Concerns with some HoCo Delegation 2020-2021 bill

Scott E’s blog put a list of all of them at https://scotteblog.com/2019/11/08/howard-county-state-delegation-places-bullseye-directly-on-hcpss-with-legislation-headed-to-annapolis-in-2020/ .

However, the county government website is empty: https://www.howardcountymd.gov/About-HoCo/State-Delegation/2020-Session-Proposed-Local-Legislation

I am not sure what is happening there. However, I strongly opposed to the bill: Howard County – Board of Education – Redetermination of Geographic Attendance Areas, Ho. Co. 1-20.

I remembered I saw earlier version that our state senators wanted to school board to have school redistricting every year once the school capacity utilization falls out of 90-110%. In reality, the school utilization is a float number. What happens if the school capacity is 110.05%? We will never achieve exactly 90-110% range. There should be a margin to this magic 90-110% range. How about 85-115%? In reality, any capacity utilization over 100% should be regarded as overcrowded.

This legislation and this level of micromanagement on HCPSS will really mess up our school system.

Another point I want to make is that many of our HoCo state delegates and senators represents Baltimore County too. In Baltimore County, the school system has an overall net capacity ( more seats than students) while HCPSS has negative seats in all three levels, but some Baltimore County school has a capacity of 152%, for example : Chadwick Elementary School (Ref: http://www.bcps.org/system/students_count/misc/SC2018%20FINAL%20013019.pdf ). I am not sure why our delegate did not propose the same bill for Baltimore County.

Please share your feedback with our legislatures: For further information, contact the Howard County Delegation Office at 410-841-3360 or hoc1@mlis.state.md.us.

From Scot E blog: Any individual may testify for up to 3 minutes, as long as they are signed up.  Signup will begin at 6:00pm outside the Banneker Room and will close at 6:50pm.Advance sign up is not available.  The Delegation encourages you to bring written copies of your testimony (preferably 15) to distribute to us, though it is not a requirement to speak. Please be aware that the Delegation Chairs can change the format of the meeting at their discretion. The hearing is scheduled as follows: Tuesday, November 19, 2019 – 7:00 p.m.Banneker Room, George Howard Building3430 Courthouse Drive, Ellicott City, MDThe 2020 legislative session will begin on January 8, 2020