Words: Delanie Tucker
On Monday, November 26, the Howard County Public School System held a Family Night for the parents/guardians of Centennial High School students to discuss options to reduce overcrowding.
HCPSS Staff shared information on the five options Centennial students will have in upcoming school years, all of which can help to reduce the number of students during portions of the school day.
The five options are: additional ARL courses, work-based options, a shuttle to Howard Community College, Project Lead the Way at Marriotts Ridge High School, and school reassignment to Glenelg or Marriotts Ridge High School with provided transportation.
All options are completely optional and based on student interest.
Due to the impact these decisions will have on community members, there was a decent-sized turn out.
According to Cynthia Dillon, Centennial’s principal, around 200 parents and students showed up, which, despite the fact that the night was aimed towards Centennial parents, also consisted of parents from both Howard High School and Marriotts Ridge High School.
Additionally, several people from Centennial’s student services team and Howard County’s Central Office attended.
This group of people included: Bill Barnes, Chief Academic Officer, Laree Siddiqui, Dual Enrollment Coordinator, Restia Whitaker, Coordinator of Student Support Services, and Pat Saunderson, Community Superintendent.
According to Dillon, the parents attending from Marriotts seemed to be curious if they would be affected by students moved to their school. Howard and Centennial parents seemed to interested in the five options.
“The parents I talked to after [the Family Night] was over seemed to be very interested in some of the options,” Dillon explained. “And I think that’s important.”
Overall, the reaction of the majority was positive and accepting of the information presented.
Another Family Night will be held on December 4 at Marriotts Ridge High School.
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