelphia Ridge ES in 5th grade, to then be sent to Mount View MS with a 5% feed (10% only applies if polygons 157 and 1157 move to Triadelphia Ridge ES and get switched to Mount View MS). My daughter will have attended Manor Woods ES for kindergarten, West Friendship ES from l't-2"Ii grade, and Triadelphia Ridge ES from 3rd to 5th grade.

Redistricting polygon 1179 is not an equitable solution to the overcrowding in our schools. However, I understand that you need solutions. I have a scenario for you to look into. From what I gather from reviewing all of the documents, you are looking to have a contiguous area to feed to Triadelphia Ridge ES which was disrupted when polygon 1171 was moved to Triadelphia Ridge ES. If you move polygon 171 to Triadelphia Ridge ES (and leave our polygons alone), you will have a contiguous area. There are benefits to this plan. In future projections. West Friendship ES is expected to become overcrowded. Much ofthis is likely due to polygon 171. Polygon 171 contains land near Carroll Manor, which isjust beginning to have houses built upon it. By moving this area that does not currently have students who will be disrupted but will have a number of houses in the near future, you are reducing overcrowding at West Friendship ES, maintaining a contiguous area, and not uprooting 63 children for the second time in 2 years. Our four polygons 1179, 179, 178, and 1178 were of the few polygons to be redistricted for the 2018- 2019 school year and appear to be the ONLYpolygons to be moved again just two years later. With just 63 students (and at most 40 families), it is hard to have the same loud voice as some other communities. I implore you to think etiuitably and leave our polygons at West Friendship ES.

Thank you,

Matthew J. Gallagher Associate Counsel II General Counsel's Office 0: 301-206-8649 | E: matthew. gallagher@wsscwater. com 14501 Swertzer Lane, Suite 1240, Laurel, Maryland 20707 www.wsscwater.com

For 100 years, WSSC has proudly served the citizens of Prince George's and Montgomery counties - providing drinking water that has always met strict Safe Drinking Water Act standards and protecting the environment through vital water resource recovery services.

Our vision is to be THE world-class water utility, where excellent products and services are always on tap.

PRIVILEGED AND CONFIDENTIAL: THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS E-MAIL MESSAGE AND ANY ATTACHMENTS MAY BE ATTORNEY- CLIENT PRIVILEGED AND/OR CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION INTENDED FOR THE USE OF THE NAMED RECIPIENT ONLY. ANY DISSEMINATION, DISTRIBUTION, OR COPYING OF THIS COMMUNICATION OR ANY ATTACHMENTS IS PROHIBITED. IF YOU HAVE RECEIVED THIS EMAIL IN ERROR, PLEASE IMMEDIATELY DELETE AND NOTIFY THE SENDER Name: Justin Daniel Polygon Number: 129

If my current polygon needs to be moved to a new elementary school, t would suggest moving our four neighborhood polygons 64, 129, 1064, 1129 to Clarksville Elementary School, not Swansfield Elementary School. The estimated total number of children in this group is 153.

There is another set of polygons 135, 1135, 1174, 2135, 2174 currently zoned in Swansfield Elementary School, which I see are proposed to move to Clarksville Elementary School. The estimated total number of children in this group is 161.

It may be better for polygons 135, 1135, 1174, 2135, 2174 to remain in Swansfield Elementary School, and for polygons 64, 129, 1064, 1129 to move instead to Clarksville Elementary School. Polygons 135, 1135, 1174, 2135, 2174 are only about 1 mile from Swansfield Elementary School, and polygons 64, 129, 1064, 1129 are about 4 miles from Swansfield Elementary School. Also polygons 135, 1135, 1174, 2135, 2174 are over 4 miles away from Clarksville Elementary School and polygons 64, 129, 1064, 1129 are only about 3 miles away from Clarksville Elementary School.

So why are the 153 children in polygon 64, 129, 1064, 1129 moving to Swansfield Elementary School in place of the 161 children from polygons 135, 1135, 1174, 2135, 2174?

I think it makes more sense for polygons 135, 1135, 1174, 2135, 2174 to remain in Swansfield Elementary School and for polygons 62, 129, 1064, 1129 to move instead to Clarksville Elementary School, especially since polygons 62, 129, 1064, 1129 are closer to Clarksville Elementary School and polygons 135, 1135, 1174, 2135, 2174 are closer to Swansfield Elementary school, and both groups of polygons have a similar number of children proposed to move. Kathleen V. Hanks

From: Mahesh Patel Sent: Sunday, August 25, 2019 11:07 PM To: Hcpss Redistricting Subject: [External] Not supporting redistricting

Redistricting school is not a good idea for my kids due to following:

1) proposed school is too far 2) more travel time, less sleep and effects health 3) their appointments and activities will be affected 4)current school is under crowded and there is no reason to redistrict 5) jeopardizing their academic to move kids to different school in the middle of their high school 6) what happens when a new school is build up in 2023? Again redistricting, is this temporary?

I do not see a strong basis/needof redistrict. It will adversely effect my kids and family.

Please provide every board members current schools and proposed schools details.

Thanks, -Mahesh To whom it might concern: My name is Caihong Wen. I am living in Polygon 1028. I am writing this letter to express my strong disappointment about the superintendent's 2020 school redistricting proposal as a parent. This proposal is totally nonsense. All I can see is pure politics, not students' benefits. The following list reasons why I'm strongly against the proposal: 1. This proposal totally neglects the recent community output, BOE and parents made a lot of effort for the feasibility studies. The superintendent does not take the community feedback seriously. He just proposes a total difference proposal. 2. This proposal disrupt the community/school continuity. We live in river hill village, where kids will go to Clarksville ES, Clarksville MS and River hill high school. All of these school are under capacities. It is conceivable all the students are suppose to go these schools together. We can understand some students might need to transport to these schools because of the overcrowding issues. Moving out kids out of schools is totally unreasonable. My older daughter is a rising sixth grader. She will be the Clarksville MS this coming fall, She is very upset and worried after she know she will go to a new school after one year in the Clarksville MS. 3. This proposal waste a lot bus transportation and other administration fee. Our community is much closer to the Clarksville MS than the Harper Choice MS. Moving our kids to the Harper Choice MS means more bus time, gas emission and labors. Howard county has already in a very tight budget situation. The schools have to cut some teachers in the next school years. The extra waist money means our kids will get poorer education opportunities. 4. Averaging FARM rate among schools does not do anything good for both sides. All the Howard county schools share the same curriculums and teachers and staffs are equally good in every schools. Transferring FARM students from the schools close to their home to schools far away only increase the difficultly of improving their academic performance. As a kids from a poor family, I could go to college, graduate schools because my teachers provide plenty of practice materials for us instead of relying on parents. If the supperintendent really want to help FARM kids, he should provide free after school program to supper FARM students, and encourage students to complete more homework. 5. There is lack of evidence of effectiveness of changing FARM ratio in improving academic performance. Such rush changes will put all our kids's future under risk. It only good for some people politics benefits. 6. Our taxer payer have right to protect our kids, We can only vote for officers really work for our people, If the officers could not hear our voices, we will pursuit a lawsuit to prevent this nonsense redistribution proposal.

I am truly hope the school redistributing committee take a set of serious studies before they take such dramatic changes. Thank you.

Sincerely

Caihong Wen Kathleen V. Hanks

From: Kerry Owens Sent: Sunday, August 25, 2019 7:53 PM To: Hcpss Redistricting Subject: [External] Reconsider Redistricting

To whom this may concern, My family moved here two years ago from Baltimore City- specifically for the schools. My oldest son is set to start kindergarten in a week and just as he prepares this new journey with a new school, having to make all new friends, he may have to start the entire process all over again next year if the superintendent's recommendation stands. We are in Polygon 159 and currently districted for St. John's Lane elementary school. If the recommendation passes, my son would switch to Manor Woods. As nervous as my son is, it would be heartbreaking to have him start anew again next year. Additionally, it would break up my neighborhood, which my brother and his family live in. So now our family would be split up by schools in addition to our neighborhood. Please reconsider this decision.

Sincerely, Kerry Owens 2913 Pinewickrd.

Sent from my iPhone Kathleen V. Hanks

From: cindy prengler Sent: Sunday, August 25, 2019 5:37 PM To: Hcpss Redistricting Subject: [External] Redistricting

Dear whomever reads this message, I want to express my utter disgust for what this school board proposes to do about redistricting! I'm a parent of an incoming Freshman at RHHS and an 8th grader at FQMS. Im outraged by the misuse of authority in this redistricting! 3 yrs ago I moved my family to Clarksville from Rockville, trying to escape the substandard education my children were in line for at a Moiitgomery County high school. 3 yrs ago my mother passed away, exactly one yr after my father passed away, it was devastating, but they were fortunate to pass on an incredible legacy to me and my family, so much so that I could move to Howard County, where I heard schools were amazing! Every time I mentioned my boys would be going to RHHS, everyone was so complimentary about the standards and amazing school life there was! I had no idea of this until we moved here. I've loved the schools so far, Dayton Oaks and FQMS, and now my son will start his high school career at RHHS in a couple of weeks. I'll be damned if he's gonna start there this yr and be bussed 20 minutes across town because y'all want to distribute the wealth and not have one school bear the brunt of the free lunch program, among other lame excuses, no! I paid a HUGE premium for us to be in the best area with the best schools, to be bussed to a lesser school because "everyone " should be included, NO!!!!!!!! I'm sorry not everyone can afford to live here, 1 lost my parents and am bargaining my future to give my kids the best I can, I'm not letting this happen! I/we are not responsible for the masses, if the school is so great, then keep them where they are, I paid! We are not all winners, we are not all losers, but if you pay to get on the ride, I intend to ride, I can't help other people can't afford to be in our position, I cannot and neither can you, be responsible for the masses! I'm all for helping, I devoted my career as a social worker for 20 years to helping others and now that I canhelp my own kids, you're not gonna take that away! Call it white privilege, call it racist, I call it I'm paying my taxes and the cost of living for my home and family, and that's not going to stop us from going to a school 5 miles away! Cindy Prengler Disgruntled parent!

Sent from my iPhone Kathleen V. Hanks

From: td Sent: Sunday, August 25, 2019 3:32 PM To: Hcpss Redistricting Subject: [External] Superintendent's Recommendation

Good Afternoon Board of Education,

My children live in Polygon 15 and attend a great elementary school, Atholton Elementary. Currently, their middle school would be Hammond MS which is a good school. Under the Superintendent's recommendation, they would be re-assigned to Lake Elkhorn Middle School which is an underperforming school. I feel that this would be a disservice to my children and that their education would suffer. The Superintendent's re-assignment targets areas of those persons living in apartments. It is a fact that in Howard County most of the higher performing schools are located in areas where there are very few apartments or the apartment rent is incredibly high or the neighborhoods are affluent. The Superintendent speaks of equity in his presentation which means fairness and impartiality. His plan seems to give more weight to those with affluence. For example, I did not notice that Lime Kiln had any students re-assigned to it or Fulton Elementary or Reservoir High. However, many of the schools that are underperforming are receiving students. I agree with the Board's decision to not re- assign Polygon 15 and keep Hammond MS as the assigned school. I hope that you will take my testimony into consideration.

