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HCPSS / POLICIES

Policy 6070 Implementation Procedures - Discontinuation of School Use

Policy Document

Implementation Procedures

I. Factors Considered Before Use of a School is Discontinued

At a minimum, the factors below will be given consideration by the Superintendent/Designee when developing alternatives and recommendations.

  • Student enrollment trends, where enrollment, excluding self-contained special education students is:

    • Grades K-5: 275 Students

    • Grades 6-8: 450 Students

    • Grades 9-12: 800 Students

  • Age and condition of school building

  • Transportation

  • Fiscal impact

  • Risk management factors

  • Educational programs

  • Redistricting plan

  • Impact on community in geographic attendance area for school proposed to be closed and school, or school(s), to which students will be relocating.

II. Advisory Committee

The Superintendent/Designee will convene an ad hoc advisory committee of affected stakeholders which will include school staff, county staff, and representatives of the community. This ad hoc advisory committee will study circumstances and develop recommendations for the Superintendent/Designee.

III. Report

The Superintendent/Designee will report on alternatives and recommendations. These will include an analysis of each factor listed above. The alternatives and recommendations will be presented to the Board of Education for its consideration. The Board may direct the Superintendent to develop additional information and/or to develop other alternatives for its consideration. The data used in formulating the report, with any references noted, will be available for review by the public.

When a school’s use is to be discontinued but the facility will be retained by the HCPSS, the Superintendent will recommend, where possible, the manner in which the school may be used. The alternatives and recommendations will be presented to the Board for its consideration. The Board may direct the Superintendent to develop additional information and/or to develop other alternatives for its consideration.

IV. Board Decision

The decision to close one or more schools is made by the Board with the support of HCPSS staff. The Superintendent/Designee prepares technical analyses which consider the relevant factors enumerated in the procedures listed in I. above.

V. Public Hearing

  1. Scheduling a Hearing

    Except in unforeseen circumstances, a public hearing is scheduled at least forty-five (45) days after receiving the Superintendent’s alternatives and/or recommendations, so that citizens from the affected school community(ies) will have an opportunity to prepare oral and/or written testimony on alternatives and/or recommendations.

  2. Notification

    In addition to any regular means of notification, written notification of all schools that are under consideration for closing shall be advertised in at least two newspapers having general circulation in the geographic attendance area for the school or schools proposed to be closed, and the school or schools to which students will be relocating. The newspaper notification shall include the procedures that will be followed by the local Board in making its final decision.

    The newspaper notification shall appear at least two weeks in advance of any public hearings held by the local school system on a proposed school closing. Time limits on the submission of oral or written testimony and data shall be clearly defined in the notification of the public hearing.

VI. Emergency Circumstances

In emergency circumstances, operations may be suspended at the facility prior to the decision to discontinue school use. This situation is addressed in Policy 3010 Emergency Preparedness and Response.

VII. State Consultation

Prior to the final decision, staff will review the proposed discontinuation of school use with appropriate staff from the Maryland State Department of Education and the Maryland Department of Planning to ensure that all state regulations are followed.

VIII. Notification of Final Decision

  1. Notification, in writing, will be sent by the Superintendent to the following:

    1. The Howard County Council

    2. The Howard County Planning Board

    3. The Howard County Executive

    4. The principal of the school where school use will be discontinued

    5. The PTA president(s) of the school where school use will be discontinued

    6. The principal(s) of the schools to which students will be redistricted

    7. The PTA president(s) of the schools to which students will be redistricted

    8. Subscribers to the electronic mailing lists maintained by the Office of Public Information.

  2. Notification by legal advertisement will be placed in two newspapers of general circulation in Howard County for two consecutive weeks. Included in the notification will be:

    1. The facility(s) where school use will be discontinued and the effective date

    2. The school(s) to which students will be relocated and the effective date

    3. The right to appeal the Board’s final decision, in writing, within thirty (30) days after the decision is made, to the State Board of Education.

  3. The State Board of Education will uphold the decision of the local Board to close and consolidate a school unless the facts presented indicate its decision was arbitrary and unreasonable or illegal.

IX. Orderly Transition

In addition to the necessary redistricting, a transition plan will be developed to provide an orderly transition for the students and staff of affected school(s).

X. History

ADOPTED: June 28, 1990

REVIEWED: July 1, 2015

MODIFIED:

REVISED: May 12, 2009

EFFECTIVE: July 1, 2009