Requestor
Gary Williams
Requested Information
This is a formal request for public records pursuant to the Maryland Public Information Act (General Provisions Article, Title 4 of the Maryland Code).
I am requesting all records and data points used by the Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) in the decision-making process to cut the 3rd-grade string program and subsequently reallocate or designate band and orchestra teacher positions for the upcoming 2025-2026 school year.
Specifically, I request the following:
1. Enrollment Data: All enrollment figures for band and orchestra programs (by grade level, school, and instrument group) for the past three school years (2022-2023, 2023-2024, 2024-2025) and projected enrollment data used for the upcoming 2025-2026 school year. Please provide this data broken down by individual elementary school.
2. Staffing Allocation Formulas/Models: Any and all policies, procedures, formulas, or models used to determine the allocation of full-time (1.0 FTE), .6 FTE, .4 FTE, or any other fractional teacher positions for band and orchestra across all elementary schools. This should include, but not be limited to, student-to-teacher ratios, program participation thresholds, and any other criteria used to justify staffing levels.
3. Meeting Minutes and Communications: All meeting minutes, agendas, presentations, and internal communications (including emails, memos, and reports) from the school board, superintendent's office, fine arts department, and human resources department related to:
o The reallocation or designation of band and orchestra teacher positions.
o Discussions regarding the impact of these changes on specific schools and teachers.
4. Teacher Roster and Assignment Data: A list of all current (as of the date of this request) band and orchestra teachers, their current school assignments, and their proposed assignments (including FTE designation) for the upcoming 2025-2026 school year. If this data is considered personnel information that cannot be fully disclosed, please provide it in a redacted format that still allows for analysis of position changes and FTE designations per elementary school.
5. Cost-Benefit Analyses/Budget Documents: Any analyses or budget documents that justify the decision to cut the 3rd-grade string program and the resulting staffing changes, including any projected cost savings or reallocations of funds.
6. Public Input/Feedback: Any summaries of public input, school administrative input, feedback, or concerns received regarding the changes to the string program and teacher assignments, including any responses or considerations given to such input.
I am requesting all records and data points used by the Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) in the decision-making process to cut the 3rd-grade string program and subsequently reallocate or designate band and orchestra teacher positions for the upcoming 2025-2026 school year.
Specifically, I request the following:
1. Enrollment Data: All enrollment figures for band and orchestra programs (by grade level, school, and instrument group) for the past three school years (2022-2023, 2023-2024, 2024-2025) and projected enrollment data used for the upcoming 2025-2026 school year. Please provide this data broken down by individual elementary school.
2. Staffing Allocation Formulas/Models: Any and all policies, procedures, formulas, or models used to determine the allocation of full-time (1.0 FTE), .6 FTE, .4 FTE, or any other fractional teacher positions for band and orchestra across all elementary schools. This should include, but not be limited to, student-to-teacher ratios, program participation thresholds, and any other criteria used to justify staffing levels.
3. Meeting Minutes and Communications: All meeting minutes, agendas, presentations, and internal communications (including emails, memos, and reports) from the school board, superintendent's office, fine arts department, and human resources department related to:
o The reallocation or designation of band and orchestra teacher positions.
o Discussions regarding the impact of these changes on specific schools and teachers.
4. Teacher Roster and Assignment Data: A list of all current (as of the date of this request) band and orchestra teachers, their current school assignments, and their proposed assignments (including FTE designation) for the upcoming 2025-2026 school year. If this data is considered personnel information that cannot be fully disclosed, please provide it in a redacted format that still allows for analysis of position changes and FTE designations per elementary school.
5. Cost-Benefit Analyses/Budget Documents: Any analyses or budget documents that justify the decision to cut the 3rd-grade string program and the resulting staffing changes, including any projected cost savings or reallocations of funds.
6. Public Input/Feedback: Any summaries of public input, school administrative input, feedback, or concerns received regarding the changes to the string program and teacher assignments, including any responses or considerations given to such input.
Date Received
Status
Complete
Response Notes
Request withdrawn.