February 2012 News Releases

February 29, 2012 (#2012-126)

School Board Offers Coffee and Conversation to Community

The Board of Education of Howard County regularly holds "Coffee & Conversation" sessions at schools throughout the county. These meetings provide citizens with an opportunity to share a cup of coffee and chat informally with Board members. The meetings are held in various regions of the county but interested persons from throughout the county are invited to attend any or all of the meetings. The next "Coffee & Conversation" session with the Board of Education will be held:

Thursday, March 15, 2012 at 7:30 - 9:00 p.m.
Media Center at Centennial High School
4300 Centennial Lane, Ellicott City, MD. 21042

February 29, 2012 (#2012-125)

Board of Education's Legislative Committee to Meet

The Board of Education's Legislative Committee will meet at 7:30 a.m., on Monday, March 12, 2012. The meeting will take place in the Board Planning Room at the Department of Education, 10910 Route 108 in Ellicott City.

February 29, 2012 (#2012-124)

Board of Education to Meet in Closed Session & Hold Regular Meeting

The Board of Education will meet in closed session at 2:00pm on Thursday, March 8, 2012 in the Board Planning Room at the Department of Education, 10910 Route 108 in Ellicott City.

At 4pm, the Board will hold a regularly scheduled meeting in the Board Room at the same location. Both the afternoon and the evening session, which convenes at 7:30pm, will begin with a "Public Forum," when members of the public may address the Board on any topic other than those for which a formal public hearing process exists. Advanced sign up is preferred.

To sign up to speak at the Public Forum, contact the Board's office at 410-313-7194.

Individuals who would like to request a sign language interpreter for any meeting of the Board of Education may contact Colleen Rice, Interpreter Scheduler, at 410-313-7046. A two week advanced notice is preferred.

February 29, 2012 (#2012-123)

Board of Education's Legislative Committee Meeting Canceled

The Board of Education's Legislative Committee meeting is canceled for today, February 29, 2012.

February 27, 2012 (#2012-122)

Partnership to Add Workforce Resources and Build Employment Skills

The Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) is partnering with the Howard County Department of Social Services and the Howard County Office of Workforce Development to give opportunities for gaining work experience and marketable skills to the unemployed. The partnership will be formalized with an official signing on Tuesday, February 28 at the Sheraton Columbia Waterside Restaurant, 10207 Wincopin Circle in Columbia.

Under the terms of the partnership agreement, the HCPSS will take part in the WISH (Working for Independence, Success and Healthy Families) initiative, established in 2009 to assist under- and unemployed Howard County residents in gaining full-time, permanent positions that can lead to economic self-sufficiency. WISH interns provide unpaid support to the business community while gaining marketable job skills.

The Office of Workforce Development and Department of Social Services will provide a pool of eligible internship candidates for possible placement in work opportunities in HCPSS schools or offices for a maximum of 90 days. All candidates are background screened and must have a high school diploma; many have additional education or certifications. The interns' skill sets are varied, representing accounting, customer service, data entry, food service, custodial, and other skills.

Participating HCPSS schools and offices agree to provide meaningful work for the interns, helping them gain experience and skills that will be advantageous in finding permanent employment.

"The WISH program is a win-win opportunity for both the interns and the HCPSS," said Mary Schiller, manager of the HCPSS Partnerships Office. "Our schools and offices will receive a boost as the interns help fill short-term gaps and assist with special projects. And the interns will come out of the experience with skills and experience that can enhance a resume."

At 8:30 a.m., Francine Trout, administrator of the Howard County Office of Workforce Development and Charlene Gallion, director of the Howard County Department of Social Services will join Sandra French, chairman, and Ellen Flynn Giles, member of the Howard County Board of Education, and Mamie Perkins, deputy superintendent of the HCPSS to sign the formal partnership agreement.

The Howard County Office of Workforce Development (OWD) provides a wide range of tools and resources necessary to help business and job seekers remain competitive and achieve their employment goals. Its Columbia Workforce Center provides one-stop comprehensive employment services for individuals at the professional, technical, managerial and entry levels.

The Howard County Department of Social Services (HCDSS) assists people in crisis or need through a wide range of public assistance programs. It is the local office of the Maryland Department of Human Resources (DHR).

The Howard County Public School System's Partnerships Office (www.hcpss.org/aboutus/partnership) unites businesses and community organizations with schools to enhance the educational experience. Partnerships benefit schools, businesses, and the entire community by leveraging the resources of all participants. Partners may commit human or financial resources or other support.

February 23, 2012 (#2012-121)

School Health Council Meeting Focuses on Homeless Students, Wellness in Schools

Homeless children and families will be a topic of discussion at the next general meeting of the Howard County School Health Council on Thursday, March 8, 2012. Council members will get an update on the status of homelessness among school-aged children in Howard County and the implementation of the school system's policy on homeless children and youth. Presenters include Jane O'Leary, Executive Director of Bridges to Housing Stability, Inc., and Craig Cummings, Coordinator of Alternative Education and Pupil Personnel for the Howard County Public School System.

