Jeffers Hill

Recent discussion among school, community and political leaders about inequities between older and newer county schools calls attention to the struggles of so-called focus schools and their advocates' demands for more attention from the Howard County Board of Education.Some parents and students at the schools, which are mainly in Columbia, say the board needs to do more to help principals not only bring up standardized test scores but also shake a stigma."I think we've been identified as a certain way and [School Superintendent Michael E.]

To the relief of dozens of parents, the Howard County school board indicated last night that it would delay redistricting children who attend northeastern elementary schools next fall.The board made its intentions known during an unofficial "straw vote" at a public hearing on redistricting last night.Moving pupils in the northeast -- a rapidly growing area that has seen frequent redistricting -- probably isn't necessary next year because "the populations in these schools are not increasing as quickly as we expected," said school system spokeswoman Patti Caplan.

BOB JENKINS was selected as Hammond High School's Teacher of the Month for November.Jenkins was nominated by fellow teachers for "his energy and commitment" to students.He works with the ninth-grade social studies team, and he devotes much of his time and energy to the school's "It's Academic" team.The "It's Academic" team won the Baltimore regional competition, besting 80 other teams.Jenkins has set up an innovative project -- Web pages that help students with studying and homework.The Parent Teacher Student Association featured Jenkins in its "Golden Notes" and presented him with with an award.

Bacteria, fungal spores and dust mites that can trigger allergies exist in higher-than-normal levels in some parts of Columbia's Jeffers Hill Elementary School, according to results of an air quality study released last night.Dirty carpets and ventilation ducts likely are causing the contamination, according to the report from Aerosol Monitoring & Analysis, Inc., a Hanover-based environmental consulting firm."These are low to medium conditions, and the primary risks are that of allergies," said Joseph Coco of Aerosol Monitoring.

Miscommunication and lack of information were the most difficult problems faced by parents when they tried to investigate the high number of health complaints at Columbia's Jeffers Hill Elementary School, they told the Howard County school board last night."

In the wake of complaints at Columbia's Jeffers Hill Elementary School, Howard County PTA officials have called on all county schools to form parent committees to deal with air quality issues."

In the community column of yesterday's Howard County edition of The Sun, it was incorrectly stated that "Voices 2000" -- produced by Hammond High School drama teacher Melissa Davis and her students -- was the production of another school. Performances will be held in the Hammond High School auditorium at 8 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday.The Sun regrets the error.WHAT IS small, fits into a corner of your briefcase or luggage, and is your personal link to a Jeffers Hill Elementary third-grade student?

The environmental consultant investigating air quality complaints at Columbia's Jeffers Hill Elementary School said last night that he found evidence of possible microscopic contamination in the school's antiquated ventilation system and soiled carpeting.The findings indicate that more extensive testing should be done, Joseph A. Coco of Hanover-based Aerosol Monitoring & Analysis Inc., said at a meeting with parents and school officials at Jeffers Hill last night. His firm was hired in response to parents' complaints about air quality at the school.

Parent volunteers at Jeffers Hill Elementary School in east Columbia said last night they plan to survey students, parents and staff to determine the extent and types of chronic health problems that some parents have linked to poor ventilation and possible poor air quality in the building.Parents also said they will review maintenance records of the ventilation system at the school.The announcements came at the first meeting of a Jeffers Hill PTA committee formed to monitor air quality issues and the progress of renovations planned there.

Howard County school officials named an expert from outside the school system yesterday to test air quality in an east Columbia school whose students have complained of chronic health problems.School spokeswoman Patti Caplan said Joseph Coco of Aerosol Monitoring and Analysis Inc., a Hanover-based environmental consulting firm, will begin preliminary testing at Jeffers Hill Elementary School by the end of the week.Coco -- a certified industrial hygienist and vice president of the company -- will have test results available within 12 days, Caplan said.