Students and Staff Perplexed at Redistricting Decision 

The Board of Education has finally scheduled Oakland Mills for renovation in the summer of 2027; however, the renovation is expected to take longer than initially anticipated, leading the Board to decide that all Oakland Mills students and staff will be temporarily redistricted to other HCPSS schools until the renovations are finished. 

The response from students and staff has been overwhelmingly positive regarding the renovation, especially in light of some declining building conditions at the Mill. Still, some believe the renovations should have occurred sooner, with remarks like “it came too late” as “other schools in the county have already been renovated.” Junior Chelsy Aviles states, “This has been a prevalent issue since I was a freshman, and now I’m a junior. I wish the Board had taken notice earlier; they seem to have overlooked OM.” This sentiment is echoed by many in the student body, including Senior Zoe Smolinski, who notes, “I’m a little annoyed by it being so late. It feels like there’s always some new problem every day, from pipe bursts to mold in the library.” 

Staff seem skeptical about the renovations, like Physics teacher Mr. Retterer, who said, “I’ll believe it when I see it…I hope they don’t pull a Charlie Brown football on us, where they’ll tear down the school, and be like ‘you guys can stay at those other schools.’”

Redistricting raised concerns within the OM community, with many understandably unhappy about it and voicing worries about the transition. Ninth grader Lauren Rome expressed, “I’m kinda scared of being separated from my friends.” One major worry was preserving the sense of community at OM, a concern also shared by Dr. Fink. He commented, “I really hate the idea of separating our school. I get it; we have nowhere else to go, but man.” He further noted, “This isn’t the first time this [redistricting] has happened. There was an instance with River Hill and Wilde Lake. River Hill was just built while Wilde Lake was undergoing renovations, so they sent all the students to River Hill. That worked out nicely because they kept everyone together.” He concluded with, “Our primary focus when we return will definitely be rebuilding our community.” 

On the flip side, some students and staff were excited about the temporary relocation. Mr. Retterer exclaimed, “I guess we’ll spread some of our energy there!” Ninth grader Jonathan McCoy exclaimed, “Bro, I would love to go to Guilford and see my friends.” Another student, sophomore Aubreé Davis, remarked, “Senior year would be the best time to hang out with some of my best friends; I hope I get to go to Atholton.”

The maps of where students will be redistricted have not yet been solidified or made public. We eagerly anticipate the renovations, which will enhance our learning environment and elevate our school spirit. While temporary redistricting may present challenges, it’s essential to stay connected with our school community wherever you are. Remember, we are OM and we are strongest together, even when we’re not together.

Happy April Fool's Day!🦂