Thank you,

T. Derricotte Kathleen V. Hanks

From: Barb Krupiarz Sent: Sunday, August 25, 2019 10:20 AM To: Hcpss Redistricting Cc: barbkrup@verizon, net Subject: [External] Policy 6010

Individual concern:

My younger son is currently a sophomore at Howard High in polygon 86. When he was going to be a freshman and redistricting was being discussed, I communicated to Board of Ed members that he wanted to be moved to Long ReachHigh School to avoid the overcapacity at Howard. High school redistricting was not done then. However, he will have been on two sports teams for two years when this current redistricting will happen. He had a very rough start in the beginning of his Freshman year, but he worked hard and connected with teachers to drastically turn things around. Those teachers know his struggles and his hard work, more than grades on a report card - especially when it comes to letters of recommendation for college. My older son (with a disability) had very negative experiences throughout high school and I would like to avoid that for my younger son. I hope that the Board will truly practice what they preach when you talk about mental health of students.

I am fine with my neighborhood being moved to LRHS, but I am asking for an exception for rising juniors and seniors.

General concern:

The Superintendent's proposal (which includes rising juniors AND seniors) does NOT adhere to Policy 6010, which states:

The Board may consider exemptions for rising fifth, eighth, and eleventh grade students to continue attending schools in an area that is proposed for attendance area adjustments. Atiendance area adjustments will not affect rising twelfth grade students.

Policy 6010 is discussed in the minutes from every Attendance Area Committee meeting.

Also in the AAC meeting minutes:

Discussed what measurements are in place to measure the success of targeted assisted school versus school- wide Title I programs and whether the current Title I programs work in terms of getting students ready to succeed. There are no current measurements in place;although much data exists and it is difficult to sample."

This was not in the original meeting minutes drafted by your contractor and the AAC made them add to the minutes since the Title 1 staffadmitted that there are no current measurements in place "in terms of getting students ready to succeed" for low income students. I hope that causes the Board enough concern to direct the Superintendent to have his staff use appropriate data to inform decisions related to low income student success.

And finally, in the AAC meeting minutes: "Concerns discussed on differentiated staffing and resources are not going with the students that need the resources and that makingthe numbers work is different than meeting the needs of students to meet their academic potential."

I hope the Board asks for proof of appropriate staffing for ESOL,FARMs, and students with disabilities in schools as we potentially move thousands of students. Remember that our ESOL graduation rate is the lowest of all groups (followed by special ed). See HCPSS trends below -

ESOL eraduation rate trend:

Cohort Graduation Rate Trend Data (2014 - 2018)

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FARMs student graduation rate trend: Cohort Graduation Rate Trend Data (2014 - 2018)

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* Graduation Rate (!, ) (All Students) -9- Graduation Rate i:°i) (All Free'Reduced Meals Students) '00%

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The lowest sraduation rate for specialeducation students is in the Asianpopulation:

Cohort Graduation Rate Trend Data (2014 - 2018)

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And finally, HCPSS 2018 academic proficiency (defined by PARCC results) for elementi iddle. liiph PERCENT PROFICIENT

MATH ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS ACHIEVEMENT (E/M/H) DISTRICT Af. NUALTARGET 11, 'P:?CVEMS\T DISTRICT Ah Mj^L TARGET If. 'p-'C1

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All Students 57.5% / 55.2% / 66.9% a 56.5% , 57. 9% , 60.2% &

_e. ave. a_lo"gwayto go for many grouPS ofstudents. Forredistricting, we need to makesure supports are ini ilace at receiving schools for eachof our marginalized groups ofstudents. Otherwise, we are simply movine kids around.

Thank you for your hard work on this and many other areas.

Barb Krupiarz 7834 Rockbum Dr Ellicott City, 20143 August 25, 2019

Howard County Board of Education Members Ms. Mavis EIIis mavis ellis'S'hcDss. ora Ms. Kirsten Coombs kirsten coombswlicDss. ora Ms. Vicky Cutroneo iick^j:utroneo®lwEsjyxg Ms. Christina Delmont-Small cliristina__delinont. i, mail'fl'hcpss. ora Ms. Jennifer MaIlojennHer mallo@hcpss. org Ms. Sabina Taj jabina tai®lici->ss.on; Mr. Chao Wu chao wu/u)licDss. ors student memberi'ffilicpss. org. and

Dr. Michael J. Manirano, Superintendent, Howard County Public School System

Subject: Proposed Changes to Howard County School System Attendance Area Adjustment Plan Our Concerns and Comments

Dear Board of Education (BOE) Members and Dr. Martirano, We are parents of a fifth grader going into Triadelphia Ridge Elementary School. As longtime residents ofHoward County, our intent is to stayhere and raiseour son in this wonderful and diverse community ofours. Based on the current school boundaries, he will beattending Folly Quarter Middle andRiver Hill High. Weare writing to you aboutthe proposed impact ofDr Martirano's Presentation ofthe Attendance Area Adjustment Plan, dated August20, 2019. As noted in the Executive Summary on Page4, this proposal was developed with three primary goals as excerpted below: The driving prioritiesfor this process: /. Balance capacity utilization among schools throughout HCPSS, costeffectively. 2. Advance equity by addressingthe distribution ofstudents participating in the Free and Reduced price meals program (FARMs) across schools to the extent feasible. 3. Plan aheadfor the High School #13 redislricting by minimizing double moves asmuch as possible. Wehave also studied and respect the published policies whichthe BOEutilizes in making decisions with regard to school attendance areas, specifically Policy 6010 toes^wwvdic|3ss^ffpolicies/6000/60IO-scliod-atti:ndan(. p-!»-,. a^ Unfortunately, recommendations from the Presentation ofAttendance Area Adjustment Plan, dated August 20, 2019 is sfit consistent with the guidelines of Policy 6010 and does iwiachieve the three primary goals as stated in Dr Martirano's letter. Pleaseconsider the following facts.

1|Page School Attendance Area:

School Attendance area and geographic proximity is a consideration of Policy 6010. The proposed redistricting of Polygon 1 76 (we reside in this area) would more than double the distance students travel to get to school and does not make any logical sense. Using Google Maps, Walnut Creek / Polygon 176 is 2J^ Miles from River Hill High School (RHHS). Walnut Creek / Polygon 176 is 18_miles from Wilde Lake High School (WLHS). Using WAZE, the commute time from Polygon 176 to Wilde Lake High School would be 3x as long as the commute to River Hill High School. In addition, many of the students from Polygon 176 would have to drive past the River Hill High School and through River Hill High School bus and car traffic, en- route to Wilde Lake High School under the August 20, 2019 proposal.

Capacity Utilization:

Policy 6010 identifies three key aspects to school capacity which are (1) Projections [item P], (2) Target Utilization [item S] which is defined as enrollment between 90% and 1 10% utilization of program capacity and (3) Utilization [item TJ. The 2019 Feasibility Study (lUl^^www. lKj^^irgWschoc^iliUinmg^^ teasibilily-stiicly. pdn notes the following findings:

1. River Hill High School is projected to be at 94% Projected Utilization for 2019/2020 school. This is at the lower end of the Target Utilization range. 2. Page 33 of the Feasibility Study indicates that River Hill is ivithin Target Utilization through the 10-year projection period of the study. 3. Under Dr Martirano's proposal, River Hill would send 478 students to other schools_and_ receive 741 students from other schools. This is extremely disruptive and unnecessary for a school that is currently operating within each of guidelines [P], [Sj and [T] of Policy 6010. 4. We believe the board should reject a plan which moves approximately 7, 400 total students including 478 students from River Hill High School which is currently operating within Board Policy guidelines with regard to Projections, Target Utilization and Utilization. 5. We believe any re-distrjctjng proposal should instead be focused on those five High Schools that are operating above Target Utilization levels (110%). 6. We believe the Board of Education should support a plan that includes less disruption at schools that are operating within the guidelines of [P], [S] and [T]. For instance, since River Hill High School is operating well within the target utilization range, perhaps it should receive students from nearby schools such as Wilde Lake, Atholton or Howard, without sending 478 students out to other schools.

2 IP age We believe it is a wonderful idea to bring students from underperforming schools to better performing adjacent schools, but moving students the other way with the specific purpose of adjusting the statistics is misguided and sets a terrible precedence. We respectfully request that the BOE request a plan that achieves better capacity utilization with less than 7, 396 total students being relocated.

Equity: The very first sentence ofthe Policy Statement of HCPSS Policy 6010 is The Board of EclticMion of Howard County, with the advice of the SuperintendenL esfablishes .school tittendaiice areas lo provide iinciljtY, cyuittihle educational opportunities to all sludenls andjo halance the capiicilY iililization of all school. ',. Furthermore, "equitable" is defined in the policy statement as: Just or fair access, opportunities, and supports needed to help students, families, and staff reach their full potential by removing barriers to success that individuals face. It does not mean equal or everyone having the same things. The Presentation of the Attendance Area Adjustment Plan dated August 20, 2019 is not consistent with the Board of Education Policy Statement 6010, nor does it follow the BOE s definition of achieving "equitable" educational opportunities. It is quite evident that the recommendations for redistricting is a case of social engineering and purely based on race and ethnicity. There is no logic or case studies offered to show this type of social engineering will be successful. We hereby request that the BOE identify ways to provide additional educational resources and funding for schools in need, rather than adjusting the statistics to make you feel good. Transferring students from a school with a low FARM ratio to a school with a highFARM ratio, only results in adjustingthe statistics for the schools, but does not provide any benefit directly to the students. Socioeconomic issues such as income equality, better employment opportunities should be addressed by our elected officials at the County and State levels. The success of our school system is due to Students, Teachers and Parents, who are the key stakeholders. To date, there is only token involvement ofthe key stakeholders in this process. How the Superintendent and an outside consultant make recommendations on improvements to the school system without fully engaging the stakeholders in the community? As parents and the owner of a medium sized business headquanered in Ellicott City, it is distressing to see a flawed and closed process such as this happen in our own neighborhood. In conclusion, we strongly urge that the Board of Education reject the Attendance Area Adjustment Plan Recommendations dated August 20, 2019 due to the numerous and serious inconsistencies with regard to both Policy 6010 and the stated goals of the proposal.

3| Page The proposal would triple the commuting time of students in Polygon 176. Many affected schools including River Hill High School are operating within the Board ofEducation projection, utilization andcapacity guidelines andwould experience a total student transfer of over 1, 000 children inclusive of students beinj sentand received. Boundary adjustments should be focused on schools operating over capacityor projected to be over capacity basedon the 2019 Feasibility study. The proposal doesnot provide additional resources directly to students or schools in need, it simply provides more consistent FARM ratios across schools. Children do not need consistent FARM ratios, they need additional education resources and funding provided directly to their schools. We hope that the Attendance Area Adjustment will be revised based on comments received from all concerned students, parents and constituents. Thankyou for your consideration.

