posted Jul 31, 2017, 9:38 AM by Alan Romack
Hello parents!
Hope
your summer has been excellent. Here at the PTSA we have been working
to get ready for the new school year and keeping an eye on
redistricting. The current published 2017 Feasibility plan shows moving
a whole bunch of kids around to try and solve the over crowding at the
northern high schools and to fill up the new elementary school. All of
the changes, once voted on by the BOE, will take effect in August of
2018.
The
Oakland Mills community is definitely affected, and in many ways. The
OMMS PTSA president, Alan Romack, has been attending the Redistricting
Meetings every Tuesday night and has been working with the OMCA
Educational committee to come up with alternatives to the current
feasibility plan that are less stressful the Oakland Mills community.
You have been calling and writing in and what a job you have done!!
Dr
Calvin Ball has heard our voices, and has agreed to host a round table
discussion with all the Oakland Mills PTA and PTSA Presidents and the
Office of School Planning on August 2nd. Your PTSA President needs to
hear from you, your concerns regarding the Redistricting plans, before
he goes into this meeting. Please email him, Alan Romack, at President@ommsptsa.org by 12pm on 8-2-17 so he can speak to your concerns. Area Attendance Committee Meetings will continue Tuesday Nights thru August 15 and then: Fall Regional Meetings
- Tuesday, Sept. 12, 7:30 p.m., Wilde Lake High School
- Wednesday, Sept. 13, 7:30 p.m., Howard High School
Superintendent’s Redistricting Recommendations
- Tuesday, Oct. 3, 7:30 p.m., Presentation to the Board of education of Attendance Area Adjustment Plan
Attendance Area Adjustment recommendations are made by the
Superintendent at a Board of Education meeting, taking into
consideration the input from the AAC and the public.
Board of Education Public Hearings and Work Sessions
- Thursday, Oct. 26, 7 p.m., Public Hearing I
- Wednesday, Nov. 1, 7:30 p.m., Work Session I
- Thursday, Nov. 2, 7:30 p.m., Work Session II
- Tuesday, Nov. 7, 7 p.m., Public Hearing II
- Thursday, Nov. 9, 7:30 p.m., Work Session III
- Tuesday, Nov. 14, 7:30 p.m., Work Session IV
Approval of Attendance Area Adjustment Plan
- Thursday, Nov. 16, 7:30 p.m., Approval
|
posted Apr 20, 2017, 1:34 PM by Alan Romack
;)
When: April 26 to 28th
Where: Oakland Mills Middle School
9540Kilimanjaro Road
Columbia, Maryland 21045
Pre
order tickets will be on sale at lunch April 19-24.
Remaining tickets will be available at the door.
|
posted Mar 12, 2017, 5:05 PM by Alan Romack
posted Mar 5, 2017, 12:36 PM by Alan Romack
House Bill 590 and Senate Bill 609,
would allow two parents to sit on the
Maryland State Board of Education! |
|
Maryland PTA Members, Parents and Educational & Community Stakeholders we need you to put pressure on the MD House of Delegates: Ways and Means Committee: Bill 590 and the MD Senate: Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee: Bill 609 to vote in favor of this new legislation. Both bills musf first be voted on next week in order to move forward to the Govenor's desk! MD House of Delegates: Ways and Means Committee: Bill 590 will be discussed and voted on next Tuesday (Feb 21st). MD Senate: Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee: Bill 609 will be discussed and voted on next Wednesday (Feb 22nd). Stakeholders, we need you to do the following: - Step 1 - Click on the links below to review the contact information for members of the Ways and Means Committee and Education, Health and Environmental Affairs Committee
- Step 2 - Email and Call members of the Ways and Means Committee and Education, Health and Environmental Affairs Committee and ask them to vote in favor of House Bill 590 and Senate Bill 609
- Step 3 - Call and email the committee contacts
|
|
Maryland PTA has the opportunity to recommend two parents to the Maryland State Board of Education via House 590 State Board of Education - Membership - Teachers and Parents and its cross-filed bill, Senate Bill 609. This legislation affords us a unique and unprecedented opportunity to sit at the helm of the most impactful decisions in public education for Maryland Public Schools. Maryland PTA needs you to make enthusiastic calls to members of the House Ways and Means Committee and the Senate Education, Health and Environmental Affairs Committee to request a favorable report on these bills in the interest of parents, like yourself, who seek to improve education for their children who attend Maryland public schools who receive public funds. Let’s make sure that the Maryland State Board has adequate representation of parents and a voice at the state level who can support strong policies that put our children first. Embark with us on this journey to put two parents recommended by Maryland PTA to serve on the Board of Education for the State of Maryland. |
|
|
|
|
|
posted Jan 29, 2017, 11:26 AM by Alan Romack
