Dear Dr. Wu, “School attendance areas should promote a sense of community in both the geographic place (e.g., neighborhood) and the promotion of a student from each school level through the consideration of: b. Areas that are made up of contiguous communities or neighborhoods.” (Policy 6010 IV.B.2.b).
The proposed AAC plan dated August 15, 2017 will negatively affect the Dunloggin neighborhood by separating “islands” of students from their peers. The Dunloggin population has made a long-term commitment both socially and financially to promote a sense of family and community. The proposed plan will drive a wedge in the efforts committed to maintain the Dunloggin neighborhood by separating groups of the population with no consideration of geographic boundaries nor community definition. The “Polygons” as drawn seem to accomplish the opposite of promoting community and instead divide areas with no discernible consideration to neighborhood. This plan will quash the community we have worked to maintain by alienating neighbors and will remove any sense of school loyalty and comradery by dividing students. Our community has been given no input as to the reasons for decisions that impact decades of commitment.
In the AAC meeting, held August 15, 2017, scenario 15 was rejected but, since scenario 15 is not easily accessible, it is not clear what was rejected and why. Discussion of the survey results suggested that Dunloggin would continue to remain at Centennial and the statement of “gerrymandering” was used to describe the division of Dunloggin. Our community is in agreement, gerrymandering is evident – boundaries have been manipulated to create a jagged border with little consideration for the neighbors affected. However, our input with regard to these decisions appears to have been dismissed in the plan. 250 characters in a survey is not sufficient to represent input and the phone number provided (410.313.7184) for feedback is not accepting messages – the mailbox is full leading one to believe it is ignored. When the short surveys were compiled, the consensus was NOT to divide the community but this is not reflected in the most recent version of the polygon map. Thank you for your time and consideration. Sincerely,
Pete Notti 410-241-3838
Dr. Michelle Carlson Notti
So, so true; school attendance areas should promote a sense of community in both the geographic place (e.g., neighborhood) and the promotion of a student from each school level through the consideration of: b. Areas that are made up of contiguous communities or neighborhoods.” (Policy 6010 IV.B.2.b), yet this dividing of long established neighborhoods has been attempted again and again by school planning to correct the over-development which has run rampant in the county for years and has remain virtually unchecked.
Dunloggin, Gray Rock, Font Hill, Valley Mede, Mt. Hebron, Worthington, etc. all have had arbitrary, imaginary lines drawn through their neighborhoods with no regard placed on the importance of community to the residents and how each neighborhood is a valuable contributor to their local school system. When neighborhoods are divided a ripple effect is created, and the very sense of community is lost thus contributing to the deterioration of the school and the larger community that comprises these many neighborhoods.
In addition, the entire redistricting process pits neighborhood against neighborhood and creates a sense of frustration, suspicion, and animosity that takes longer to heal than ink drying on the newly developed school attendance area maps. It’s frustrating, maddening, and seemingly the norm in Howard County.