Sincerely, /^A^z-a. /?<

Mahesh and Srilakshmi Kukata 5042 Crape Myrtle Ct EllicottCity, MD21042 nikuka. ltiffl;adcl^;org^cwn sktjk at a 71 ;/a';sma i i .c o m 410-300-6379

c: Mr. Calvin Ball, Howard County Executive Calvjnj^l^howardcoyntvnid. gov Liz Walsh, Howard County Council, District 1 ewa]:. hia)ho\vardcoiintvind. iiov Opel Jones, Howard County Council, District 2 oioiies/i:?liowardcountvnid. "nv Christina Rigby, Howard County Council, District 3 crisby®h(;wardc^inlvmd. i. iiv DebJung, Howard County Council, District 4 diiina'ahowardcouiitvmd. imv David Yungmann, Howard County Council, District 5 d^ungmann^^how.irdcQi.iiitvind. eov

4| Pag Kathleen V. Hanks

From: caihong wen Sent: Saturday, August 24, 2019 11:36 PM To: Hcpss Redistricting Subject: [External] Strongly against 2020 supperintendent's proposal for school redistricting

To whom it might concern: I am writing this letter to express my strong disappointment about the superintendent's 2020 school redistricting proposal as a parent. This proposal is totally nonsense. All I can see is pure politics, not students' benefits. The following list reasons why I'm strongly against the proposal: 1. This proposal totally neglects the recent community output, BOE and parents made a lot of effort for the feasibility studies. The superintendent does not take the community feedback seriously. He just proposes a total difference proposal. 2. This proposal disrupt the community/school continuity. We live in river hill village, where kids will go to Clarksville ES, Clarksville MS and River hill high school. All of these school are under capacities. It is conceivable all the students are suppose to go these schools together. We can understand some students might need to transport to these schools because of the overcrowding issues. Moving out kids out of schools is totally unreasonable. My older daughteris a rising sixth grader. She will be the CIarksville MS this coming fall. She is very upset and worried after she know she will go to a new school after one year in the Clarksville MS. 3. This proposal waste a lot bus transportation and other administration fee. Our community is much closer to the Clarksville MS than the Harper Choice MS. Moving our kids to the Harper Choice MS means more bus time, gas emission and labors. Howard county has already in a very tight budget situation. The schools have to cut some teachers in the next school years. The extra waist money means our kids will get poorer education opportunities. 4. Averaging FARM rate among schools does not do anything good for both sides. All the Howard county schools share the same curriculums and teachers and staffs are equally good in every schools. Transferring FARM students from the schools close to their home to schools far away only increase the difficultly of improving their academic performance. As a kids from a poor family, I could go to college, graduate schools becausemy teachers provide plenty of practice materials for us instead of relying on parents. If the supperintendent really wantto help FARM kids, he should provide free after school program to supper FARM students, and encourage students to complete more homework. 5. There is lack of evidence of effectiveness of changing FARM ratio in improving academic performance. Such rush changes will put all our kids's future under risk. It only good for some people politics benefits. 6. Our taxer payer have right to protect our kids. We can only vote for officers really work for our people. If the officers could not hear our voices, we will pursuit a lawsuit to prevent this nonsense redistribution proposal.

Please respect our kids futures. Thank you.

Caihong Kathleen V. Hanks

From: Peter Kochunov <:pkochunov(a)gmail. com> Sent: Saturday, August 24, 2019 8:30 PM To: Hcpss Redistricting Subject: [External] feedback on the rezoning of the Sunset neighborhood - 2074

Dear Board of Education, I and my neighbors in the Sunset and Horseshoe neighborhoods have reviewed the proposed plan for rezoning the 2074 for the middle school change from Ellicott Mills to Bonnie Branch. The overall feedbackwas uniformly negative. We feel that the move ofonly 16 children away from their existing school will both brin; an undue burden on the children and parents and of little overall impact. Everyone has unifonnly acknowledged that the disrupting the friendship circles and class assignments will be very stressful for the children. Likewise, since this a very small neighborhood that the change is of little consequence when taken in the bigger picture. The proposed plan will also cause polygonal fragmentation and breaking of the logical boundaries. Therefore, I would like register my complete disagreement with this move. I communicated with other parents who will likewise be lodging their complaints with respect to the proposed middle school assignment. Thank you

Peter Kochunov 8326 Sunset drive, EllicottCity, MD, 21043. Kathleen V. Hanks

From: Elaine E. Whalen Sent: Saturday, August 24, 2019 8:28 PM To: Hcpss Redistricting Subject: Glenmont neighborhood redistricting Polygon 2065

Polygon 2065 To the Redistricting Committee,

I agree with your assessment that schools need to be redistricted to balance the farms students. I applaud your efforts. But I also understand the need for feeder schools and students being able to walk to their neighborhood schools if available. That is why I am concerned with your redistricting of the Glenmont neighborhood.

Thunder Hill Elementary School is within walking distance for many of the children in Glenmont. Putting them on a bus makes no sense. Getting across Route 175 when that is unnecessary and creates a barrier to friendships that would be formed in elementary school.

Years ago, the students in Glenmont went to Oakland Mills Middle and then Howard High School (we are walkers there). My children were one of a handful that left Oakland Mills Middle and then went to Howard. That transition, of not knowing anyone in the school was quite hard. With my working as a school teacher, the ability for my children to walk home from Howard afforded them the ability to be involved in after school activities. But not knowing any students made the first year especially difficult for my son.

Due to the above, I hope you and the board reconsider the movement of Glenmont from their current schools.

Sincerely, Elaine Whalen Board of Education

10910 Clarksville Pike Ellicott City, MD 21042 Re: Proposed HCPSS Redistricting

To All Howard County Public School System Board of Education Members:

My name is Lilia Kaplan-Robbins. We are in Polygon 1028. It is very disheartening, discouraging, frustrating, and downright apprehensive, to read Dr. Martirano's recommended attendance area adjustment plan. What makes Dr. Martirano's proposal very volatile and unjust is how completely different and extreme it is than the recommendations presented in the Feasibility Study. What was the point of the Feasibility Study then? What was the purpose of asking Howard County residents to study and weigh in and comment/provide feedback on the Feasibility Study if Dr. Martirano simply disregarded it! Perhaps the Feasibility Study did not meet Dr. Martirano's personal or political agenda and/or economic goals, or was it not as polarizing as he hoped it would be? Dr. Martirano is strongly focusing and giving priority to one factor/issue only - Equity/FARM. While this is an important issue, it cannot be solved or even truly alleviated through Dr. Martirano's proposed "cookie-cutter"/reshuffle plan. Dr. Martirano's recommended attendance area adjustment plan pointedly disregards our neighborhood's geography, social structure, our schools' ties into the entire community and county, and forcefully implants schools that are located nowhere near our zoned/local schools causing irreparable rift in the community. What is the price of such stress? Trying to secure more and better equity and lower FARM numbers should not be done at the expense of a single neighborhood that has done nothing wrong other than work tirelessly for nearly two decades to build the best of the best in terms of strong community, schools, academic curriculum and performance, G/T programs, safety. Dr. Martirano's redistricting plan blatantly penalizes and targets in particular the River Hill community and it is plain shocking and unfair (perhaps unethical as well). Dr. Martirano's recommended attendance area adjustment plan makes little geographic sense. His sole purpose it seems is only to reduce FARM levels at high poverty schools and maybe try balance out some test scores along with some economy. His proposal would have my neighborhood/polygon go from the local middle school (Clarksville) about 2 miles away to one 4 miles away (Harper's Choice).

Aside from the distance issue (my daughter has motion sickness), the academic curriculum and performance, test scores and G/T classes of Clarksville Middle School and Harper's Choice Middle School are outright incomparable!! Harper's Choice Middle School academic scores and test scores are alarmingly low, not to mention lack of proper infrastructure and support for G/T/STEM programs (31% of the student body proficient in English and 22% of the student body proficient in Math). Similar numbers apply to Swansfield Elementary School - one of the worst performing elementary schools (36% of the student body proficient in English and 33% of the student body proficient in Math). Swansfield ES is located nowhere near Clarksville ES and yet it is recommended that it should be basically artificially implemented in River Hill. Mind haggling how a community can be cutjaggedly into pieces. This type of "cookie-cutter"/"quick fix" redistricting causes even bigger rift socially, socioeconomically and academically. Both Clarksville and Harper's Choice Middle Schools currently have approximately 560 students, so it is not a question of overcrowding or capacity re-balancing. It is strictly a FARM restructuring, and I am shocked that this seems to be the main and only motivating issue behind these changes that will drastically and immensely negatively affect countless families.

Dr. Martirano's proposal will not reduce total number of FARM but just reshuffle them. What a waste of gas expense on school buses while there is always whisper of Howard County running out of funds. The proposed changes by Dr. Martirano are divisive, biased and visibly politically and economically motivated. The proposed changes that stand out the most are the River Hill HS/Wilde Lake HS one (taking a huge area north and northwest of River Hill high school and sending them to Wilde Lake) and even more disturbing, and outright aggressive potential change, is taking the large neighborhood in River Hill, adjacent to Clarksville Elementary School and River Hill High School, (Polygons 28, 185, 186, 1028, 1185, 1186, 2028) and sending them(200+ students) to Harper's Choice Middle School. This divides the neighborhood socially, psychologically, emotionally, academically, and to a large degree socioeconomically, as many families outside those zones but still in River Hill neighborhood will continue to go to Clarksville Middle School. Instead of building community and respecting its ties to the local schools and the county, this redjstricting plan tears it mercilessly apart. Cutting large chunks into neighborhoods especially The Village of River Hill and sending parts of the same neighborhood to schools much further than our local ones strictly for the economic goal of redistributing FARM vs non-FARM students, is so drastically different than just adjusting borders in small ways here or there. This is extremely worrisome in the immediate sense as well as the long term. The position and the responsibilities of the Superintendent of the Board of Education as well as the members of the Board of Education are those of public servants. Given his recommendations and the intimidating fervor with which Dr. Martirano promotes them, he comes across not as a neutral party who supports and tries to benefit all groups of students, but as a hostile and biased autocrat who lacks compassion and concern for a particular group of students and their families -River Hill. This is not autocracy, sir! Trying to force more diversity in the schools, although there is much diversity in -.ver Hi" ethnically and religiously anyway, by creating nonsense districts is only going to make most people unhappy and not solve much in the short or long run. Perhaps more thought and planning should be given to building faster proper infrastructure BEFORE more people join the school district. I think it is highly likely that many people will start entertaining ideas about moving out of the county or even the state and/or look into private schools. We invested in our neighborhood our education, our personal and professional experiences, our time; we nurtured the local schools academically and after all that, we are going to be told by a public servant who is suppose to'have' everyone's interest at heart that we cannot attend our local schools?! Makes me wonder if this is appeasement for the County Council. PLEASE_STOPUSINGOUR CHILDRENAS PAWNS IN POLITICALGAMES. THE KIDS OF RIVER HILLARE NOT JUST POLYGON NUMBERS. Than^k you for reading my testimony. Please give your outmost serious consideration to voting NO to Dr. Martirano's proposed attendance ar'ea adjustment plan.

Respectfully, Lilia Kaplan-Robbins Kathleen V. Hanks

From: J. D. Ma Sent: Saturday, August 24, 2019 6:16 PM To: Hcpss Redistricting Subject: [External] Re: opposition to proposed busing and redistricting

Dear Mr. Superintendent and Committee members:

We are family from Polygon 1028. My name is Jundong Ma. My wife's name is Xiaoxue Wang. And we have an 11-year old daughter Michelle Ma is currently enrolled in Clarksville Middle School as an incoming 6th grader. We oppose to the proposed busing and redistricting in connection with the Clarksville Middle School (CMS), to the strongest extent.

Among other reasons, if the proposed plan is implemented, it is alwaysalmost certainthat the property values in the CMS area, where you bought our current house a fewyears ago witha premium price, are going to decrease drastically. That means tremendous amount of financial losses placed on families like me. This proposed plan essentially would put all the burden oftrying to correct a perceived less desirable situation -- namely, that students in schools with a high FARM rate have a relatively lower performance rating -- onto families like us, while it is NOT our fault that those students are under-performing academically.

