Washington County BOE candidates tackle redistricting question

January 14, 2008|By ERIN CUNNINGHAM

(Page 2 of 2)

"I would ensure that any redistricting decisions included parent, child, travel time and distance considerations," he said. "Safety of the child would be my primary consideration."

Janus said that when he attempted to get some information about the redistricting of students in his own neighborhood, he never heard back from Washington County Public Schools officials. He asked those officials why students were traveling farther to get to their newly assigned school.

"You have to get back to people," he said, advocating for better communication with parents and community members. "That's unacceptable."

Name: Margaret Lowery
Age: 60
Hometown: Halfway

Prior political experience: None

Lowery said she would like to have seen the redistricting process handled a "little differently."

While she believes the outcome was good, Lowery said she would have done more planning in the beginning. She said she hopes the community does not face redistricting of the county's schools in the future. However, if that decision is made, Lowery said more discussions about zoning and the mitigation plan will make decisions about redistricting more effective.

"They'll be on the right foot for the future," she said.

Name: Wayne D. Ridenour
Age: 56
Hometown: Williamsport

Prior political experience: Ridenour has served on the Board of Education since 2004.

Ridenour said the committee that has studied redistricting for about a year did its job, and he isn't sure if he would change anything about the redistricting decisions that he and other board members made.

"Almost every school we have is overcrowded," Ridenour said. "We need to provide relief."

He said redistricting wasn't so much about filling a new school as it was about using available space to provide the best education for children in Washington County.

"We just wanted to make it the best fit for everyone," Ridenour said.

Name: Russell F. Williams II
Age: 65
Hometown: Hagerstown

Prior political experience: Williams served on the Board of Education from 2002-06, but he lost in the primary election in 2006.

Williams said the redistricting proposals voted on by the Board of Education were a mixture of input from parents and Washington County Public Schools staff.

The facilities and enrollment advisory committee that has studied redistricting of the county's schools for about one year had representatives from throughout Washington County, Williams said.

He said that the public, including parents, had many opportunities to comment throughout the decision-making process.

He said that was the "proper approach."

Dates to remember

Primary election date: Feb. 12.

General election date: Nov. 4.

Deadline to register to vote in primary: Jan. 22. The Washington County Board of Elections will be open until 9 p.m. that day.

· To learn more about the candidates for the Washington County Board of Education, go to www.herald-mail.com and click on the 2008 Election Coverage box.

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