I’d like to remind you to attend the Maryland PTA Night in Annapolis reception for PTAmembers, legislators, education partners, businesses and stakeholders on Thursday, February 9 at the Maryland House Office Building on 6 Bladen Street in room 170 from 6:00PM to 8:00PM. The purpose of this annual affair is to informally chat with your state elected officials about issues of great importance to you in education. You are encouraged to bring your children and wear school/county, PTA or business paraphernalia. You may bring a friend, spouse, neighbor or even be a grandparent. Please feel free to communicate such information to your professional or personal networks or constituencies. You are welcome to place such information on your school or personal Facebook page, website, send out an email to interested parties and/or send out a twitter message. Maryland PTA Twitter is @Maryland PTA so tell people that you are coming and invite them as well. Among many bills, your state elected officials are making decisions on legislation such as Graduation Requirements in the Fine Arts Required Number of School Days Reporting Requirements on Transcripts and Diplomas Health and Safety of Sugar Intake at Schools Kindergarten Assessments and much more
You are welcome do a search on any legislation at the Maryland General Assembly (MGA) website at http://mgaleg.maryland.gov/webmga/frm1st.aspx?tab=home . Soon, the Maryland PTA 2017 Legislative Agenda will be on our website so be sure to visit the legislative page of www.mdpta.org. You can also refer to the flyer which is attached and reminds attendees to bring their identification. LOGISTICS Attendees can park at the Gotts Court Parking Garage on 25 Calvert Street in Annapolis and walk through the black gates that are between the Comptroller’s office buildings. Parking should be $5.00 or less depending on the length of your stay. Upon exiting U.S. 50 East onto Rowe Blvd. it will eventually veer rightward as you approach about a block from the capitol steps. After turning right, be sure to make a left onto Calvert Street at the light so you can make a right into the parking garage. (If you don't turn left onto Calvert Street and maintain driving straight, you can still enter the parking garage from Rowe Blvd. and you will make a left to enter the garage.) Bladen Street and the House Office Building, where the reception will be located, is on the left side of road if lo oking straight ahead while driving down toward the capitol steps on Rowe Blvd. Don't miss out. Many legislators have already begun to RSVP. Please do the same to the Maryland PTA office at office@mdpta.org. Marla Posey-Moss
Vice President for Advocacy
Maryland PTA 5 Central Avenue Glen Burnie, MD 21061
"The great aim of education is not knowledge but action." ~Herbert Spencer
"Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all." ~Aristotle
|
posted Dec 4, 2016, 11:27 AM by Alan Romack
During the 2016 legislative session, the Maryland General Assembly passed House Bill 1105 (“H.B. 1105”). This bill tasked the Maryland Office of the Public Access Ombudsman to investigate and issue a public report by January 1, 2017 concerning the Howard County Public School System pertaining to the handling of public records and Public Information Act requests during the period from July 1, 2012 through December 31, 2015. The Ombudsman is seeking comments on the Preliminary Findings as part of this report and believes that your members will have added value. Deadline for comments is December 5, Email your comments to HB1105Comment@oag.state.md.us. Use the subject “Re: HB 1105 Preliminary Findings”. For more information about the PIA and the Ombudsman office visit http://www.marylandattorneygeneral.gov/Pages/OpenGov/pia.aspx. Feel free to call Janice Clark at: 410.576.7033 if you have questions. From: Janice Clark Administrative Officer Office of the Attorney General Public Access Unit 7033 |
posted Sep 27, 2016, 9:36 AM by Alan Romack
[
updated Sep 27, 2016, 9:39 AM
]
Please find the list of fall Board of Education Candidate Forums attached. The folks we elect to the Board directly influence what happens with our kids school environment. Please consider attending a forum and deciding who to vote for the BOE. |
posted Sep 8, 2016, 5:20 PM by Alan Romack
Good Morning, We are sending this notice to invite participation by your members and to ask for your help in circulating the following information among interested members of your community. The Office of Public Access Ombudsman was tasked by House Bill 1105, enacted during the 2016 legislative session, to investigate and report on Public Information Act compliance by the Howard County Public School System during the period from July 1, 2012 through December 31, 2015. As part of this project, members of the public who have knowledge or experience concerning the subject of this study are invited to submit their comments and supporting documentation, if any, to the Ombudsman. If you have any questions, please contact the Ombudsman, Lisa Kershner, at lkershner@oag.state.md.us or 410-576-7037. Attached you will find a copy of the official notice inviting public comment. Thank you for your help in this project. Lisa A. Kershner
Public Access Ombudsman
200 St. Paul Place
Baltimore, MD. 21202
Phone: 410-576-7037
Email: lkershner@oag.state.md.us Sarah Wicks Legal Intern – Public Access Division Office of the Attorney General 200 Saint Paul Street, 25th floor | Baltimore, Maryland 21202 | www.oag.state.md.us p: 410-576-7049 ext. 7049| swicks@oag.state.md.us |
posted Sep 3, 2016, 5:01 AM by Alan Romack
| August 23, 2016
Recently, several cars have been
vandalized in the Stevens Forest and Talbott Springs neighborhoods.