In this day and age, which is 65 years after Brown v. Board of Education, forced busing is completely out ofthe main stream. All of us parents here are for de-segregation, especially we are ourselves minorities. However, the current undesirable makeup of FARM students in our schools is not caused by institutional segregation, but instead caused by many other voluntary factors, such as zoning, income distribution among families, and so on. So addressingthis issue should start from root causes ofthis issue, andnot forcing kids to be bused from one school to another, which in turn put all the burden on family like ours.

Best.

JD(DadofMichelleMa) Kathleen V. Hanks

From: Hyung Kyum Oh Sent: Saturday, August 24, 2019 3:00 PM To: Hcpss Redistricting Subject: [External] Please stop school redistricting in Howard County!

Dear Council member,

I am writing this letter to show my concern regarding redistricting in Howard County, 2020-2021 Weare a militaryfamily, and recenUy relocated to Fort Meade. Aftercareful consideration, wedecided to purchase a house and settle down in Howard County as a military retirement is getting closer. We had been searching for a nice school district, and ended up buying a housein Clarksville this Summer. As a militaryfamily, the housewas top offour money, butwe decidedto investour moneyfor our kids' better school education andfuture". The most important facto'r we've considered to purchase the housewas a "WALKINGDISTANCE", kid's friendly environment to and from school everyday, not bussing from here to there to make kids tired on the bus. After registermy two kids, we have received theemail from Howard County redistricting the school. Whichmeans thatour kids has to wasted their time on the bus for over 20 minutes instead of 5 minutes and also to title I school. Whata NONSENSE! We've paid our premium to invest our kids for better education in a nice neighbor. I have worked at Title ?-c^.?- Lye_^rs'^n? known that howthe parent's role at home is affected by their kids, not byjust spreading the FARMs to^different school.^lf your proposal is finalized, then howare you going to manage all county bus system and kids who travels more than 20 minutes back and forth every day? How about their challenging academic achievement? How about their healthy and afterschool activities? You ruin all Clarksville and Pointer Run family's plan andtheir future You only care about FARMs and low income families to spread the rate. You never care about those middle school people who are working hard to pay much property taxes for better environment. Your idea to redistrict is a wav to communism and socialism in USA. NONSENSE!

Think about why US news and World report rank all high schools in USA? If your recommendation is ideal, then the US news.shoulcl stop P"blishin9the annual highschool ranking to desegregate the US. Before relocating to C'larksville, Fve c-ecked. thes-chool,,ofeducation in HowardCounty foryears, butsince you try to redistrict HowardCounty every year, its ra"kl"9. hasg-''a<:l"a"ydropped for. 'ast. 5 years:please chsckthe websit'e, US'newsand world'report foryea7s"'Please' I'e't kids c,ari

Hyung Oh Polygon 1028 Clarksville resident Written Testimony

Lindsay Pickett

Polygon 1186

I would like to appeal the move of polygon 1186 from Clarksville Middle School to Harpers choice middle school. My family has been in the Clarksville area for over 60years, my sons grandmother went to Clarksville Elementary, as well as my husband. We stayed in this area to be apart of the Clarksville Community andwith the hopesto begoing to the HowardCounty Clarksville schools. Uprooting our kids from CMS to Harpers choice will pull them away from the community and their friends and then bringingthem backto RHSfor high school. I strongly strongly encourage you to re think this proposal and move these polygons back to Clarksville Middle school. Kathleen V. Hanks

From: Jen Gallagher Sent: Saturday, August 24, 2019 1:25 PM To: Hcpss Redistricting Subject: [External] OBJECTION to BEING REDISTRICTED TWICE

OBJECTIONTO THE REDISTRICTINGOF POLYGON1179 FORTHE SECONDTIME SINCE2018-2019

My name is Jennifer Gallagher. I am a HCPSSemployee and parent, and was once a HCPSSstudent. I live in polygon 1179. In the superintendent's recommendation, as well as in the feasibility study Western Option #2, my polygon, alongwith 179, 178, and 1178, are slated to be moved from West Friendship ESto Triadelphia Ridge ES. As you should know, these polygons were redistricted during the 2018-2019 school year from Manor Woods ESto West Friendship ESto reduce the overcrowding at Manor Woods ESdue to all of the new developments in the area. At that time, many polygons were proposed to move, and in the end, we were among the few to move to a new school.

I attended the community meeting for my area in July 2019, and in speaking with one of the members from the consulting group, was told that one of the purposes of the current proposed move wasto relieve overcrowding at West Friendship ES. Currently, this is not a factual statement, West Friendship ES is not overcrowded. The statement that West Friendship ESwas overcrowded was challenging to hear as this was the same message from the 2018-2019 redistricting. We are a neighborhood established in the early 1970s. There are no new houses being built in our neighborhood. To be bounced around like a ping pong ball to reduce overcrowding caused by new developments is absolutely frustrating.

Policy6010 (School Attendance Areas) identifiesthe factors to be considered when adjusting attendance areas. One ofthose factors is the "Frequencywith which anyone student is reassigned, making every attempt to not move a student more than once at any school level or the same student more frequently than once every five years. " (Emphasis added).

Ifthis plan is approved, I will have two children that will have attended three elementary schools, while livinRin the same house. My son will have attended Manor Woods ESfrom K-2"dgrade. West FriendshTp ES from 3rd-4th grade, and finally Triadelphia Ridge ES in 5th grade, to then be sent to Mount View MS with a 5%feed (10% only applies if polygons 157 and 1157 move to Triadelphia Ridge ESand get switched to Mount View MS). My daughter will have attended Manor Woods ESin kindergarten. West Friendship ES from lst-2"d grade, and Triadelphia Ridge ESfrom 3rd to 5th grade.

Redistricting polygon 1179 is not_an equitable solution to the overcrowding in our schools. However, I understand that you need solutions. I have a scenario for you to look into. From what I gather from perusing all of the documents, you are looking to have a contiguous area to feed to Triadelphia Ridge ESwhich was disrupted when polygon 1171was moved to Triadelphia Ridge ES. Ifyou move polygon 171to Triadelphia RidgeES (and leaveour polygons alone), you will havea contiguous area. There are benefitsto this plan. In future projections. WestFriendship ESis expected to becomeovercrowded. Much ofthis is likely dueto polygon 171. Polygon 171 contains land near Charles Manor, which isjust beginning to have houses built upon it. By moving this area that does not currently have students who will be disrupted but will have a number of houses in the near future, you are reducing overcrowding at West Friendship ES, maintaining a contiguous area, and not uprooting 63 children for the second time in 4 years.

Our four polygons 1179, 179, 178, and 1178wereofthefewpolygonsto be redistricted forthe 2018-2019 school year and appear to be the ONLY polygons to be moved again just two years later. With just 63 students (and at most 40 families), it is hard to have the same loud voice as some other communities. I implore you to think equitably and leave our polygons at West Friendship ES.

Thank you for your time.

Jennifer Gallagher, Howard County resident, employee, and parent Kathleen V. Hanks

From: Matt Slatkin Sent: Saturday, August 24, 2019 10:04 AM To: Hcpss Redistricting Subject: [External] Redistricting

These priorities also included keeping school boundaries contiguous while maintaining neighborhood schools and walkable distances for as many students as possible."

I low in the world does sending apart of Maple 5 miles down the road to Laurel Woods instead of Maple Lawn accomplish this? My house is 1. 1 niiles from Fulton and 5 miles from Laurel Woods.^My daughters before and after care is in a ditferent part ofMaple Lawnand they walk to school from there care provider as do many others in Maple Lawn. Please advise on who thought this was a good idea and why? Additionally, many kids in Maple Lawn play travel soccer and practices are 3 days a week at Coventant Park at 5. We barely get to practice as time as [t is. We leave straight from bus slop and eat snacks in the car. Breaking up Maple Lawn into different schools goes againstthe quote above thatcame from the superintendent. Kathleen V. Hanks

From: Sridhar Chatrathi Sent: Saturday, August 24, 2019 8:42 AM To: Hcpss Redistricting Subject: [External] please don't redistrict

To whom it may concern:

I am a resident of Polygon 1185 and I am strongly opposed to the redistricting plan. My house is literally next to River Hill High school and this would be a great encumbrance on me and my family. It makes no sense to bus us to another district. Please reconsider!! Sezin Palmer (Polygon 1186) August 24, 2019

Dear HCPSS Board members,

I read with horror the proposed redistricting plan and had to re-read it several times to believe what I was seeing. Never in the history of HCPSS have I seen such a reckless approach to achieving a set of preconceived and political interest-driven numbers than the proposal laid out by the current superintendent. While I thought the study conducted by the Board provided some reasonable options that were not overly disruptive, the Superintendent went beyond any common-sense approach to rebalancing overcrowded schools and instead took a radical approach to completely disrupting Howard County. To move over 7, 000 children - in most cases swapping out children in close proximity to one school for children farther away from those schools and picking pockets of children based on meeting FARM criteria only - is thoughtless and reckless. His proposal is reminiscent of the bussing of children that occurred half a century ago that has no place in Howard County or in 2020.

The beauty of Howard County has always been thoughtful approaches to any challenge that have the interests of the entire community in mind. This superintendent appears to care about one thing only: making a name for himself under the guise of "equity". Shipping kids all across the county to achieve his personal goals is not "equity" and it is disruptive in so many ways. Many working parents, like me, chose to live and work in close proximity to their children;' schools so they can juggle the demands of work and caringfor school-aged children more easily. Moving children to attend schools much further away makes it more difficult, if not impossible, for working parents to achieve this. It takes time away from participating in school activities - both educational and extracurricular - for parents who carefully planned their housing choice to live close to the schools their children will attend. Furthermore, separating neighbors and friends who have attended school together for years and sending them off in different directions - again, for the sole purpose of achieving FARM numbers of interest to the superintendent - is not indicative of a considered, thoughtful approach and speaks volumes to what is motivating decision making in Howard County today. None of this is about providing a better education for our children -this is a political stunt intended to make a statement without regard for the welfare of thousands of children and their families.

I, and hundreds of parents like me, are appalled at the actions of the Superintendent and can only hope that sanity will prevail in the school board's decision-making. Please consider the negative impact this would have on all families and vote againstthis proposal. Demonstrate that such disruptive measures will not be approved for political gain. I've lived in Howard County my entire life and have to think that we are better than this and will not succumb to the whims of those lookingto make a political statement at the expense of our children.

Sincerely, Sezin Palmer Kathleen V. Hanks

From: hromich32 Sent: Saturday, August 24, 2019 4:20 AM To: Hcpss Redistricting Subject: [External] Keep the Walkers at Long Reach ( Polygon 79)

Good Morning, I had a chance to review the proposed school boundary document for 2020. I am a resident with 3 kids in Polygon 79. I am currently a WALKER to Long Reach High School. It is proposed to send my polygon to Oakland Mills which would require a 15 bus ride. Our current situation my kids could walk on the paths and get to Long Reach which helps with after school activities and transportation for 2 working parents. Also, polygon 79 is a connected neighborhood to polygon 1079. As a community we are an interwoven neighborhood and it would be crazy to think kids next door to us would be going to a different high school. My polygon would be taken away from all of the elementary and middle school friends that they ride their bikes with see at school and go to a completely new high school where no familiar peers are present. Please rethink taking a student who WALKS to school to sending them on a 15 minute bus ride. Keep Polygon 79 at Long Reach High School. Best Regards, Heather Dexter

Sent via the Samsung Galaxy S8, an AT&T 50 Evolulioii capable sniartphone Kathleen V. Hanks

From: JIANFANG Cai Sent: Friday, August 23, 2019 11:35 PM To: Hcpss Redistricting Subject: [External] polygon# 2028, Strongly oppose Martirano's attendance area adjustment proposal

Hi,

I m a motherofmy son currently studying in clarksville middle school. My polygon# is 2028. I'm here to strong oppose the recent boundary line adjustment by superintedent Martirano.

