Howard School

The Howard County school board's apology for the era of segregated schools seems at first blush a magnanimous gesture of reconciliation ("Howard school board apologizes for segregation," Nov. 16). But on further reflection, it doesn't jibe with the board's more recent history. While addressing issues from a dark, bygone era of racial inequality may be cathartic, those who created and perpetuated that social order are long gone. But present day board members need only look back to 2009, when they were party to the widespread disrespect of President Barack Obama by making students' attendance at his welcome back to school address optional.

If the editors of The Sun believe that a recently-issued apology by the Howard County school board ("Howard school board apologizes for segregation," Nov. 16) that relates to treatment of African-American students 49 years ago warrants front page above the fold coverage, it cannot be considered to be a serious newspaper. Philip G. Enstice, Ellicott City

On the day that the Howard County school board apologized for the system's treatment of African-American students during segregation, Dottie Cook thought back to her middle school days, when she received a hand-me-down education that included tattered books with her uncle's name written in them. An African-American resident from Dayton, Cook said her family petitioned the Howard school board to allow her to go to a school that white students attended - a more modern school with new books - and they were told she could but only if she got permission from the bus driver to be taken there.

After a period of transition that saw its longtime school superintendent retire and infighting among school directors, members of the Howard County school community are hopeful that the new board members will work well together as they shape the county's education policy. With incumbents Janet Siddiqui and Ellen Flynn Giles gaining re-election on Tuesday, the school board now has six members with at least two years' experience. And its lone newcomer, former teachers union president Ann De Lacy, has more than 30 years' experience in the school system.

Voters in Howard County elected two incumbents and a first-time challenger to the school board on Tuesday. Incumbent Janet Siddiqui took the top spot, followed by first-time candidate Ann De Lacy and fellow incumbent Ellen Giles. Siddiqui said she was "very pleased and very humbled. " "It's been a long campaign, but it's the children in Howard County, the parents and the community that won tonight," she said. "I'm going to continue to do my work on the board for the next four years, continue to look at ways to eliminate the achievement gap and move forward.

On a day that the storm Sandy kept most of the region indoors, Howard school board candidate Robert Ballinger saw an opportunity. With Election Day about a week away, he figured he'd reach out via email to Howard residents who were likely at home surfing the Web. He and his campaign supporters set out to contact 5,000 registered voters, reminding them about early voting and conveying his vision for the county's school system. Ballinger is one of a field of six candidates, including two incumbents, vying for three seats on the school board in Tuesday's election.

Mary Klatko grew up in Pennsylvania eating nutritious foods, some fresh from the family garden and cooked from scratch. When she was named Howard County's director of food and nutrition services 26 years ago, she assumed everyone ate that way, and though she would discover the contrary, she still incorporated a healthful-eating approach into the school system's menus. So Klatko was ecstatic, though not surprised, to learn that Howard County received an A-plus from the nonprofit Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, which issues its School Lunch Report Card detailing how well school districts nationwide meet federal guidelines for healthful school lunches at elementary schools.

Howard County schools officials showcased the system's resources and educational approaches to a delegation of social studies and art supervisors from Thailand this week, joining officials in other local jurisdictions to welcome Asian educators. The Thai group, led by Benjalug Namfa, the country's deputy secretary general of basic education, met with Superintendent Renee Foose and curriculum staff Tuesday and visited classrooms at Howard High School and Ellicott Mills Middle School on Wednesday.

Maryland high school students posted lower marks last year on the SATs but saw increases in Advanced Placement college exam participation and results, according to data released on Monday by the College Board. The state's test takers during the 2011-2012 academic year registered a 5-point drop in average SAT scores (1,487 on the 2,400-point scale) from the previous year, said the College Board, which administers the college readiness exams. Maryland scored 497 in critical reading (down two points)