Schools
Redistricting Hearings Announced
Harford County Public Schools has announced the dates and locations for redistricting public hearings.
Six of the seven public hearings for the for Harford County Public Schools .
The hearings, which are all from 7–9 p.m., take place on the following dates at the locations listed:
- Dec. 6: Harford Tech High School cafeteria
- Jan. 12, 2011: Aberdeen High School auditorium
- Jan. 19, 2011: (2) Bel Air High School auditorium, Fallston High School auditorium
- Jan. 20, 2011: (2) Edgewood High School auditorium, North Harford High School auditorium
The seventh hearing will be scheduled in February when a suitable date and location is selected.
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The plan will be received by board members at a work session Nov. 29 at Patterson Mill Middle/High school at 7 p.m., though the board does not receive public comments during work sessions.
Manager of Communications Teri Kranefeld said that although public comment is allowed at regular board meetings, such as the one being held Monday night, the seven hearings are designed for parents to communicate with board members.
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"The hearings are a specific format for community members and parents to provide proposals, sample plans and adjustments to the board directly and it's a more focused atmosphere," Kranefeld said. "With the regularly scheduled board meetings we only have a limited amount of time to be able to hold general public comments. … The board cannot respond to questions."
Kranefeld added that the board has a 10 p.m. curfew, and that it would have to vote to extend the meeting beyond that time.
"There's school system business that still needs to take place, so that's why we're holding specific meetings," Kranefeld said. "[With the hearings] the board can provide undivided attention."
She also added that the seven hearings are not for the board to take a vote. The final decision is expected to take place Feb. 28, 2011 after all seven meetings with parents have been held. The deadline for the vote is March 1, 2011.
The elementary redistricting e-mail address, ElementaryRedistricting@hcps.org, will remain open for collecting feedback and questions through February 2011.
