Background
The Harriet Tubman School opened in 1949 as Howard County’s only all-black high school until it was closed through desegregation in 1965 and was used by the Howard County Public School System for more than 50 years.
On October 16, 2015, a Memorandum of Understanding was executed with the Howard County Public School System to transfer ownership of the Harriet Tubman School building and surrounding property (the “Harriet Tubman School site”) to Howard County to be preserved as a historic, educational and cultural center.
On September 5, 2017, the County Council passed Council Resolution No. 110-2017 that established a School Surplus Use Committee to advance the transfer of the Harriet Tubman School site to County ownership.
On December 5, 2017, the County Council was informed that the Harriet Tubman School site would be retained for County Government use, recognizing its importance to the community.
The ownership of the Harriet Tubman School site was transferred from the Howard County Public School System to Howard County on April 4, 2018.
Upcoming Meeting
September 8th, 6pm at the Harriet Tubman School, 8045 Harriet Tubman Ln, Columbia, MD 21044
Goals
The Harriet Tubman School Operations and Use Advisory Council was created by County Executive Ball’s Executive Order on September 21, 2019. Its mission is to:
- Identify priorities for how to best use the historic Harriet Tubman School site as an educational and cultural center.
- Recommend opportunities to educate the community about the rich history of the students who attended the Harriet Tubman School.
- Advise the County Executive on an organizational structure that will serve to permanently coordinate and sustain the vision for the Harriet Tubman School as an educational and
- cultural center. This shall include developing operations for a multi-use facility including but not limited to, sponsorships, management required personnel, security, revenue sources, and audio-visual needs.
- Explore funding to allow for the advancement of recommendations made by the Advisory Council.
- Serve as a liaison to the community and share information with community groups and networks.
- Share other findings and/or recommendations that the Advisory Council deems appropriate.
- Explore a Business Plan Development which shall include:
- The development of both Vision and Mission statements, operational overview, proposed management structure, priority of usage, and Program/Service opportunities; and
- The possible development of a Memorandum of Understanding with the Harriet Tubman Foundation, the development of marketing and logos, and the determination of the names of rooms.
Council Members
The members meet on the 2nd Thursday of the month at 6pm.
The Council consists of the following members:
- Bessie Bordenave - Chair
- Herman Charity
- Fred Dorsey
- Shawn Gladden
- Caleb Gould
- Melvin Kelly
- James LeMon
- Howard Lyles
- Becky McKirahan
- Kristina McKirahan
- Rev Doug Sands
- Frank Turner
- Willie Flowers
Staff Advisors:
- Michael Kaminetz, Department of Public Works
- Raul Delerme, Department of Recreation & Parks
- Matt Madera, Department of Recreation & Parks
- Nicola Morgal, Department of Recreation & Parks
- Kori Jones, Department of Recreation & Parks
- Jennifer Jones, Office of the County Executive
- Lauren Myatt, Consultant
Meeting Agendas & Minutes
2022
2021
December 9, 2021
October 14, 2021
September 9, 2021
August 12, 2021
July 8, 2021
- Agenda
- Minutes
June 10, 2021
May 13, 2021
April 8, 2021
February 25, 2021
January 14, 2021
2020
December 10, 2020
November 12, 2020
October 8, 2020
- Agenda
- Minutes
September 10, 2020
July 9, 2020
June 11, 2020
May 14, 2020
March 12, 2020
February 13, 2020
January 9, 2020
2019
December 12, 2019
November 14, 2019
October 10, 2019
September 19, 2019
August 8, 2019
July 11, 2019
June 13, 2019
April 11, 2019
March 14, 2019
February 14, 2019