My son is rising 7th grader and he is actively involved CMS various programs (orchestra, G/T seminiars). He has established strong binding with the school and his friends and classmates. I'm so glad he is growing and thriving in current environment.

However, I'm shocked by the recent proposal of boundary line adjustment. This proposal will adversely impact and deeply interrupt my son's academic and social growth if in his rising 8th grade only to find out he has lost all the connections the friendships and other social binding in CMS and has to rebuild the connections from ground zero. I fear this impact can be long lasting to my son.

After my son got this news, he has already shown the deep concerns which I have never seen in him before. I believe this kind of worry and concern is totally unfounded only because someone trys to implement his/her own agendaor echo to someone else's political slogan at the expense of MY growing kids.

Another way to see how silly this propsal would be is that, it would increase my kid's commute time from 3 minutes to 20 minutes.

I wish board of education can seriously rethink of this proposal and give the impacted kids a peace of mind.

For person who initiatiated and supported this proposal, you will not get my vote and I reserve my right to pursue further legal action to them if my son suffers as the consequence.

sincerely yours,

Jianfang Wang Kathleen V. Hanks

From: jerseyboysl (alprotonmail. com Sent: Friday, August 23, 2019 9:52 PM To: Hcpss Redistricting Subject: [External] Testimony

I agree with redistricting basedon school capacity/geography, but do not understand why FARM student distribution should be a factor. I believe the reasoning based on inequality is a dangerous one because HCPSS is then making the statement that the schools that served the poorer families in the past are not fit to meet their educational needs whereas all HCPSS schools should already be equitable in educational resources/opportunities which is directly controlled by HCPSS. If some schools are not providing the needed educational support for underserved communities then you need to fix the school. Recent Baltimore Sun reporting with regards to some HoCo Council members still believing segregation is present in HoCo is especially disturbing and may have influenced this decision to appease those for future funding initiatives. Redistricting should be based on geography and to alleviate capacity issues only. The main issue is the lack of communication betweenthe HoCo zoning board/CoIumbiaAssociation and HCPSS. HCPSS should have coordinated the deployment of additional schools in line with the increase of housing projects, or pushed back on zoning through the Council to not allow additional building because schools could not keep up with the expanded multi family unit building in the Columbia, Fulton, and Elkridge areas. Kathleen V. Hanks

From: The Reviewer Sent: Friday, August 23, 2019 5:43 PM To: Hcpss Redistricting Subject: [External] Boundary School Feedback

Hello. I just wanted to add some feedback.

I live in Polygon 93 that goes to Mount Hebron High school. The thing is Centennial and Howard are both Closer to us than Mount Hebron High School Is.

Plus Mount Hebron is very far from us. The rest of our middle school (Ellicott Mills Middle School) goes to Centennial High School or Howard High School, which is much more closer and convenient.

My feedback was to see if we (The Worthington Elementary School section) could be put in a closer high school than Mount Hebron. Kathleen V. Hanks

From: Wang, Wendy Sent: Friday, August 23, 2019 4:42 PM To: Hcpss Redistricting Subject: [External] School Redistricting for 1200 - Totally Ridiculous and The Waste of the HC Taxpayers' Money

Importance: High

I am a homeowner of 11914 Northern Bell Way, Clarksville. I just heard that 478 students will be removed from River Kill High School (RHHS) and 741 students will be redistricted to River Hill High School beginning 2020. And the children of our community will be redistricted to Wilde Lake High School beginning in the 2020- 2021 school year.

. I would like to say first that your so -call school redistricting is a waste of our county staxpayers money first.

. Second, this proposal is not making any sense at all by sending out 478 students from RHHS and redistricting 741 to it. You can simply just redistrict 263 students to RHHS if this is really necessary.

. Third, we all know that our property values are significantly impacted by the schools that our children attend. 4 years ago, I had to pay my builder 10% more (i. e., over $100, 000. 00) for the same house than those that they built then in Ellicott City that belongs to Centennial High School. Now you are redistricting my children to Wilde Lake High School (WLHS) which is much bigger different than RHHS. This is not acceptable!

. Fourth, school locations and traffic to schools play significant roles when we purchase our properties. As this significantly impacts our jobs in nowadays. The redistricting our children to WLHS tremendously impacts our jobs as we have to drive our children to school when they miss the bus in rush hours or when they have some activities at school. Please pay listen to our outcry and consider the significant negative financial and job impacts that you bring to us!!!!!!!

Wendy Wang

Unauthorized interception of this communication could be a violation of Federal and State Law. This communication and any files transmitted with it are confidential and may contain protected health information. This communication is solely for the use of the person or entity to whom it was addressed. It'you are not the (polygon number: 2065)

To The Board Education Boundary Review,

My name is Yu-Chih Lin and we moved to the Glenmont community four years ago. Our kids are currently at Thunder Hill Elementary School. We love our community and school, which is the reason why we first chose this location. However, the recent proposal may result in school change that totally defeats our original idea of moving here. When looking carefully, I do not think the way you determine the school boundary is optimal. Instead of changing the boundary each year, I would think that it makes more sense to improve or modify the school infrastructure and staff compositions to accommodate the change of the population in the community is a better solution. The growth of Howard County is expected and more people will be moving in and out due to the good reputation of the education system here. However, the constant changes in school zoning increase the stress level of the community and may reduce the stability of the education system here at Howard County. Therefore, I urge you rather than redistricting students and families, focusing more on school improvement or modification. Education is about people, not about where you live.

Sincerely, Yu-Chih Un Kathleen V. Hanks

From: Chris Martin Sent: Friday, August 23, 2019 3:52 PM To: Hcpss Redistricting Subject: [External] meaning of equity Attachments: IISC^EqualityEquity.png

disrupting neighborhoods & community schools does not support needy areas. true equity would mean providing additional supports & money to schools that serve low income neighborhoods (sucli the renovation & addition approved for F^ammond High). Schools with high farms numbers should get proportionally more funding for the physical structure - proportionally more funds for additional programs - proportionally more funds for extra staffing to lower class size etc. It seems like the leaders of HCPSS haven't seen this popular ineme out there and don't understand what equity is (it's not all having similar populations)

Schools should not be shielded from income diversity but students should not be made pawns in a numbers game. Also why the large high school change when the new high school opens in 2-3 years - did the BOB not just say 2 years ago that high schools redistricting would wait for the new school to open?

Chris Martin Kathleen V. Hanks

From: Michael Parker Sent: Friday, August 23, 2019 3:50 PM To: Hcpss Redistricting Subject: [External] Redistricting

I am writing on behalf of several families in Howard County Schools that have been waiting for school redistricting for years. The proverbial can has been kicked downthe road one too many times and something must be done to fix it. As one can see from reviewing the hundreds of comments and testimonies from concerned families, you will never please everyone. There are many individuals commenting on emotions and many more who dont even have children in the schools. Others complain about house prices or a bus ride that will take an additional five to ten minutes. In the past, the Board of Education and the Superintendent has cowered and eventually buckled to the loudest groups who chastise the plans. I am hopeful the board and superintendent will stand up to these individuals and groups and make a sound decisionbased on DATA, not emotion. It is time to grow up and be adult leaders.

Why is redistricting on the table again? The schools are overcrowded, FARM rates are out of control and nothing has been done for well over a decadewith meaningful change. SOMETHINGmust happen, and it can't be done with unrealistic ideas(think last time around) that fail or only partially work. Planning new schools that will effect only certain areas in 5-10 years does little to nothing. Because nothing has been done, the aforementioned problems have been exacerbated to the point a major redistricting must occur now, with planned future smaller redistricting done every 5 years.

So what is the solution?

Should we go with the committee who has endured long hours pouring over dataand scenarios?

Should we go with Dr. Martirano's recommendation of his assessment?

There is no easy answer, but the overall changes to FARM rates and overcrowding seem to best be realized in Superintendent Dr. Martirano's plan. It is less drastic than it could be, but will still necessitate changes as we move forward. As a fallback, the Committee's option 1 for HS and MS would work very well. Options 2 are terrible and will barely do anything to address overcrowdingand other issues,

Howard County Schools can not let this problem fester moving forward. It should be an ongoing concern to the community. Short of offering citizens school choice, they should be notified when moving here districts are subject to changeduring any school year.

Thank you. EQUALITY EQUIT/ Kathleen V. Hanks

From: Surendra Pavuluri Sent: Friday, August 23, 2019 2:36 PM To: Hcpss Redistricting Subject: [External] River Hill school district.

Howard County School Superintendent,

I'm writing this letter to express my extreme disappointment over the proposed school redistricting plan by the School Superintendent. The proposal is notjust flawed but completely misses the mark by focusing on the wrong goal. The goal of any public school is to improve educational opportunities and outcomes for students. However, this proposal, by focusing on FARM numbers, does not create equality of opportunity, but rather redistributes it. By sending children from River Hill High School to Wilde Lake High School, you effectively remove the opportunity that many families relied on when they moved to this area. Not only does the redistricting remove opportunity, but it also increases the commute for students. For many families being redistricted, the drive to River Hill takes less than five minutes. Under this proposal, they will be forced to drive 20-25 minutes to Wilde Lake. This increased drive time will deeply impact after school learning opportunities for children and generate work-life balance issues for the parents who take them to school. Some will make this proposal, and any associated protest about race and thrive on dividing our community and county. I hope that doesn't happen, as this is not about race or about denying underprivileged children a great education: it is about uprooting families and denying certain opportunities to some while giving them to others. A better wav to address these issues would be to add resources to other schools or share what River Hill School has to offer- without uprooting existing families. Howard County's school system has been a primary driver for families to move to this area. This proposal will achieve limited gains at best to improve educational opportunity but will cause much unnecessary damage in the process. I hope we can avoid this. I request you to shelve this proposal and start again, but this time with the right goal.

