Hollifield Station Elementary School PTA

E-mail hsespta@yahoo.com

School Address: 8701 Stonehouse Drive, Ellicott City, MD 21042

410-313-2550

November 9, 2006

Dear Members of the Howard County Board Of Education:

Since one of the purposes of PTA is to advocate for all children, the HSES PTA does not endorse or denounce any redistricting proposal that the Board of Education is presently considering. From the time it was originally proposed we have strongly advocated for and publicly commended the Board’s commitment to the opening of the new northeastern elementary school in order to alleviate overcrowding in the northern and northeastern elementary schools. However, since FY 2003 when it was first proposed, enrollment patterns have slowly changed.

Enrollment numbers at Hollifield Station Elementary have slowly fallen from a record high of 792 in 2003 to a more manageable current number of 742 (K-5). This year the actual enrollment is 6% lower than school system projections with more than half of the error attributed to our Kindergarten population. There are only 99 Kindergarteners instead of the projected 127. Next spring, we will lose a huge fifth grade class (153 students) and with a projected incoming Kindergarten class of 136 students for next fall (without redistricting) enrollment is projected to be 725 students (K-5) for 2007-2008. That is 108% of our capacity; less than the 111% we are at this school year.

If enrollment projections are off again next year, capacity utilization could be much lower – perhaps as low as 102%; again this is without redistricting.

Our concern is that this declining enrollment is not just a glitch but the beginning of a trend and that therefore our overcrowding is self-correcting. For instance, in October 2004, the two-year projection called for HSES enrollment to be 883 students for the current school year – with 742 students currently enrolled, this is 141 students less than predicted. Moreover the existing sending area is approaching build-out with residences five to 15 years or older. Over the next several years, it is anticipated that less than 225 housing units are to be built in the Hollifield sending area. Of them, 144 are apartments. All are already included in your projections. Combined with the natural aging of the neighborhoods, the existing sending area is no longer likely to generate large elementary school student yields per household.

This downward trend combined with the removal of 153 students out of Hollifield, means that our enrollment could easily fall far below the minimum standard of 90% of capacity. Not only would this be contrary to Board of Education policy, but the ramifications on the viability of programs would be significant. In particular, smaller enrollment limits instructional flexibility. No longer will staff be able to target and distinguish differences in student learning needs. Instead, more students will need to be in larger groups that encompass a wider spectrum of proficiency and capabilities. For example, in math classes there will not be the flexibility to target instruction for students who bridge levels or for students who succeed or struggle by unit/subject. They will either be placed in over their heads or below their interest level.

Being below capacity is a situation that cannot be easily fixed next year. The system is rightfully reluctant to redistrict polygons again within 3 – 5 years. Instead, we remain under enrolled for several years.

We ask that the Board consider holding off on redistricting the Hollifield Station sending area or work with the HSES PTA to review the data and discuss the impact of possible solutions. Upholding the quality of our children’s education is paramount to our collective future success. We thank this body for the courtesy and consideration we have always received.

Respectfully submitted,

Hollifield Station ES PTA