New Middle School

About 800 Howard County elementary and middle school students would be assigned to new schools next fall if a redistricting plan presented to parents this week is approved by the school board.The plan would affect 338 elementary school students who would be transferred to other schools and 482 middle-schoolers, who would be assigned to the new Lime Kiln Middle School, which opens next fall.Associate Superintendent Maurice Kalin presented a first draft of the redistricting plan to parents who came to meetings at Centennial and Hammond high schools last night and Wednesday night.

The Howard County school system's Naming Committee has suggested the names "Bonnie Grove Middle School" and "Bonnie Branch Middle School" for the northeastern middle school scheduled to open in September, 1999.Comments about the proposed names or suggestions for alternatives should be submitted by Friday by calling 410-313-7193, or in writing to Kathy Agans, Howard County Public School System, 10910 Route 108, Ellicott City 21042.Pub Date: 2/15/98

County and school officials have agreed to a revised schedule of building new schools and expanding others in a plan that will cost $101 million by 2003 -- a plan that also moves up projects such as a new high school in Westminster and a new middle school in Hampstead.But the schedule delays a new middle school in Westminster for two years, until 2002, and delays renovation of North Carroll Middle School until 2003.School board President C. Scott Stone was taken aback when Steven D. Powell, the county's director of management and budget, presented the plan, which the County Commissioners had approved earlier this month.

The Howard County school board last night delayed plans to build a new middle school in Ellicott City, opting to make one big cut to its capital budget instead of a series of small ones.The board also decided to seek more money for school construction from County Executive Charles I. Ecker for next fall after Gov. Parris N. Glendening gave the Howard schools less money than expected. But extra money from Ecker is far from certain, meaning that more cuts may have to be made later in the spring.

The Anne Arundel County school board voted late Wednesday to modernize Brooklyn Park middle school, leaving a wing for arts and other county programs, and to build a new middle school for South County.The Brooklyn Park decision is a victory for North County activists who lobbied hard for the $20.3 million renovation of the former high school building. It also gives elected officials the flexibility to use a $300,000 state grant for a North County venue for Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts.

The Howard County school board began the painful process of school redistricting last night, and it appears this year's tough decisions will involve setting boundary lines for the new elementary school in Ellicott City and moving middle school students in east Columbia and North Laurel.Last night's work session gave board members the chance to begin questioning the specifics of a redistricting proposal for next fall that calls for more than 1,400 county elementary and middle school students to change schools in the fall.

West County parents will have one more chance this week to say where they think their children should attend elementary, middle and high school.Groups of parents began meeting last year to come up with their version of new school boundaries to accompany the opening this fall of a new middle school for the Fort Meade area.There's been nothing straightforward about the process since then. Some parents have made clear they don't want their children in Meade area schools at all.Here are the threads of the complicated debate:Parents on a redistricting task force had to decide which students would attend the new middle school and which students would go to 30-year-old MacArthur Middle School, both on Fort Meade.

Brooklyn Park should get a new middle school, even if it includes parts of the existing structure, and there's the possibility that the auditorium wing of the old building could be used for community meetings and performing arts, County Executive John G. Gary has said.Gary came close to backing the recommendation of architects Grimm and Parker for a new school. But he wants further studies to determine if it would be feasible to build a new school around the existing gym and cafeteria, and if the auditorium wing could be turned into a free-standing building.

Architects are advising county school officials to build middle schools in Brooklyn Park and Lothian instead of trying to renovate or expand existing structures.The cost of two new buildings would be near $47 million, not adjusted for inflation.School board members will review the proposal by consultants Grimm and Parker Architects at their Wednesday night meeting and will vote in February on how -- or whether -- they want either project to move forward. Both schools could open as early as 2000, depending on money and politics.

A proposal to transfer 230 Westminster West Middle students to Northwest Middle School in Taneytown could stall a more permanent solution to crowded schools: a new middle school in Westminster.A hearing on the proposal is scheduled for 7 p.m. today at the West Middle cafeteria, and the school board will vote by the end of April. School officials have been getting many calls and expect a large crowd tonight.The affected families live in the Greens, Whispering Meadows and Pleasant Valley subdivisions in Westminster.