Public Input

The Board of Education has scheduled two meetings to present possible 2012 redistricting plans to county residents. Staff members will be on hand to receive public input. The meetings, each at 7:30 p.m., will be held Tuesday, Sept. 6, in the Hammond High School auditorium, and Wednesday, Sept. 7, in the Centennial High School auditorium. The staff recommendation will be presented to the board on Oct. 20. The board is scheduled to hold public work sessions on Nov. 3, Nov. 10 and Nov. 15 (if needed)

Residents will get a chance to weigh in on Howard County's speed camera program Wednesday, as officials consider where the devices can be placed. The cameras must be located near schools under a county law passed in May, but the legislation requires schools, police and public works officials to consider public input in deciding how far the school zones should extend. The Police Department has not yet named a contractor to install the speed cameras this fall, a spokeswoman said Thursday.

Residents can provide input into improving water quality in Prince George's County at a series of three public forums. The forums are a joint effort between the county's Department of Environmental Resources, Soil Conservation District, Health Department, Department of Public Works and Transportation; Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission; and the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission. The first forum will be held Tuesday, Aug. 16 from 4:30 to 8 p.m. at the Prince George's County Soil Conservation District, 5301 Marlboro Race Track Road, Suite 100, inUpper Marlboro.

School is most certainly be the last thing in mind for youngsters these days — the school year just ended a couple of weeks ago. But we hope school enters the minds of parents this month, as the future of the Baltimore County Board of Education might well be determined while classes aren't in session. This week begins a series of three public hearings designed to gather public input on the issue of the school board's selection process. A task force formed by the county's delegation to Annapolis — formally dubbed the Task Force on the Selection Process, Accountability and Professionalism of the Baltimore County Board of Education — will host the sessions, beginning July 6, around the county.

Anne Arundel County residents will have an additional opportunity to weigh in on proposed land zoning changes — a move made in response to community complaints. The Planning Advisory Board will hold public hearings on any amendments to pending rezoning bills, a new step in the county's once-in-a-decade comprehensive rezoning process. County Executive John R. Leopold called for the change in a letter to the board's chair, after residents complained they hadn't had a chance to voice opposition to several amendments affecting their neighborhoods.

Baltimore County officials are asking for public participation in a six-day planning effort to address homelessness. Government leaders, joined by the clergy, businesses and nonprofit organizations, will be working to find solutions to what is a growing problem throughout the county. The opening session runs from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at Trinity Episcopal Church, at 120 Allegheny Avenue, Towson. Consultants on health, housing, employment and transportation will lead panel discussions throughout the day Thursday and Friday at the Towson Library, at 320 York Road.

Geno Smith outplayed counterpart B.J. Daniels , throwing for 219 yards and two touchdowns, as No. 25 West Virginia downed South Florida 20-6 in the Big East on Thursday. Smith was efficient, completing 24 of 31 passes, while Daniels tossed three interceptions and threw for just 119 yards before being benched late in the fourth. West Virginia (5-1, 1-0 Big East) won despite getting just 56 rushing yards on 23 carries from the combination of Noel Devine and Ryan Clarke.

Baltimore County officials are asking for the community's opinions on plans for a park in Edgemere. A developer had hoped to build new houses on the 30-acre parcel near Back River, but when the sluggish housing market stalled his plans, the county purchased the land known to neighbors as Karll Trust last year for $1.5 million. Now it will be home to athletic fields, walking trails and open space. "We moved right in and bought the parcel for a park," said Robert Barrett, director of the county Department of Recreation and Parks.

At a Baltimore County school board meeting packed with dozens of people opposed to the use of a new student tracking system, leaders representing teachers, principals and parents asked the board for more public input into the review of the process. The tracking system, called the Articulated Instruction Module, has come under fire in recent weeks from teachers, who say it is burdensome and redundant. The system, developed by a county school administrator, would require teachers to grade students on their mastery of about 100 skills in each subject.

A Corporation for Public Broadcasting investigation - prompted by the firing of talk-show host Marc Steiner last year - has found that public radio station WYPR-FM has not been meeting requirements for seeking community input and holding public meetings. In addition to its failure to follow procedures to ensure public input, the report concluded that WYPR also could not show that it had spent money from the CPB - more than $331,000 for fiscal 2007 - as was required. The report did not accuse WYPR of misspending funds but strongly suggested its bookkeeping be improved.