[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6573549,"mediaKeyId","3176033-dac6f52185cc1884e814fcbb2284a169","parentId",3176033,"title","Parents and community members accuse Board of cherry-picking capital projects, call for objective prioritization","audioSeconds",2149,"startMs",1521000,"endMs",3670000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3176033-dac6f52185cc1884e814fcbb2284a169&start=1521&end=3670","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3176033-dac6f52185cc1884e814fcbb2284a169/thumbnail_1521000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6573549/Maryland/Parents-and-community-members-accuse-Board-of-cherry-picking-capital-projects-call-for-objective-prioritization","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6573549-27c18097a4b61724cdf6564851ae5116/orig.mp4?Expires=1771117748&Signature=eit21s1YDJ8n1pIOTQbpHQLymahx59llu8cht2GOR1hGs1r8fx-WdsjiFVsLDCEIbGxUIUK5VYyxFvZS6tcylYCmrhzvDdWDyNV1LHYpbrmN4AfKFnmW5VwgV0twWEKSTNzv7S4deVc8dfqly7ia61zCqW1~WHpslP6FCK224qf-fdBEcSm~tSYbt9LSb0lRsEBA3p4-vjDXhSdhomjKnBvmu9iY~8cz96u~j4b0z-yrbmD3skndBgOAv-DJyUhC1vlS5kIyqGorvtq2USItVq4C5yRforbEvZpmpJTi7EAE~1LDN5KKlQ~2qU24SJpfrUnuvNPFdwXCrRY-TR7BZA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Howard County Public Schools","date","2025-05-01T00:00:00Z","article","Multiple parents and community representatives used the May 1 public hearing to challenge the district’s capital-prioritization process, saying Centennial High School and Dunloggin Middle School have been repeatedly delayed and asking the Board for more transparent, objective criteria.

Karen Biederman, Dunloggin Middle School PTA president, asked whether promised projects would be funded or “revoked again” after long delays. She cited facility scores and seat-need metrics and urged a “fair and objective data-driven criterion process” for selecting FY2027 capital projects. “From the capital budget, we have $700,000,000 in deferred maintenance. What is the plan to get us out of this crisis?” she asked.

Several speakers alleged possible favoritism in earlier cycles. Daniel Biederman and other parents said Centennial was higher on renovation lists in previous cycles but was later passed over when Oakland Mills High School advanced. “I think there should be disclosure when your children go to a school that you’re voting for and advocating for when it bucks criteria that has been already established by the board,” Daniel Biederman said.

Karina Fisher, speaking for community members who supported an established priority order, asked for integrity, transparency and clear explanations from board leadership about why projects shifted. “That lie also influenced the vote of junior board members, who then apologized to our community and changed their vote,” Fisher said referring to testimony about the state reimbursement program and earlier disclosures.

Why it matters: capital-prioritization decisions determine where limited county and state construction funds are spent, and speakers said perceived inconsistency erodes trust and raises equity concerns across neighborhoods. Witnesses asked the board to publish the data and assumptions used in the district’s scoring and to adopt consistent rules for when projects may be reordered.

No formal board action on prioritization occurred during the hearing excerpt. Testimony requested clearer public disclosure of criteria and timelines and accountability when priorities change.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Howard County Public Schools - 7 p.m. Hybrid Meeting - Public Hearing - FY26 Operating & Capital Budgets & FY27-31 Capital Improvement Program - May 01, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Multiple parents and community representatives testified that Centennial High School and nearby Dunloggin Middle School were repeatedly delayed on the capital plan and accused a board member of moving Oakland Mills ahead for personal reasons; speakers demanded transparent, data-driven criteria for CIP prioritization.","taxTitle","Howard County Public Schools, School Boards, Maryland","taxId",17367,"location","Maryland","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6573558,"Eighth-grader urges Howard County schools to stock menstrual products after empty dispensers found",223,2392000,2615000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3176033-dac6f52185cc1884e814fcbb2284a169&start=2392&end=2615","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3176033-dac6f52185cc1884e814fcbb2284a169/thumbnail_2392000.jpg","/articles/6573558/Maryland/Eighth-grader-urges-Howard-County-schools-to-stock-menstrual-products-after-empty-dispensers-found","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6573558-10723e05d17afc4d7e0c2bb2d95e93b9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771117748&Signature=hbtcX8aU~Jm7f6cwliEwwCQM2~amrOZMo6QxVsZ9ltzP0BwqHpX~7eGquwpbT7tlqudl7z3rATbIsZyKycdbUfgRSC-U8H79G2uzIh5r6CJR7hLg4JGV9KLtkdng~CD173CMQWUsRE9uxrCxJVFlrtMwL0~XlNS1Sh2w8glUhsW6wgCIoLQOotRHgsiH4YSscPS1QPuWMqAMbMRD45YR4Jy39aBMsK470yBX5UUun4Ne2m08fB0SHfdaRQ8xBxItvAWUYgkKhN1FmzCqG0V3F1seDNOunqWsbOc4c6Yr1gtxCQWykCGl3U-TsTWJWCYlaaauzJSpEfvLbveCi-f07w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","An eighth-grade student told the Howard County Board of Education on May 1 that school dispensers for menstrual products remain empty and urged the board to fund supplies in the FY2026 operating budget.

Chris Green, an eighth grader, said the district installed dispensers in girls’ restrooms at secondary schools but does not currently stock them. “The machines lay bare, never housing any product since the day they appeared,” Green said. He told the board a surge in available funding for student well-being in the FY2026 proposal presents an opportunity to supply the dispensers.

