Two open enrollment exceptions for neighborhoods in western Howard County would come to an end next year under a redistricting proposal before the county Board of Education.

A committee tasked with reviewing redistricting proposals for the county's public schools has recommended the closure of the so-called "Greenbridge" and "Woodmark Triangle" exceptions beginning in the 2010-2011 school year.

Under the proposal, which was recommended to the county Board of Education at an Oct. 22 meeting, students in the Greenbridge area, who currently may choose to attend either River Hill or Glenelg high schools, would be assigned to Glenelg. The change would affect 179 students in the coming year.

Also, students in the Woodmark area, who currently may attend either Marriotts Ridge or River Hill high schools, would be assigned to River Hill. The change would affect 39 students.

Seniors and juniors in the affected neighborhoods would be allowed to remain at their current school. The proposal, however, recommended against making additional allowances for younger siblings of current upperclassmen.

A public hearing on the proposal will be held Tuesday, Nov. 10 at 7 p.m. at the Department of Education at 10910 Route 108, in Ellicott City. The board will vote on the proposal Nov. 19.

School board chairman Frank Aquino declined to say whether he agreed or disagreed with the proposal, but said he did believe open enrollment needed to come to an end.

"The current situation cannot continue. Any exception really needs to be finalized in some way, shape or form," he said. "These exceptions, I believe, were made in good faith. ... It has created hardships for some families."

Details of the redistricting proposal are available on the school board's Web site under its Oct. 22 meeting at www.boarddocs.com/mabe/hcpssmd/Board.nsf/Public.

-- Dan Schwind and Jennifer Broadwater

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