Thanks & Regards, Surendra Pavuluri 410-624-9392(M) Kathleen V. Hanks

From: Mahesh Zarkar Sent: Friday, August 23, 2019 1:49 PM To: Hcpss Redistricting Subject: [External] Redistricting- Disappointment and Concerns

Howard County School Superintendent, Michael Martirano Board of Education, County Executi gove, Calvin Ball

I m writing this letter to express my extreme disappointment over the proposed school redistricting plan by the School Superintendent. The proposal is notjust flawed but completely misses the mark by focusing on the wrong goal. The goal of any public school is to improve educational opportunities and outcomes for students. However, this proposal, by focusing on FARM numbers, does not create equality of opportunity, but rather redistributes it. By sendingchildren from River Hill High School to Wilde Lake High School, you effectively remove the opportunity that many families relied on when they moved to this area. Not only does the redistricting remove opportunity, but rt also increases the commute for students. For many families being redistricted, the drive to River Hill takes less than five minutes. Under this proposal, they will be forced to drive 20-25 minutes to Wilde Lake. This increased drive time will deeply impact after school learning opportunities for children and generate work-life balance issues for the parents who take them to school. Some will make this proposal, and any associated protest about race and thrive on dividing our community and county. I hope that doesn't happen, as this is not about race or about denying underprivileged children a great education: it is about uprooting families and denying certain opportunities to some while giving them to others. A better way to address these issues would be to add resources to other schools or share what River Hill School has to offer- without uprooting existing families. Howard County's school system has been a primary driver for families to move to this area. This proposal will achieve limited gains at best to improve educational opportunity but will cause much unnecessary damage in the process. I hope we can avoid this. I request you to shelve this proposal and start again, but this time with the right goal.

Your sincerely,

Mahesh Zarkar 443-949-6023 Kathleen V. Hanks

From: Vipin Sahijwani Sent: Friday, August 23, 2019 1:49 PM To: Hcpss Redistricting Subject: [External] Fwd: School Redistricting

Howard County School Superintendent, Michael Martirano

Board of Education,

County Executive, Calvin Ball

Fmwriting this letter to express myextreme disappointment overthe proposed school redistricting plan bythe School Superintendent.The proposal is not just flawed but completely misses the mark by focusing on the'wrong goal. The goal ofany public school is to improveeducational opportunities andoutcomes for students. However,this proposal, by !.oc"si.ng°"FARMnumbers'does notcreate eclualitY of opportunity, butrather redistributes it. Bysending children from RiverHill HighSchool to WildeLake High School, you effectively removethe opportunity thatmany families relied on when they moved to this area. Not only does the redistricting remove opportunity, but it also increases the commute for students^For many families being redistricted, the drive to RiverHill takes less than five minutes. Under this proposal, theywill beforced to drive20-25 minutes to Wilde Lake. This increased drive time will deeplyimpact after school' learning opportunities forchildren andgenerate work-life balance issuesfor the parents whotake them to school. Somewill make this proposal, andany associated protest about race and thrive on dividing our community andcounty. I hopethat doesn't happen,as this is not about race or about denying underprivileged childrena greateducation: it is aboutuprooting families and denying certain opportunities to somewhile giving them to others'Abetter way to address these issues would beto add resources to other schools or share what River Hilfschool hasto offer- without'UDroo'tir existing families. HowardCounty's school system has been a primarydriver for families to move to this area. This proposal will achieve mitedgams, atbest to impr°''e educational opportunity butwill cause much unnecessary damage in the process. I hope we can avoid this. I request you to shelve this proposal and start again, but thistime with the right goal.

Your sincerely,

Vipin Sahijwani

Board Member: Heritage Housing Partners, Columbia MD Community Leadership Board, Dancel Y, Ellicott City, MD 5006 Crape Myrtle Ct

Ellicott City, MD 20142 Kathleen V. Hanks

From: Chitra Reddy Sent: Friday, August 23, 2019 12:57 PM To: Hcpss Redistricting Subject: [External] Redistricting Proposal - Feedback

To: The Howard County School Board,

Below is our feedback to the proposal: We are residents of Howard County living at 5135 Sheppard Lane (Pentagon area -176). We were just made aware of the redistricting proposal, where in our house will be impacted. We live 1 mile from RHhlS, and we are being redistricted to WLHS which is 6. 3 miles from our house. We must pass through RHHS and travel another 5. 3 miles more to get to the WLHS school.

Redistricting should also be based on proximity to school to help with kids travel time, especially in middle and high school. With new proposed plan, board has overlooked the basic principle of getting the kids to and from school. In our case, our kids must travel 5 times more than our present travel time which also mean county must spent 5 times more on transport expenses.

Board also has not taking the effect of redistricting on kids in the middle of high school years. It does not make any sense to move the kids that are near to RHHS to WLHS and vice versa impacting kids from both schools and at additional expenses to county. Boards first preference should be kids and not new experimentation.

Redistricting also causes the real estate values to fluctuate adversely affecting the residents with their future savings.

Also, just 2 years ago the Jump Start program was introduced in the county to solve some ofthe high school issues and Equity related concerns. There are quite a few kids already coming to RHHS and RHHS kids going to other schools to get their course work completed. There is no mention of this program in the proposal and how many kids are distributed from it.

Some of our major concern:

Due to proximity:

Kids spend more time on unnecessary travel wasting their valuable time Less time for sleep and may not be able to concentrate on studies Less time for study and it may affect their grade and future prospect in life May not be able to take part in after school activities like sports affecting their physical condition May not be able to take part in club and extra-curricular activities affecting their social behavior County must pay more towards transportation which is already in debt. We should be planning to save money and not wasting on experimentation, causing adverse effect on kids. Redistricting in the middle of high school:

Separating the kids from their friends that were made over the years will impact them psychologically. Affects kids sports as they need to play with new teammates/team. This may affect their interest with sports. Affects kids who are participating in other club and extra-curricular activities. Changing the environment in the middle of all this would negatively set the kids back to a great extent.

Real Estate value:

. Houses in RHHS school district has a premium over the houses in WLHS. Redistricting cause these houses to depreciate affecting residents future saving. Board has any plans to address this issue due to redistricting?

As a voting citizen of Howard County, we do not support this proposal to disrupt the lives of our children and residents. Please consider this as our feedback to the proposal.

Thank you for your service and hope you consider our request.

Chandra Nanjappa and Chitra Reddy (Residents of HC) Kathleen V. Hanks

From: Rhonda Stokes Sent: Friday, August 23, 2019 12:21 PM To: Hcpss Redistricting Subject: [External] Redistricting Hammond- North Laurel Students

This newredistricdng plan doesnothing to help Hammond.

T^e.ar! t^e,e-^lripl.e.i?igh income neighborhoods adjacent to Hammond which attend Atholton. Polygon 1005, 1006, 5, 6, 2005, 2006. Why not simply move those polygons out ofAtholton and into Hammond to make room? It also reduces bus transportation dme and decreases the FARMS rate. This also brings one large community (Emerson) back together which was split in 2013.

Rhonda Stokes Registrar Maryland University of Integrative Health 7750 Montpelier Road, Laurel, MD 20723 Phone: 410-888-9048 I ext. 6659 rstokes(S)muih. edu | wv/w. muih.edu na[®B3^c3 Kathleen V. Hanks

From: Jessica A. Gray Sent: Friday, August 23, 2019 11:46 AM To: Hcpss Redistricting Subject: [External] Redistricting of Students in Polygons 144 and 1144

Good evening. J wish to express my concern regarding the Superintendent's proposed redistricting of the students in Polygons 144 and 1144 from Longfellow Elementary to Bryant Woods Elementary. While the distance between the relevant polygons and Bryant Woods does not appear disproportionate, in reality, these polygons are geographically isolated from the other neighborhoods that are assigned to attend Bryant Woods.

Simply stated, there is no easy way to drive from Polygons 144 and 1144 to Bryant Woods Elementary. These polygons are separated from the Bryant Woods community by a large swath of natural area with no thru roads. There are two alternate routes to get to Bryant Woods Elementary frompolygons 144 and 1144. The first route would require the students to be bused down Hespems Lane, past Longfellow Elementary, where they currently attend school. The other route would require the students to be bused down Ten Mills, in close proximity to Running Brook Elementary.

Polygons 144 and 1144 have not ever been a part of the Bryant Woods community and our students, if redistricted to that school, would suffer considerable social isolation and inconvenience as a result of being placed in an elementary school that is so functionally distant from their homes.

Thank you for your consideration,

Jessica A. Gray

5104 Dawn Marie Court

Columbia, MD 51044

home: 443-542-9036

cell: 410-905-7126 j_a_gray@comcast. net Kathleen V. Hanks

From: John Seifert Sent: Friday, August 23, 2019 11:39 AM To: Hcpss Redistricting Subject: [External] Redistricting Feedback

Good morning board members. First, I would like to start by thanking all of you for your hard work behind the scenes of the county education system. I was Just reviewing the superintendents proposal for redistricting. While I do not know all that goes into the redistricting process and what the populations are in each area and the movement that is happening, I was a little concerned with the area that I currently reside in. I currently live in Polygon #14, which is currently slated for Atholton ES, Hammond MS and Hammond HS. Under the new boundaries, our middle school is being changed from Hammond MS to Lake Elkhorn MS. These changes are also happening for polygons 13 and 15 as well. My concern that I have is that, once those 3 area's leave middle school and move on to high school, there are very few kids that would be going with them to high school from their middle school. As we know, the transition from middle school to high school can be a hard time for students and kids as they adjust, it can put additional strain on them as they move and very few of their class mates with be at their high school. As I look at the new map, polygons 2050, 50, 1050, 49, 2048 and 48 appear to be significantly closer to Lake Elkhorn MS, where they currently go, than to Hammond MS where they are being moved to, while #13, 14, and 15 appear closer to Hammond MS, where they currently go than to Lake Elkhom MS where they are being moved. From a geographical view, it does not appear to make sense as well. Also, polygons 13, 14, and 15, are right on the boarder of Rt. 32 ^which to me seems to be a natural borderline to the school district. Sorry for the rambling email, this is just my take on the area that I know and the impact that I see on the community and the students. I look forward to any feedback and consideration. Thank you. Kathleen V. Hanks

From: Judah Landzberg Sent: Friday, August 23, 2019 11:26 AM To: Hcpss Redistricting Subject: [External] School redistricting is unjust

Dr Martirano, Dr Ball, Ms Jung,

My name is JudahLandzberg and I am a high school math teacher at Mergenthaler High School in Baltimore City. I live in the river hill school district in Clarksville MD.

I just moved here in 2017 with my wife and newborn son and today my wife talked to me about moving again.

My wife and 1 work hard and we are not rich. We save our money by living extremely frugally and by taking on extrajobs outside of work. Our only exception was when it came to buying a home, we chose to live in THE BEST school district for our son and our future children.

We lived in Baltimore City for 4 years in $ 1000 or less per month rents although we could have affordedmore, to save money. We pack lunch everyday to work. We used to have a rule, don't go to the grocery store until everything in the fridge was eaten. We never thought we could afford a home in the top school district, but we saved up enough for a down payment, after 2 more years of living in mixed income housing in Columbia. We never bought a new car, new clothes and we cook dinner for friends rather than going out to dinner to save the cost.

You say that the school redistricting process is a case of "equity". However we will now lose probably a hundred thousand dollars off of this plan when we sell our home in the future. In the future, that loss will be much more. Our extra money goes towards college savings, not beach vacations or Teslas!

If this plan goes through, you will realize that most people in River Hill are the same as us. We will move again and take the initial loss, and work harder to get into whatever is the new best school, in Howard County or not in Howard County.

Please do not move our middle school from CIarksville to Harpers Choice! Please do not purposefully drop our school scores for "equity'!

-Judah Landzberg Teacher, Mergenthaler High School, Baltimore 617-851-8715 Kathleen V. Hanks

From: Lew Olowski Sent: Friday, August 23, 2019 11:17 AM To: Hcpss Redistricting Subject: [External] Objection To Attendance Area Adjustment Plan

Dear Board Members:

Thank you for your deliberation, leadership, and transparency, especially Dr. Martirano's timely email yesterday sharing "My Recommended Attendance Area Adjustment Plan."

