Discussion on Ducketts Lane School Site Continues

Ducketts Lane residents worried about a school potentially coming to their neighborhood are giving school officials pause in their plans.

School planners will hold an Aug. 9 meeting at the so residents can “get more information about the site, the plans and the process,” said Patti Caplan, spokeswoman for Howard County Public Schools.

“It became clear at the [July 15] that neighbors adjacent to the site needed more information and an opportunity to ask questions," she continued, adding that these types of meetings are held “if circumstances warrant.”

Caplan explained that “sometimes there is general agreement on a site and very little public interest. Other times, we find that we need to get additional information to the community or correct misinformation that [is] circling.”

Meanwhile, Ducketts Lane residents have created a flyer promoting the event. Their flyer reads: “ATTENTION, HOMEOWNERS! Is this what you want in your peaceful, quiet neighborhood?...Ducketts Lane for 600+ students and 80+ staff and faculty starting in the spring 2012, and opening for the 2013 school year! Imagine the traffic nightmares, the buses, all the extra people, not to mention the disturbance of wetlands!”

The manager of school planning said it is routine to have this type of public meeting.

“The public hearing is standard procedure,” said Joel Gallihue, manager of school planning. At the July 15 school board meeting, “It was suggested that staff be available to the community for questions. The community meeting evolved from that discussion.”

Three residents who live near the proposed site testified at the public hearing, stating that they did not want the school near them because of traffic and parking. There was also concern that the proposal wasn’t well publicized.

“Our objective is to provide the community with accurate information … and have them feel that their questions and concerns have been heard and addressed as much as possible,” said Caplan.

The meeting will be on Tues., Aug. 9, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the .