Parent Files Injunction To Stop Redistricting In Howard Schools

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — The parent of an 8-year-old child who will have to switch schools as part of Howard County Public School System's redistricting plan filed an injunction in Howard County Circuit Court Dec. 11 to try and stop the boundary changes. In court documents, Columbia parent Martin Dimitrov claims his child “as well as many children as young as 5 years old, will suffer imminent and irreparable harm.”

The injunction filed against the county board of education’s final redistricting decision is based on the argument that the board violated the Maryland Open Meetings Act. According to the Baltimore Sun, the state Open Meetings Act does not permit private discussion among the majority of school board members regarding the formation of new policy, and requires a public body to cite an exception to the act before entering into closed-door discussions.

During the Howard County board of education's Nov. 21 redistricting vote, a motion failed 4-3 to move elementary school students from one neighborhood to a different school. After the votes were tallied, school board member Jennifer Mallo asked for a recess “to consider the impacts of that last failed motion.” When the school board returned to open session, board vice chairwoman Kirsten Coombs reversed her decision, supporting the motion.

The injunction also states that the school board violated its handbook on top of the open meetings violation. Quoting the handbook, the injunction states, “At no time shall any group of board members, whose number would satisfy quorum requirements, meet privately on an issue that requires public meeting.”

The day after the redistricting vote, parent Barbara Krupiarz filed a complaint with the Maryland Open Meetings Compliance Board, the Baltimore Sun reported. The compliance board forwards complaints to the accused agency, which has 30 days to respond to the board. The Office of the Attorney General forwarded Krupiarz’s complaint Nov. 22 to board chairwoman Mavis Ellis with a request for a written response.

Dimitrov's attorneys are Shavina Kumar Mukesh and Edward Tayter. Mukesh told the Baltimore Sun that not long after the injunction was filed, "it came to my attention that board added in [to their Tuesday meeting agenda] they are going to ratify the vote."

“It’s surprising as to what their motive is. Is this in response to the injunction?” said Mukesh.

The decision to redistrict school boundaries follows a lengthy process rife with upset parents, along with proponents of the plan. There were community meetings, public hearings and other opportunities for people to express their opinion. When the redistricting plan takes effect for the 2020-2021 school year, 5,402 students will be moved to a new school, including:

• 2,827 at the elementary school level,
• 568 at the middle school level, and
• 2,007 at the high school level.

Fifty-one schools will be within the 90–110 percent target capacity utilization as defined by board policy, compared with 42 currently, and many of the most highly-impacted schools will see significant relief. The redistricting decision also addresses the proportion of students receiving Free and Reduced Meals (FARMs) program services.

• 33 total schools above the countywide average of 22.5 percent will see an overall decrease in their FARMs percentage as a result of these moves.
• 13 of these 33 schools will experience a 5-22 percentage point decrease in their FARMs rate.
• The FARMS percentage for four schools below the countywide average will increase by a minimum of 8 percentage points, putting them closer to the countywide average.

However, one point of contention for parents is that many students will have to endure longer bus rides— an average of three extra miles round trip. Willie Flowers, president of the Howard County branch of the NAACP, told The Washington Post that the approved plan "seems to be a comprise."

HCPSS has identified students exempt from the board of education's redistricting plan, allowing them to either attend their new school or remain at their existing school.

The exemptions apply to the following groups of students:

• Current 4th grade students
• Current 7th grade students
• Current 10th grade students
• Current 11th grade students
• 30/60 credit JumpStart students
• Students with an IEP as of 11/21/2019
• Students with a 504 as of 11/21/2019
• Students with at least one custodial parent on active military duty

The board also identified several of these student groups as eligible for bus transportation if choosing to remain at their current school. Parents of students who are eligible for an exemption must decide by Dec. 13 where they students will attend school. Redistricting options can be found in HCPSS Connect.

Even existing students are struggling with the redistricting plan. Kathryn McKinley, River Hill's principal, wrote in an email addressed to the school's community Sept. 17 that a student had made "a very serious and direct threat" on social media. Howard County Police reported that a 15-year-old sophomore at River Hill High School in Clarksville posted a death threat on social media aimed at Superintendent Michael Martirano.

See More:

5K Students To Move In Redistricting Plan Adopted By HoCo Schools

Students May Be Exempt From HCPSS Redistricting Plan

Teen Threatens HCPSS Superintendent Over Redistricting: Police

Howard County Public School System To Start School Aug. 25, 2020