Green referenced state law when making his request. “Section 7-449 of the Maryland Education Code states, ‘each county board shall ensure that each public school provide, at no charge to students, menstrual hygiene products via dispensers in the women's restrooms at the school,’” he said. Green told the board that although dispensers are installed, the district’s operating budget did not include a line item to supply them.

Why it matters: Green tied the request to student health, attendance and equity, citing studies that link lack of access to menstrual products with missed school days. He asked the board to prioritize a modest operating allocation to keep dispensers stocked, noting the district already placed the dispensers in restrooms.

No board action or vote was recorded during the hearing excerpt. The testimony asks the Board and superintendent to ensure existing dispensers are maintained with stock, consistent with the state education code cited by the speaker.","An eighth-grade student told the Board the county has installed dispensers for menstrual products but has not funded stock; he cited Maryland Education Code section 7-449 requiring county boards to provide menstrual hygiene products at no charge.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6573562,"Students, parents press Howard County Board to prioritize Centennial High renovations over further delays",4531,149000,4680000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3176033-dac6f52185cc1884e814fcbb2284a169&start=149&end=4680","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3176033-dac6f52185cc1884e814fcbb2284a169/thumbnail_149000.jpg","/articles/6573562/Maryland/Students-parents-press-Howard-County-Board-to-prioritize-Centennial-High-renovations-over-further-delays","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6573562-2494897b05b43e425e7cb9fbbf90ce88/orig.mp4?Expires=1771117748&Signature=lu894dB0RWfzDvYphTx6X7Y-uYtLJxA1G6WcA5Qxyig5u9SK5SZi0vbYhBEk1Fw2U2Vftey7SUPm7rcj~wsa5Eqzggu6qtCWnN8IrBnPPh0wNA-XrXgrXdzNs58zoaalKXdTTcm9hlGbYImOGzOU6V1jrJpkwdAexU1OIE22TSWxoOjha757ixjJ8HN6oVQYwFy3HYwa2K9VS4zxNQysnA~Zk5DCalXJf9gKdSUpC3pKVRPbfhsRQHj1fo1GoeG2WkPoTJC9V8bBIak~XgcrT0HWygN31D4iHrT~mjK0uMQZzUZsTKe1ip1XQJ~Um8-QDJ0hKZbv-fWnxivqwSFAsg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Dozens of students, parents and community members urged the Howard County Board of Education on May 1 to accelerate renovations at Centennial High School, saying a long-delayed project endangers health, safety and learning.

At a public hearing on the fiscal 2026 operating budget and the FY2027–2031 capital improvement plan, current and former Centennial students described frequent floods, falling ceiling tiles, unventilated classrooms, rodent sightings, malfunctioning toilets and an HVAC system they said dates to the school’s 1977 construction. Parent and community speakers added that some outdoor athletic fields are steep and uneven, that portable toilets are used for sporting events, and that limited access routes could delay emergency response.

The student testimony cut across grades and student organizations. “Our building is not only past its best by date. It’s to the point where it’s making you sick,” said Angela Huang, a junior and SGA liaison. Several students said classroom temperatures swing between near-freezing and stifling heat on the same day, forcing teachers to relocate classes and disrupting instruction.

Why it matters: speakers tied building conditions to health and instructional harm. Students and parents said poor ventilation and temperature extremes worsen chronic conditions such as eczema and allergies, increase absences and impede testing and labs. Multiple speakers said ceiling collapses and persistent leaks have destroyed student work and equipment.

Students quoted county planning data and school-site metrics to describe long delays. Testimony said Centennial has been on the district’s renovation list for about a decade and that scheduled work has been repeatedly postponed; speakers urged the board to apply data-driven criteria so renovation priority reflects safety and deferred-maintenance need.

Parents and community members also raised equity concerns, saying Centennial and nearby schools in the same attendance area have been passed over repeatedly while other projects advanced. Several speakers asked the board to disclose how priorities were set and to apply consistent, transparent criteria across the capital-improvement program.

Specific problems described by witnesses included:

- Repeated interior flooding, broken ceilings and water-damaged classrooms and student work, including a photography room that closed for several weeks after a ceiling collapse.
- HVAC failures and large temperature swings: students reported classrooms exceeding comfortable temperatures and others so cold teachers provided portable heaters.
- Rodent sightings in classrooms and common areas, and sink/toilet fixtures that do not function reliably.
- Athletic facilities without nearby restrooms, steep and uneven access routes to fields, and a stadium used without permanent restroom facilities.
- Crowded hallways and enrollment above stated capacity, which speakers said impedes movement and raises safety concerns for students with disabilities.

Speakers asked for near-term repairs where full renovation is not immediately affordable, including functioning toilets and sinks at athletic fields, working fume hoods in science labs, secured doors and improved pest mitigation. Several parents asked the board to prioritize projects that have demonstrated health and safety impacts in the district’s capital scoring.

The Board accepted public testimony during the hearing; no final capital decisions or votes occurred at the session. Several speakers referenced county capital planning materials, facility condition index (FCI) scores and the state 'Built to Learn' program when calling for a transparent, data-driven prioritization process.

Board and staff responses were not part of the recorded testimony excerpted here. The public hearing record shows widespread, sustained concern from Centennial students and families about building systems and safety; speakers urged the board to reflect that urgency in the FY2027–2031 capital plan.","Dozens of Centennial High School students, parents and community members told the Board of Education at a May 1 public hearing that the 48-year-old building’s failing HVAC, leaks, pests, overcrowding and unsafe athletic facilities create health and safety risks and demand earlier capital funding.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Parents and community members accuse Board of cherry-picking capital projects, call for objective prioritization

Eighth-grader urges Howard County schools to stock menstrual products after empty dispensers found

Students, parents press Howard County Board to prioritize Centennial High renovations over further delays