Council members will also get an update on the status of the school system's wellness policy and recent changes to align the policy with federal requirements. The meeting begins at 9:00 a.m. at the school system's Applications and Research Lab, Room B-37, 10920 Route 108 in Ellicott City.

The Howard County School Health Council is a state mandated advisory council combining representatives from the School System, the Health Department, the PTA Council of Howard County and other community groups. The Council is administered by representatives from these community organizations, and reports to both the Superintendent of Schools and the County Health Officer. General Council meetings are held every other month to review various health, safety and wellness programs, make recommendations and provide input.

February 22, 2012 (#2012-120)

Students, Businesses to Connect at 5th Annual Career Expo

As part of an ongoing effort to connect businesses with Anne Arundel and Howard County students, the 21st Century Education Foundation, in partnership with the Bright Minds Foundation, is hosting its 5th annual Career Expo on Saturday, March 3, 2012. The event will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Old Mill High School, located at 600 Patriot Lane in Millersville. Admission is free.

The event is generously sponsored by Jacobs Engineering Group. Inc.

The 5th Annual Career Expo provides students with the chance to learn about future career options and internship opportunities that exist for students. The Old Mill High School PTSA and Booster Club will manage a concession stand where students and parents may purchase lunch.

As many as 1,000 middle and high school students from Anne Arundel and Howard Counties are expected to attend the annual Career Expo. Students from both Anne Arundel and Howard County, grades 8-12, and their parents are encouraged to attend.

The Bright Minds Foundation is an independent, nonprofit organization formed to address equity and equality, to promote educational innovation and to support skills that serve Howard County Public School students throughout their lives.

The 21st Century Education Foundation is an independent, nonprofit organization that develops and supports collaborative efforts to match the needs of Anne Arundel County Public Schools with the resources of the surrounding community.

February 21, 2012 (#2012-119)

7th Annual Howard County Black Saga Competition Results

The Offices of Elementary and Secondary Social Studies proudly hosted the seventh annual Black Saga countywide competition on February 11, 2012 at Veterans Elementary School. Fifty-six students representing fourteen schools came together to prove their knowledge of American history and geography.

At the elementary level, Hammond took first place followed by Forest Ridge. Phelps Luck earned third place. Bonnie Branch won the middle school division again this year. Hammond took second and Patuxent Valley earned third.

All of these students are now eligible to move on to represent HCPSS at the state level Black Saga Competition in March (see attached list). Congratulations and thanks to all our students and advisors who participated!

February 17, 2012 (#2012-118)

Howard County School System to Sponsor 2012 STEM Fair

Long Reach High School, 6101 Old Dobbin Lane in Columbia, will serve as the host for the 2012 Howard County Public School System STEM Fair on Friday, February 24, and Saturday, February 25, 2012.  The Fair provides an opportunity for students to represent their schools and to share their accomplishments in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math research. Students in the HCPSS Gifted and Talented Research Program will also showcase their mentored research projects.

Judging for the registered middle school projects will occur on Friday, February 24, 2012 from 6–8:30 p.m.  Judging for the registered high school projects will take place on Saturday, February 25, 2012, from 9 a.m.–12 p.m.  A public Open House is scheduled for Saturday, February 25 from 3–4:15 p.m. and will be followed by an Awards Ceremony from 4:30–6 p.m. in the Long Reach High School auditorium.

In the event of a cancellation due to inclement weather, the Fair will be held the following weekend, Friday, March 2 and Saturday, March 3 at Long Reach High School.

February 14, 2012 (#2012-117)

Alpha Achievers Celebrate 15 Years of Promoting Academic Achievement

The Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. Kappa Phi Lambda Chapter, is celebrating a success story this week. Fifteen years ago, the members of the fraternity started a program called the Alpha Achievers at Oakland Mills High School. The program was established to promote the academic achievement of the school's African American males. To remain in good standing, students inducted into Alpha Achievers had to maintain a 3.0 grade point average, perform community service and participate in student leadership opportunities.

Today, each of Howard County's 12 high schools has a thriving Alpha Achievers program with a total of over 500 student members. Membership has expanded to include any male student of color who meets the criteria. Nearly 1500 young men have been inducted into the Alpha Achievers over the past 15 years and have performed nearly 85,000 hours of community service.

The Howard County Board of Education honored the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity with a Friends of Education Award in 2010. In nominating the group for the award, Oakland Mills High School Principal Frank Eastham noted that the Alpha Phi Alpha mentors create an environment in which it is safe for students to challenge the pop culture image often used to portray young men of color. "The Alpha mentors provide roles models for our young men to look up to and admire," writes Eastham. "They make high academic performance an expected and accepted goal…"

The Alpha Achievers Celebration is being held at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 16, 2012 at The Other Barn, 5851 Robert Oliver Place in the Oakland Mills Village Center.