Please make sure that you lock all car doors and remove all possessions
from your cars. This is not only happening in Oakland Mills but all
over the county. Several important safety tips and reminders are
included below.
The following information
is important. The police stress that WE ARE THEIR EYES AND EARS when it
comes to reporting suspicious activity. Please review the following
reminders and safety tips. We can do our part by removing the "opportunity" for crimes to be committed.
REPORT ALL INCIDENTS TO HOWARD COUNTY POLICE BY CALLING 911 or by calling the non-emergency number which is 410-313-2200. If you don't remember the non-emergency number call 911. If something doesn't look right, sound right, seem out of the norm or you have any concern whatsoever - MAKE THE CALL.Make the call don't just think about it. DO IT. Alerting police is the first step to take.PROVIDE A DETAILED DESCRIPTION of
the suspects. Police stressed the importance of trying to provide as
detailed a description of the individual(s) and vehicles that you are
reporting. Look at their shoes, look at their pants, how tall etc.
Criminals may remove some clothing when fleeing a scene but many times
their don't change their shoes/sneakers or pants. These details are
very important.
LOCK YOUR CAR DOORS. In many cases cars that were broken into were not locked.
REMOVE POSSESSIONS FROM YOUR CAR.
Do not leave possessions in your car. Don't mount a GPS on your
windshield - it will leave a mark even if it is not mounted and you may
be a victim of a car break-in.
DO NOT LEAVE GARAGE DOOR OPENERS IN YOUR CAR.
Once a thief has a garage door opener they can gain access into your
garage and into your home if the door between your garage and house is
unlocked.
LOCK THE DOOR BETWEEN YOUR GARAGE AND YOUR HOUSE.
This is so important. So many of us leave this door unlocked. It is
as if we are putting a "welcome" sign out for a thief. Take this
important step and lock the door from the garage to house and keep all
other doors locked. LOCK UP BICYCLES and other valuables. We have received reports of bicycles being stolen in Oakland Mills.
DO NOT LEAVE YOUR GARAGE DOORS OPEN.
If you are doing yard work take your tools/mower out of the garage and
close the door. Sadly there is a chance we are being watched. If you
are in the back yard, lock the garage and front doors and vice versa.
ALWAYS HAVE YOUR HOUSE LOOK OCCUPIED.
Your home should always look occupied. Have light timer set to go
on/off at random times. Don't leave newspapers or trash cans out. Get
to know your neighbors and look out for one another. Invest in an alarm system. If you have an alarm make sure there are signs out indicating that you have one. TURN ON OUTSIDE LIGHTS AT DUSK AND LEAVE THEM ON OVERNIGHT. TRIM SHRUBBERY so that criminals can not hide outside your home. DOOR SOLICITATION:
All door to door solicitors in Howard County are required by law to
have a vendor's license on their possession. Best rule of thumb is not
to open your door for solicitors or engage in conversations. If you
have a concern with any door to door solicitors call the police.
PHONE SCAMS/EMAIL SCAMS: NEVER, NEVER
give out any personal information over the phone including, but not
limited to, your date of birth, social security number, financial
information, personal information. Do not respond to email
solicitations.
Always report concerns with scams to the police.
This
advice sometimes sounds like a broken record but it is an important
reminder. We all tend to get complacent and let our guard down...that
is when we are most vulnerable to being a victim of crime.
Robberies happen in an instant. It's so important to be smart about safeguarding your property, vehicles, and possessions.
Feel
free to contact our local community police officer, Officer Buchanan,
if you wish to discuss concerns or issues. Officer Buchanan's phone
number is 443-286-3819. This is not a phone that is answered 24/7 and should not be used in any emergency situation. Officer Buchanan will check messages. Again, only call this number to leave a message NOT for any emergency. JOIN THE OAKLAND MILLS SAFETY & SECURITY COMMITTEE
Attend our next meeting at The Other Barn on Tuesday, Sept. 20th from 7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Discuss issues and concerns with your neighbors. Committee Co-Chair's
Judy and Steve Gottsagen look forward to working with you.
|
|
|
MDPTA LEGISLATIVE NIGHT IN ANNAPOLIS FLYER.pdf
schedule of candidate forums.gif