Older Schools

Facing growing complaints about older schools in Columbia, Howard County's top educational and governmental leaders launched an unusual initiative yesterday to fix problems in a school system often called Maryland's best.The move caps several weeks of debate over what many residents see as serious inequities in education in the county, with newer schools often perceived as better. The long-simmering issue moved to the forefront last month when The Sun reported that Columbia parents dissatisfied with Wilde Lake Middle School were paying $38,000 to bus dozens of children to new Lime Kiln Middle School in Fulton this year.

Partisan squabbling among County Council Democrats and Republicans over who should be involved in solving problems in older Howard County schools appears to be over.Republicans Allan H. Kittleman, who represents the western county, and Christopher J. Merdon of Ellicott City will join the three Democrats in sponsoring the next meeting on schools, at 6 p.m. Nov. 8 in the council chambers."I feel like this is the way it should be," Kittleman said yesterday, adding that all council members agree the agenda at the next meeting will address older Columbia schools experiencing image problems.

Armed with an overhead projector and charts, Howard County School Superintendent Michael E. Hickey strongly rebutted last night charges that older schools are being neglected."

Though no specific solutions were reached, a task force studying ways to help Columbia's older schools touched on issues ranging from redistricting to PTA fund-raising to housing, during a meeting last night.Retired educators, residents and members of the Columbia Council discussed how the community can help ensure equity among Howard County schools, and how a proposed donation of $100,000 from the council might best benefit some Columbia schools.At a recent budget work session, Columbia Council members agreed to include the donation in the Columbia Association's proposed budget for the 2001 fiscal year, an unprecedented move by the CA's governing body.

The Howard County Council's three Democrats say they want more control over conditions in county schools, and one suggested reducing the school board's spending flexibility."

Some parents who attended Monday night's County Council meeting about problems in Howard County's older schools say they are being left out of the discussion, despite their desire to be a part of the solutions."

A crowd of 250 people listened last night to a litany of complaints about physical plant and educational problems in Howard County's older schools at a meeting called by three County Council members and attended by County Executive James N. Robey.From 30-year-old playground equipment at Running Brook Elementary to lack of Internet access, 10 invited speakers asked the county's political leaders for relief they said they have not been able to get from the school board.County Council Democrats C. Vernon Gray, Guy J. Guzzone and Mary C. Lorsung -- who represent Columbia -- organized the meeting to address the concerns of parents who have children in older schools, mainly in Columbia, and who feel their children are not getting equal treatment.

Thunder Hill Elementary is the type of school that doesn't fit neatly into the emotional debate about differing perceptions of Howard County's public schools.While some older Columbia schools have set off discussions about slipping standards and fleeing parents, 30-year-old Thunder Hill has flourished. Last year, 80 percent of the school's second-graders achieved at least a satisfactory score in reading on the Comprehensive Tests of Basic Skills -- well above the 70 percent countywide average for second-graders.

The decision by school administrators to delay countywide redistricting is drawing fire from top elected officials, who say it's costly and doesn't help older Columbia schools repair image problems.County Executive James N. Robey said he was "surprised" by the decision, revealed late Thursday at a school board meeting. He had been expecting countywide redistricting, which would redraw school boundary lines and require many students to be bused out of their commmunities -- some to underused Columbia schools, a controversial idea.

The weekday morning scene in Columbia's Clemens Crossing neighborhood is a familiar one: a dozen children gathered on a corner, waiting for their yellow school bus.But the bus ride is extraordinary.This year, neighborhood parents are sending these children -- and dozens more -- to a mostly white school in rural Fulton, away from the racially and economically diverse Columbia middle schools.And the parents are picking up the tab, pooling $37,800 a year for buses to make the six-mile run to Lime Kiln Middle School.