I would like to register my objection to this plan. It is too dramatic of a change in too short of a time frame, especially considering that there's another big change already on the calendar: the introduction of a newhigh school in SY 2023-2024.

The introduction of a new high school will by itselfaffect the data that the Board of Education relies upon for its proposed changes in SY 2020-2021,both in the "inputs" and in the "outputs" of the Area Adjustment Plan. Therefore, the Board of Education should make no change to school boundaries until after it has observed how, exactly, the new high school affects the school system.

Instead, after the impact of the new high school can be measured, then it may be wise to propose boundary changes based on those measurements.

Otherwise, if the Board follows the Attendance Area Adjustment Plan, then it may achieve its desired policy result for 1 or 2 years only to find that the introduction of a new high school has caused a different result, anyway, obviating the purpose ofthe Area Adjustment Plan.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Lew Olowski Kathleen V. Hanks

From: Jaewoo Im Sent: Friday, August 23, 2019 11:11 AM To: Hcpss Redistricting Subject: [External] Re: redistricting complaint

Hello. My name is Jae Im, resident at maplelawn and have lived here for last 9 +years. I have three children and two of them are in Lime Kilen MS andFulton ES. My youngest daughter wasexpecting to attend Fulton ESbut I hear will be going to Laurel WoodES. I am deeply disappointed andconcerned over this change andI am one of many angryparents with this seemingly unfair change. I am writing to hopefully changethis direction it is headed. With my oldest daughter ready to go to HS, it is difficult to even consider moving. The disparity between Fulton and Laurel wood seems quite large and that is why it is even more difficultto accept. 58th to 424th out of 858 is too drastic change. Please reconsider. Thank you. Kathleen V. Hanks

From: Morgan Pietryka Sent: Friday, August 23, 2019 10:46 AM To: Hcpss Redistricting Subject: [External] Polygon 1256 FES to LWES

To whom it may concern, I am writing to^voice my concern over the redistricting ofpolygon 1256 and256 from Fulton Elementary to Laurel WoodsElementary. I have fourth and second graders at FESand three more kids younger thanthem. So I have A LOT of elementary years left and I am devastated that we might have to spend them at a school that is so far away from our house when there are so many schools closer.

I have no concerns about the quality of the staff and students, and thus the education kids receive at Laurel Woods. Even the "worst" school in HoCo is really good. I just believe that kids should go to a school that is near their house. I do not want to have my kids at a school 15 minutes away when there are much closer schools. I would feel sorry for my kids who have friends in Fulton (not Just in the Maple Lawn neighborhood) whom they would no longer be in school with. And what about the isolation they would feel at Laurel Woods?~AII things being equal, would you schedule a play date with the classmate who lives 15 minutes away (30 minutes round trip) or the one 5 minutes away? They will be taken away from their friends and put with new kids who live too far away to conveniently see outside of school. This would also affect sports leagues that assign teams based on geographic area. They use school district to make those decisions. 'So your soccer, basketball or baseball team will have kids from LW and surrounding schools and thus will practice in that area. AII while the FES team is practicing at Lime Kiln without you. Im less likely to attend activities, volunteer, visit my kid at lunch, run over a forgotten jacket, etc. when the school isn't just up the road. So due to the sacrifice of the 1256 kids, the Laurel Woods relatively high FARM rate goes down and average test scores go up, which you would say doesn't mean it's a bad school to go'to. So why is the goal to change those numbers? And Laurel Woods still ends up over capacity. Please don't make these changes. I'd rather them stay at a crowded school a mile awaythen another crowded school 15 minutes away. Please don't sacrifice this island of kids to make your demographics more equal. It's not fair to us. Think about how you would feel if this was your family. This neighborhood is our life and the school is a huge part of^hat. We are already looking at houses just a few streets away to see if we could move to stay at FES. Which is not financially possible for us as we would have to downsize (remember I have five kids). My neighbors and I would love reassurance ASAPthat this proposal from the superintendent will be modified to not include moving our polygon to Laurel Woods. It's been like 18 hours and the stress it has caused isJust crazy. (Facebook is the devil. ) Just look at the map and see ifyou think it's fair thatwe are the only polygon (I don't really include256 asthere are 1-5kids there elementary aged) who Jumps past four schools with no one around us going to that school. It makes no sense. There has to be a different solution. Please don't do this to our families. Thanks for your time and all that you do for the HCPSS families. Best, Morgan Pietryka 7509 Carpenter St Fulton, MD 20759 Kathleen V. Hanks

From: Vi Nguyen Sent: Friday, August 23, 2019 10:41 AM To: Hcpss Redistricting Subject: [External] oppose hcpss redistricing

As parents of 2 young children, I recently moved to district polygon 1256 and vehemently oppose its redistricting. The #1 reason for buying our house was to ensure my children could walk to all 3 phases of school. Please do not redistrict polygon 1256.

-Vi Nguyen Kathleen V. Hanks

From: zirschky@aol. com Sent: Friday, August 23, 2019 9:07 AM To: hlcpss Redistricting Subject: [External] Possible Error In Schools Map, Planning parcel 171

Good morning,

I was looking at the proposed map and I believe there is an error. At the present time, it does not affect any students as there are no residences on the parcel. My kids and nieces/nephews own a 50 acre parcel that looks mostly like a triangle at the end ofWhitebrook Ln. (21042). A 1 acre home site is under development on this parcel which is in Ag. Preservation. A principal residence location has already been perced. Both homesites will access Whitebrook Lane which is Centennial not Marriott's Ridge. No other residences are permitted under Ag, Pres. Whitebrook is the only access to public roads for this parcel.

Again, no one lives on this parcel at the moment, but it is under development. Just an FYI. Good luck with this process -1 don't envy you.

John Zirschky Kathleen V. Hanks

From: Emily Steels Sent: Friday, August 23, 2019 8:43 AM To: Hcpss Redistricting Subject: [External]

To Whom it May Concern: I imagine you are receiving a lot of emails these days. However, I am not writing to tell you how awful this plan is, or how that plan moves too many kids, or how my kid should never ever be redistricted. Redistrictin^ needs to happen, and it's time to rip the band-aid off and do it, for the sake of our children. I hope you all can ignore the angry voices anddo what'sbest for the county. Too many ofour schools are overcrowded, andour schools are some ofthe most segregated in Maryland, andthat goes directly againstRouse's vision for Columbia.

However, as much as I believe that redistricting needs to happen, and as much as I'm willing to accept any reassignment for my younger child, I entreat you: please exempt juniors and seniors from redistricting. Allow them to attend their current high school. Those 2 years are probably the most stressful of all 13 years of schooling. AP classes, SATs, college applications - on top of all that, it's unfair to ask those kids to also have to adjust to a new school and new friends. They shouldn't have to ask teachers they barely know for letters of recommendation when instead they could ask teachers who have known them since they were freshmen, and who know them really well.

Thank you for your time and your willingness to do the hard work. And thank you for keeping ourjuniors and seniors in mind as you do so.

Sincerely, Emily Steele Kathleen V. Hanks

From: sezin palmer Sent: Friday, August 23, 2019 8:00 AM To: Hcpss Redistricting Subject: [External] Ridiculous proposal

Dear HCPSS Board members,

I read with horror the proposed redistricting plan and had to re-read it several times to believe what I was seeing. Never in the history ofHCPSS have I seen such a reckless approach to achieving a set ofpreconceived and political interest-driven numbers than the proposal laid out by the current superintendent. To move over 7, 000 children - in most cases swapping out children in close proximity to one school for children farther away from those schools and picking pockets of children based on meeting FARM criteria only - is thoughtless and reckless.

The beauty of Howard County has always been thoughtful approaches that have the interests of the entire community in mind. This superintendent appears to care about one thing only: making a name for himself under the guise of "equity". Shippingkids all across the county to achieve his personal goals is not "equity" and it is disruptive in so many ways. Many parents, like me, chose to live and work in close proximity to their childrens' schools so they canjuggle the demands ofwork and school more easily. Moving children to attend schools twice as far away makes it much more difficult for working parents to achieve this. Furthermore, separating neighbors and friends who have attended school together for years and sending them off in different directions - again, for the sole purpose of achieving FARM numbers of interest to the superintendent - is not indicative of a considered, thoughtful approach and speaks volumes to what is motivating decision making in Moward County today.

I, and hundreds of parents like me, can only hope that sanity will prevail in the school board's decision making and that such disruptive measures will not be approved. I've lived in Howard County my entire life and have to think that we are better than that and will not succumb to the whims of those looking to make a political statement at the expense of our children.

Sincerely, Sezin Palmer Kathleen V. Hanks

From: David Murphy Sent: Friday, August 23, 2019 7:45 AM To: Hcpss Redistricting Subject: [External] Superintendent's plan is unacceptable

On July 15 I moved my family from North Laurel to Folly QuarterRd, polygon 183. A major part ofthat decision, which includedpaying a substantial premium for a houselocated in the River Hill school district, were the previous boundary reports that indicated no changes to the district assignment. Now I see polygon 183 is assignedto Wilde Lake. Completely unacceptable. Please expect my attendance atthe next board meeting, and anyand all legal recourse should you continue with this inequitable proposal.

David Murphy 12681 Folly Quarter Rd. Kathleen V. Hanks

From: Michael Mingo Sent: Thursday, August 22, 2019 11:26 PM To: Hcpss Redistricting Subject: [External] Comment on redistricting

Hello - Plain and simple I do not agree with the elementary school redistricting. My daughter currently attends Clemens Crossing and my son was going to be attending after next year. She is bright student and I credit that to Clemens Crossing teaching style. And let's be frank not all schools are created equal. With this move to Swansfield, I am concerned to two fronts 1) her learning pattern being disrupted and 2) her mental health. Currently, she has a great group of friends that will not be moving with her to Swansfield. Those friends are important to her growth and development as a student as they value the same things she does. As for her mental health, I worry about her making new friends and starting a new right at the end of her elementary school journey. I honestly do not think you take into account the mental health of the students by making them move over and over again. I know of several individuals in the last move that are suffering with serious mental issues because of them being uprooted from their friends and thrown into a new schools with already established friend groups. With all this being said, I do not think these moves truly benefit the kids as much as they benefit your political or financial agenda. All it will take is one kids overly bad experience and one parent who cares enough to speak up and out about this redistricting process to shut it all down. You really need to consider more then just the poverty levels and racial distribution of student. You need to focus and dedicated more time into the lesser performing schools and help them get up to par.

Just my two cents, but I hope this resonate with you moving forward and about the decisions made.

-Michael Kathleen V. Hanks

From: Brian Pietryka Sent: Thursday, August 22, 2019 10:21 PM To: Hcpss Redistricting Subject: [External] Feedback

Good evening-

I do not support the superintendent's proposed redistricting. In particular, I have objections for the elementary schools zones 1256 and 256. I am a resident of this zone.

This change splits up a single community (Maple Lawn.) Schools arepart ofcommunities, andthe success of each depends on the other. This proposal breaks apart a single section of a single neighborhood.

Here is another consequence ofthe proposal: youth sports and other activities use school districts. I currently coach six youth sports teams. Five of which generate rosters based on elementary school. It does not make sense for these community activities to be also split. I can't understand howit is a benefitto anyone to have my children attend school that is 6+ miles away (and the 6th nearest my house. ) It is not even reasonable for my daughter's to join a girl scout troop that is 6 miles away. My kids can walk to school with their friends and neighbors who, under this proposal, would attend another school.

