Pediatrician, HCPSS Parent Speaks Out About Redistricting

ELLICOTT CITY, MD — A Howard County Public Schools graduate and parent of three students enrolled in HCPSS has spoken out about the district's proposed redistricting policy. Pediatrician Dr. Hemant Sharma has researched health disparities and found significant concerns about the proposal.

"What concerns me most about the proposed plan is that it poses real harm to our students, particularly our most disadvantaged," Sharma told Patch. “We must address overcrowding. We would encourage Howard County to explore best practices nationally, which address overcrowding with minimal disruption to students. Given the upcoming opening of high school 13 in four years and the consideration of legislation at the county level to identify additional funding for school construction, a long-term, thoughtful and evidence-based strategy is needed to address overcrowding.”

School district residents will vote on the proposed area adjustment plan Nov. 21.

"Given the failed research and flawed public policy behind the superintendent’s plan, which, based on published, credible research, may cause significant harm to the most vulnerable children and their families. We firmly believe additional time is needed to fully analyze evidence-based solutions that directly addresses closing the achievement gap. And, we want to be part of the solution. The bottom line, a transparent inclusive process is needed to ensure our elected leaders get it right, the first time. Too many young, impressionable lives are in the balance,” Sharma said.

Howard County Families for Education Improvement also believes that HCPSS Superintendent Michael Martirano’s plan is "ill-informed, may not improve the achievement gap in Howard County Public Schools and may actually harm the very children we are aiming to help based on the research."

FEI emphasized that Howard County Public Schools are a "model for integration."

"We acknowledge achievement gaps exist in Howard County Public Schools by race and socioeconomic status, despite being the most integrated school district in the region. Therefore, a misguided effort focusing on 'integrating' an already integrated school system will completely miss the root causes of the opportunity gap," the organization claims.

FEI also claimed that, according to the Maryland Equity Project of the University of Maryland, “Howard County is the most integrated school district in the region."

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HoCo FEI Cite Major Flaws in Proposed HCPSS Redistricting Plan