February 7, 2012 (#2012-116)

Board of Education to Hold Closed Meeting

The Howard County Board of Education will hold a closed meeting on Thursday, February 9, 2012, at 2:00 p.m. in the Board Planning Room at the Department of Education, 10910 Route 108 in Ellicott City.

February 7, 2012 (#2012-115)

Head Start Partnership Provides Leadership Opportunities for Long Reach High School Students

A new partnership will offer leadership and mentoring opportunities to Long Reach High School students while providing learning experiences for children attending the Head Start Ellicott City Center. The partnership will be formalized with an official signing on Thursday, February 9 at the Sheraton Columbia Waterside Restaurant, 10207 Wincopin Circle in Columbia.

Under the terms of the partnership agreement, members of the high school's Black Student Union will plan and offer story times, crafting and other activities for Head Start participants, as well as events such as clothing and book drives to benefit the center's clientele. The Head Start center will offer internship opportunities to students interested in careers in social work, education, nonprofit administration or other relevant fields.

At 8:30 a.m., Bita Dayhoff, President of the Community Action Council of Howard County, and Myrtice Hoskins, Director of the Head Start Ellicott City Center, will join Allen Dyer and Cynthia Vaillancourt, members of the Howard County Board of Education; Mamie Perkins, Deputy Superintendent; and David Burton, Long Reach High School Principal to sign the formal partnership agreement.

Head Start is a federal program that promotes school readiness by providing educational, health, nutritional, social and other services to enrolled children and families. The Head Start Ellicott City Center, sponsored by the Community Action Council of Howard County, serves more than 100 children.

The Howard County Public School System's Partnerships Office (www.hcpss.org/aboutus/partnership) unites businesses and community organizations with schools to enhance the educational experience. Partnerships benefit schools, businesses, and the entire community by leveraging the resources of all participants. Partners may commit human or financial resources or other support.

February 1, 2012 (#2012-114)

Board Acquires Ducketts Lane Property for Elementary School Site

The Board of Education of Howard County announced today the purchase of a 10.03-acre site located at 6501 Ducketts Lane in Elkridge from Ducketts Ridge, LLC, for $2.64 million. The purchase allows the Board to proceed with plans to construct a new elementary school to serve the Route 1 area of the county. The 600-seat elementary school is scheduled to open in August 2013.

To acquire the property, the Board of Education was forced to sue Ducketts Ridge LLC to enforce their sales contract. The sellers would not close on previously scheduled settlement dates because they were in a dispute with their lien holder. Fortunately, the parties were able to settle their differences, allowing the Board to close on the property.

"Our highest priority has always been our commitment to the community to open an elementary school to relieve the overcapacity in the region," said Board of Education Chairman Sandra French. "We would like to thank the Honorable Richard Bernhardt of the Howard County Circuit Court for his time and effort resolving the dispute. We are also grateful to our own staff and legal team for bringing the acquisition to settlement. Howard County Government staff should also be thanked for the valuable assistance they provided throughout this process."

Over the past several years, residential development in the eastern region of Howard County has led to increased school enrollments, which the Board has worked to address through the acquisition of new school sites. Efforts to add additional sites to the school system's land bank continue.

With the acquisition of the Ducketts Lane property and the recent donation of the Oxford Square property by David P. Scheffenacker, Jr., of Preston Scheffenacker Properties, Inc., the school system is now well positioned to address capacity needs in the region according to Ken Roey, the school system's Executive Director of Facilities, Planning and Management.

"While the remaining design and construction schedule is very challenging, we are confident that by working in close coordination with the various County and State agencies who are involved, we will ensure a timely opening," Roey said.

On June 20, 2011, the Board officially approved the Ducketts property as the site for new elementary school #41. Despite the delay in acquisition, preliminary planning has proceeded with the Board approving various stages of design and staff obtaining necessary regulatory approvals.

"Each new school site presents unique challenges. I want to thank our construction and planning staff for keeping this critical project on track. I am pleased to now have the sites we need to build the schools we have been planning," said Superintendent Sydney L. Cousin.

February 1, 2012 (#2012-113)

Students Test their Knowledge of African American History at Howard County Black Saga Competition

The seventh annual Howard County Black Saga Competition will be held on February 11, 2012 at Veterans Elementary School. Black Saga is an academic challenge on African American history that will involve students from participating elementary and middle schools in Howard County. The middle school opening ceremony begins at 9:15 a.m. and the competition will conclude with an awards presentation at 11:30 a.m. The elementary school competition will begin at 1:00 p.m. and conclude with an awards ceremony at 3:00 p.m.

After working to enhance their knowledge of the African American experience for many months, the teams will compete against each other in a contest of their skills. All of these teams will then move forward to the state competition in March, where they will compete against students from other school systems. The Elementary and Secondary Social Studies offices will host the local event.

In the event of a cancellation, the snow date for this event is February 25, 2012.

The district coordinator for the Black Saga Competition is Dr. Mark Stout, Curriculum Coordinator for Advanced Programs and Secondary Social Studies, Howard County Public School System.