I don't believe this proposal is best for our children, community or county, and I oppose it.

Brian Pietryka Kathleen V. Hanks

From: Kapil sharma Sent: Thursday, August 22, 2019 10:06 PM To: Hcpss Redistricting Subject: [External] PROTEST from 1185 - Redistricting River

To whomever it concerns

We recently got to know the proposed change in the school boundaries. We ABSOLUTELYready to protest this change at any level. We are currently in Clarksville MS (Rating 10) and River Hill HS (Rating 10). But this redistricting moving our neighborhoodsto Harper Choice Ms (Rating 5) and Wild Lake HS (Rating 6). This has potential for huge financial losses for many neighborhoods. We purchased our houses so our children can go the best school. If this redistricting goes through, the county should ABSOLUTELY expect losses in their property tax revenue as property value will plummet plus the lawsuits. In our neighborhood We are already discussing plan A to selling our houses and moving. It is UNIMAGINABLE. https://chaowu. org/2019/08/22/2020-hcpss-superintendent-proposal-for-redistricting/

Thanks, Kapil Kathleen V. Hanks

From: Matthew Hoops Sent: Thursday, August 22, 2019 10:01 PM To: Hcpss Redistricting Subject: [External] Fulton ES isolation a terrible idea

Dear HoCo BoE,

I just recently moved to Maple Lawn in Fulton MD and I was looking forward to the strong sense of community that is established here. However, the proposed redistricting ofpolygons 256 and 1256 from Fulton ES to Laurel Woods ES are aimed at fracturing and isolating that community. This plan aims to send children from these polygons to the 5th closest ES, passing 4 other ES districts along the way. It Increases the distance from just under a mile and walkable, to over 5. 5 miles away, many, many communities away. Any person who looks at the proposed ES map can visually see the striking isolation ofpolygons 256 and 1256.

Children in elementary school need to be geographically connected to the other children in their school. Otherwise they will not play together, they will not do sports together, they will not thrive together. They cannot become a community if you have to commute your kids across the county to have a play date with the other kids in class.

There are certainly portions of the redistricting plan that make sense and there is the need for it. However, to shatter communities that are closely tied to their elementary school is foolish. Please reject this proposal.

Sincerely, - Matt Hoops - Kathleen V. Hanks

From: Justin Balciunas Sent: Thursday, August 22, 2019 9:55 PM To: Hcpss Redistricting Cc: [email protected] Subject: [External] Horrendous redistricting recommendation

Dr. Martirano: Your redistricting recommendation is horrendous! Our polygon (#3176) has many relatively new multi-million dollar homes that were specifically built in recent years to be located in the River Hill district. Your social engineeringplan has redistricted our neighborhoodfrom River Hill which is less than 2 miles from our neighborhood (Walnut Grove) to Wilde Lake which is multiple miles away and one of the worst high schools in the county. Great job screwing-up one of the best school districts in the country (and killing property values). We're already exploring our private school options. Please reconsider this horrible social engineering experiment! Shouldn't your first objective be to "do no harm ? Kathleen V. Hanks

From: Kevin Radcliffe Sent: Thursday, August 22, 2019 9:47 PM To: Hcpss Redistricting Subject: [External] Redistricting Plan

The superintendent's plan has to be the worst plan I have ever reviewed. It will cause needless chaos as well as needless expenditures. It won't improve educational experiences. I think anyone who approves of these changes should be removed and possible lawsuits should be brought. The superintendent should be removed at a minimum WITH NO severance package.

Sent from my iPhone Kathleen V. Hanks

From: Chris Martin Sent: Thursday, August 22, 2019 9:43 PM To: Hcpss Redistricting Subject: [External] Equity in HS redistricting? Not remotely achieved in this proposal.

Hi,

Your proposed redistricting for HS in Howard County does very little to address equity as related to the percentages of students receiving FARMS. Outside of drawing a comically gerrymandered district for Atholton High School and increasing their FARMs percentages from 10 to 25% - a significant increase - nothing has been done to address concentrations of poverty. All other high schools are un-impacted in a wav that would be noticeable at all in FARMS percentage. If equity is one of your main goal - you missed. 4 High Schools remain above or at 40% Farms while 6 High Schools will remain below 1 5%. Nothing changes.

I support the idea of equity. I teach at a title one elementary school in Montgomery County -1 know that schools with high concentrations ofpoverty are very different from schools with 10% FARMS. With a county farms % of 22. 7% according to your website - is there a way should be a way of districting Howard County High Schools so that the majority of schools are within 5 percentage points of that number? Probably not- but perhaps you can make a real effort when the new High School comes on board?

With a new HS coming on board it seems that this will all have to be redone in two years. Perhaps the Gerrymandering that was done for the Atholton HS district in this proposal can and should be done across the entire county.

How are the facilities at Hammond and Oakland Mills substandard while new High School's got built in Western (aka Wealthy) Howard county? What is your proposal doing to address these past errors? Think outside the box (or the feeder school paradigm) to get real equity done at the HS level. Maybe move HCPSS headquarters to Oakland Mills or Hammond? Turn HCPSS HO campus into a new High School? much more flexibility then....

Come on, don't just talk about equity and do very little. Back up your talk with real action... or stop talking equity - cuz these changes don't achieve it

Thanks for your time, Chris Martin (10324 Log Raft, Columbia MD 21044) Kathleen V. Hanks

From: John Fliehman Sent: Thursday, August 22, 2019 8:58 PM To: Hcpss Redistricting Subject: [External] Move of Polygon 1076

Dear Howard County Board of Education,

In the Superintendent's proposed Attendance Area Adjustment Recommendation presented on August 22, 2019, polygon 1076 is proposed to shift elementary school students from Bellows Spring ES to Waterloo ES. In 2016, my wife and I specifically purchased a home in the Shipley's Grant development in order for my two elementary school aged children to attend Bellow Spring ES. Emphatically, I will not move my children to any Columbia school. If you move forward with this proposal, I will sell my house and move out of Howard County entirely to Anne Arundel County to Arnold or Severna Park. Bellow Spring ES is the reason I chose to relocate here, removing my children will be the reason I relocate out of Howard County.

Best regards,

John Fliehman, 6035 Talbot Drive, Ellicott City, MD 21043 Kathleen V. Hanks

From: fatulaangela Sent: Thursday, August 22, 2019 8:55 PM To: Hcpss Redistricting Subject: [External] Proposed Changes

I just read through proposed changes which reflected a move for us from River Hill to Wilde Lake. My children deserve to go to a school that is closest to them. My family drops our daughter off at school everyday and we have numerouse school and medical appointments throughout the year.

The proposed change will now put a hardship on my family and I imagine many others. I am a minority and I am not sure why we are being penalized. We specifically picked a neighborhood that had school within a few miles of our home.

Dallas, TX tried a similar approach and drove all the privileged families to private schools, and many of the wealthy areas now have open enrollment as they are not too capacity for families to come into those neighborhoods. They lost their sense of community and have decreased test scores all around. In addition the property values will decrease, which will in turn decrease funding for schools because family's do not have an unlimited checkbook.

I would like to be addedto the list to speak.

Angela Fatula

Sent from mv '['-Mobile 4G 1, '] I; Uevicc Kathleen V. Hanks

From: Gourmet Cai Sent: Thursday, August 22, 2019 8:45 PM To: Hcpss Redistricting Subject: [External] Strong oppose attendance area adjustment proposed by superintedent

Hi,

I'm a father of my son currently studying in clarksville middle school. My polygon# is 2028. I'm here to strong oppose the recent boundary line adjustment by superintedent Martirano.

My son is rising 7th grader and he is actively involved CMS various programs (orchestra, G/T seminiars). He has established strong binding with the school and his friends and classmates. I'm so glad he is growing and thriving in current environment.

However, I'm shocked by the recent proposal ofboundary line adjustment. This proposal will adversely impact and deeply interrupt my son's academic and social growth if in his rising 8th grade only to find out he has lost all the connections the friendships and other social binding in CMS and has to rebuild the connections from ground zero. I fear this impact can be long lasting to my son. After my son got this news, he has already shown the deep concerns which I have never seen in him before. I believe this kind of worry and concern is totally unfounded only because someone trys to implement his/her own agenda or echo to someone else's political slogan at the expense of MY growing kids.

Another way to see how silly this propsal would be is that, it would increase my kid's commute time from 3 minutes to 25 minutes.

I wish board of education can seriously rethink ofthis proposal and give the impacted kids a peace of mind. sincerely yours,

Xuewu Cai Kathleen V. Hanks

From: Tony Wu Sent: Thursday, August 22, 2019 8:23 PM To: Hcpss Redistricting Cc: Yu Chih Un Subject: [External] Glenmont | Thunder Hill Elementary School School Re-districting

Dear Howard County Public School,

We currently live in Glenmont community in Columbia. Our kids currently go to Thunder Hill Elementary School, and based on your proposal, it seems that you intend to move us to Talbott Springs Elementary School. As we have two kids, one already at THES, and soon another will enter, we had begun building a relationship with the community ofTHES. While I understand the efficiency of school utilization is extremely important. However, as an architect, the allowance of zoning board to continue to extend allowing more housing to be built and not enough schools popping up seems counter-intuitive. THES is a great school that our family had fall in love with. We love the small school that it is, the faculty and neighborhoodthat it resides in is something we had adopted, and begin to raise our family in. It is hard to bare by looking at the proposal based on numbers and figures for the sake of a more efficient way of using public resources, while we are the ones who had begin to invest in the very community. As our house is within 3min. drive from Thunder Hill Elementary School, moving us across 175 to Talbott Springs is hard to accept that we will be soon moving away from the relationship that had been built from kids to the point of families to families. These numbers and figures are removing the very essence of how Columbia was constructed: the residence.of Columbia. It is us, who lives here built the community around THES. Crossing these major roadways for school zoning completely removed the possibility of kids living nearby, play, and grow together. It is sad to say, deconstructing communities, and not building communities. I hope when re-zoning schools, to better utilize our taxpayer money, one would seriously consider how we can really build a community (not by numbers) but by people who live there. Columbia is a city built off ofNew Urbanism movement, will we once again, return the city back to the people who live there? And not driven by numbers.

Thank you! Tony Wu

Sent from my gMail Kathleen V. Hanks

From: Jamie Daniller Sent: Thursday, August 22, 2019 7:20 PM To: Hcpss Redistricting Subject: [External] Proposed Redistricting Plan

Good evening, In reading the superintendent's proposal for the attendance area adjustments, it is alarming to me that Murray Hill Middle School is ignored, despite being at a projected 121% capacity, one of the highest middle schools in the county. This number will only continue to grow, to the detriment of students and staff. Other schools with much lower enrollment have student movements, and yet, no changes are proposed to alleviate the overcrowding at Murray Hill. While there are clearly a number of factors impacting the student movement from school to school, it is disconcerting that perhaps the loudest voices from different areas of the county have taken precedent over the true purpose ofthese movements, creating safe and equitable schools for all students. While this was not one ofthe proposed options, I do believe the best option would truly be to wipe the slate clean, and repopulate all schools based on the current population and demographics of the county. Allow the whole county to make one big change, together, instead of pitting different groups with different interests against eachother.

Thank you, Jamie Daniller