Residents Present Petition For Change To HCPSS Officials

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — Howard County Public School System Superintendent Michael Martirano shared a message Friday with school district families about Juneteenth and the district's plan to implement change moving forward. Martirano encouraged Howard County residents to join others across Maryland in recognizing and honoring the significance of Juneteenth, “which commemorates the emancipation of enslaved African Americans and celebrates the triumph of the human spirit over the cruelty of slavery.”

Martirano shared that on June 10, the district was presented with a petition from more than 400 Howard County citizens. The petition included more than 100 pages of testimony and many "heart-wrenching accounts from current and former students who have experienced the sting of racism in our district, as well as remorseful expressions from those who wished they had done more to challenge and change the system."

"These testimonies highlight the destructive impacts of institutionalized racism. For many, it serves as confirmation of lived experiences; for others, it raises the alarms of our social consciousness. The pain expressed by HCPSS students was difficult to read about, and even more painful to know that any young person or adult had to endure these experiences. I want to say directly to the petitioners and all those who have testified before our board: I hear you, our board of education hears you and the entire HCPSS school system hears you. We are committed to making the institutional reform that is long overdue in Howard County. We must do better, and we will do better," Martirano said.

The testimony addressed seven demands for change. Each division chief has a copy of the petition and is working closely with Kevin Gilbert, the district's director of diversity, equity and inclusion, to develop a system-wide plan to address these "very real concerns."

"I pledge that every member of our staff will do our part to create the type of school system that our families desire for their children. We have reached out to the young people who are leading a powerful movement for change in Howard County. I look forward to their continued engagement in helping HCPSS take on these very necessary reforms, because we recognize that this work depends on the commitment and participation of every member of our school system community," he said.

In response to the plan, some steps are already being taken within the school district while others are being strengthened.

"We must address racism at every level, because tackling racism will make our entire school system better for all of our students," the superintendent said. "This overdue work is about love for humanity. We will keep pushing, we will keep talking, and we will keep working to get this right. I know that together, we can make HCPSS live up to the promises in our strategic call to Action, and make this school system the equitable society our families and students expect and deserve."