Advocacy
from our PTA Council of Howard County representatives from CLES
Blene Bekure and Corinne Happel (ptachc@clespta.org)
Redistricting: HCPSS Boundary Review Process for the 2026-2027 School Year
Schools included in the boundary review:
CLES, Bryant Woods, Running Brook, Swansfield, Longfellow, Clemens Crossing, and Elementary Schools
Wilde Lake, Harper’s Choice, and Burleigh Manor Middle Schools.
Centennial and Wilde Lake High Schools.
Provide Testimony to Board of Education
CLES Details from the HCPSS School Planning Office: 2025 Educational Facilities Master Plan (EFMP)
Elementary Utilization Tier 1 - Centennial Lane ES
Outlook: Centennial Lane ES (CLES) is expected to be utilized at 118% to 120% for the next ten years, with peak enrollment of 722 students in 2027. Despite having little new housing development in recent years, capacity utilization at CLES remains high due to student yields from turnover of existing homes and apartments. The approximate number of seats needed to reach 100% utilization is 110 over the next ten years.
Near term Strategy: CLES has six relocatable classrooms adding 150 seats of temporary capacity. Additionally, boundary review is underway considering options to utilize available capacity at Running Brook ES and Longfellow ES in relief of CLES and BWES. Any changes will take effect in SY 2026-27.
Long term Strategy: Depending on the outcome of the SY 2026-27 enrollment balancing effort, consider a future enrollment balancing project to utilize expected available seats at Manor Woods ES and Hollifield Station ES to balance enrollment at CLES, Northfield ES, and St John’s Lane ES.
From Table 3.7 Elementary Utilization and Seat Need for Years 1, 5, and 10Participate in Advocacy for Our Schools
The PTA receives questions like:
Why are all our fifth graders in portables this year?
How can we get a new playground and more green space for children to play outdoors in the shade?
Why isn’t Centennial Lane Elementary School on the 10-year long-plan master plan for capital funding in Howard County?
How can we share our thoughts about student cell phone policies?
Renovations are needed for the high school our children are districted to attend in a few years; these have been pushed back until 2036 when current kindergarteners will be high school seniors. What can we do to advocate for funding for important projects like this to happen sooner?
Whether you’ve asked these questions yourself or have other school-related concerns on your mind, joining the PTA is a great way to stay informed and to work with others to advocate for all students in Howard County. For concerns specifically about CLES, our principal, Mrs. Albright (tracey_albright@hcpss.org), is always a great first contact for your questions as well.
Starting this school year, we’ll be sending updates at least quarterly to registered PTA members with answers to common questions that families are asking and key points from PTACHC meetings.
The PTA Council of Howard County (PTA-CHC) welcomes our participation on advocacy issues throughout the year. There are usually shortages of community members advocating to fund our school system both at the local (Howard County) and the state level. Multiple issues are raised each year; the PTA-CHC cannot tackle all of them. School PTAs can pursue their own advocacy efforts. Individuals are also encouraged to advocate as needs/concerns arise.
Please contact our PTACHC representatives (ptachc@clespta.org) for any advocacy related ideas or concerns. They can work with you on advocacy issues or bring them up with PTA-CHC.
All school community members are welcome to register to speak in person or virtually at school board meetings that are usually held twice monthly. You can register to speak up to 3 minutes at each meeting on almost any topic that you have concerns about. There are also opportunities to speak to the Howard County Council and state legislature. All are welcome.
Announcements for May 2025
HCPSS Operating Budget Was Not Fully Funded
Not great news. The HCPSS operating budget was not fully funded and we are $29.2 million short of maintaining current teachers, staff and programs in our schools.
The following have been noted as possible planned cuts and the dollar savings (but note that total dollar values are only $19 million and we need $29.2 million in cuts to balance the budget).
Class size increase: $6 million
Eliminate MS Gen Ed Paraeducators: $255,000
Reduce ES paraeducators: $4 million
Reduce HS Teacher Secretaries: $351,000
Reduce HS/ARL Media Specialists: $1.4 million
Reduce Dual Enrollment: $300,000
Eliminate 3rd grade strings: $1.1 million
Reduce ES GT teachers: $3.6 million
Reduce Non-School-Based Staff: $2.0 million
-----------------TOTAL savings $19.0 million, still have a $10.2 million shortage.
THESE CUTS ARE NOT FINAL AND THERE IS STILL TIME TO ADVOCATE.
Anyone with concerns should email the County Council and ask them to find funding so that cuts are not necessary: councilmail@howardcountymd.gov and budgettestimony@howardcountymd.gov.
Please send comments as soon as possible. The county council will announce the final $ going to HCPSS on May 21st.
ALSO:
The Adequate Public Facilities Act Review Committee is hosting a public hearing on Tuesday, May 20th at 6pm in the Banneker Room of the George Howard Building (3430 Court House Drive, Ellicott City) centered around the group’s suggested recommendations for changes to Howard County’s Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance (APFO). The public is encouraged to provide written feedback by May 20th either at the hearing or via apfo@howardcountymd.gov
PTACHC Updates/Minutes for March 2025
In the incoming school year, the below policies are being proposed to be reviewed. If you are interested in representing PTACHC on any of the policy review committees that will be formed around any of the policies going up for full review, please reach out.
2025-26 School Year Proposed Policy Activity
Updates from the Board of Education
On Tuesday, March 4th, the Board will vote on the operating budget that will be sent to the County Executive.
On Thursday, March 20th, please sign up to speak at the county level in favor of fully funding the Board of Education's request.
School Announcements:
March 31st is no longer a day off of school for students
June 18th is now the last day of school.
School Bus Coverage 2025-26
HCPSS has not yet provided maps to students and families for the transportation and non-transportation zones for next year (which students will and won't receive school bus service). Policy 5200 was revised last school year which will increase school bus service in some areas. We asked for a date when families can expect to receive this information.
Position Statements voted/passed tonight:
STATE Legislation:
House Bill 38 -- PTACHC opposes overly restricting APFO.
PTACHC opposes removing restrictions to build in overcrowded school areas.
COUNTY Legislation:
Bill 1825 (eliminates APFO protections for certain housing projects): PTACHC opposes this bill.
Bill 20-25 (Excess surplus funding will allow funds to be directed to HCPSS deferred maintenance): PTACHC supports this bill.
Contact us.
Blene Bekure
Corinne Happel
CLES PTA representatives to the PTA Council of Howard County