On Thursday, the Tunnels to Towers Foundation thanked Laguna for his service by giving him a home that would meet his needs as a wheelchair user with mobility issues and chronic pain. From wide hallways to a no-step shower, the home is entirely accessible, giving him the independence he struggled to recapture after retiring.

“Nobody thinks long term until an accident happens and you’re in a wheelchair,” Laguna said. “That was a huge hurdle for us everywhere we went.”

Laguna, a Texas-born Iraq War veteran, served in the U.S. military for 18 years before a training accident left him with a severe spinal injury, permanently damaging his nerves and mobility. He served as both a Marine and an Army soldier before medically retiring, a change he said was extremely difficult.

“My whole identity was military. I just loved every aspect of it,” Laguna said. “It wasn’t a job for me. I loved doing it, I love being of service to other people.”

The Laguna family includes Frank, his wife, Candace, and their four children: Aunabella, 13, Alejandro, 15, Antonio, 19, and Allysium, 23, who is deployed in Guam with the U.S. Navy.

Their new house is a fully functioning smart home, allowing the family to remotely access the doors, security system, lights and even stove from an app. This remote access will help over time, Laguna said, by allowing him to stay seated or in bed instead of getting up for to take care of little things like switching off a light.

When plans for the home took shape, the foundation worked with the Lagunas to find a location that fit their needs. For more than a decade, the Lagunas made the long drive from their Texas home to the Washington, D.C., area for medical care — a trip that began to take a toll on Laguna.

Since moving to Mount Airy, the Laguna family has been embraced by the local community receiving care packages and holiday letters from community members and support from American Legion Post 191, the local Veterans of Foreign Wars chapter and other organizations in the area.

“It’s a very old-school, true hometown vibe,” Candace said. “It’s very cool.”

Candace has served as her husband’s primary caregiver, and she and their children work to make sure Frank has whatever he needs, but it can be draining. Now, with an accessible smart home, Frank is able to do significantly more on his own.

“The financial freedom is enormous. But there’s also this mental health freedom as a caregiver,” Candace said. “A home like this allows me to not break myself, and allows me to care for my family a lot better [and] longer.”

The smart home will mean the family can host friends in a way they have never been able to before.

“I can have as many wheelchairs in here as need be,” Frank said. “I’ve got a lot of veteran buddies that are missing arms and legs. This home is not just for me, it’s for all of them as well so they can feel comfortable coming here and they don’t have to worry about obstacles.”

Laguna’s experiences since retiring have reinforced the importance of leaning on others, he said.

“Reach out. Don’t isolate. For the longest time I was in that spot,” Frank said. “There is no ‘more injured than I am.’ We’re all in the same boat. Pain is pain.”

Candace also encouraged other veterans to reach out for help.

“It’s not a sign of weakness to ask for help; it’s a sign of strength. It shows you want better for your family, for yourself,” she said.

At the dedication, Frank Laguna reflected on the importance of service and patriotism: “Being a patriot doesn’t require a uniform. It’s about deep-rooted commitment to the well-being of our fellow humans. It’s about putting others before ourselves, valuing those lives as much as we value our own. Fly your flags proudly, but remember that a flag is more than just fabric. It represents our shared dreams, our struggles and our unity.”

The Tunnel to Towers Foundation was founded in honor of FDNY firefighter Stephen Siller, who died on Sept. 11, 2001, after racing on foot on his day off through the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel to join his squad responding to the destruction of the World Trade Center.

The nonprofit builds mortgage-free homes for injured veterans and first responders across the country. Each home is built with the individual recipient in mind, adapting to their needs. Since launching the program, the organization has completed more than 100 smart homes, said John LaBarbera, a member of the Tunnels to Towers board of directors.

“This home is not a gift,” LaBarbera said. “It’s an obligation of the Americans [who] Frank swore to protect, and the fulfilled promise of a grateful foundation.”

Have a news tip? Contact Marissa Yelenik at myelenik@baltsun.com.

The meeting drew 42 speakers, seizing their last opportunity to weigh in on the five scenarios under review alongside the superintendent’s proposed plan.

“We sincerely beg you not to make the mistake of moving Centennial Lane to Columbia,” said Centennial Lane PTA Secretary Victoria Ahn. “You will split up communities and you will rip apart long-standing programs for our children.”

Many speakers said they felt unprepared for the hearing after the county introduced three additional redistricting plans during an Oct. 24 work session — a move that some parents described as a surprise.

While communities included in the original redistricting concepts had four months to research and prepare testimony and multiple opportunities to speak to the board, others had less than a month, with only one public hearing remaining.

“It is absurd to think that community input for this process would be balanced and that the voices of all who are impacted have been considered equitably and weighed justly,” said speaker George Keagle, a Clemens Crossing parent.

Several individuals called for the board to delay the final vote to give families more time to review the late changes and provide feedback.

Many endorsed Concept IV as the best plan available, successfully relieving Bryant Woods and maintaining as much neighborhood continuity as possible. The plan would move about 122 students, adjusting the boundary between Bryant Woods and Swansfield with minimal disruption and improved demographics.

The redistricting review began in February, working to relieve overcrowding at Bryant Woods Elementary School — projected to reach 151.9% capacity by 2036 — and Centennial Lane Elementary School — expected to reach 117.9% capacity.

The board voted late October to consider five proposed scenarios and the superintendent’s plan — impacting between 81 to more than 700 students.

Other schools included in the boundary review are Running Brook, Swansfield, Longfellow and Clemens Crossing elementary schools, along with Wilde Lake, Harper’s Choice and Burleigh Manor middle schools and Wilde Lake and Centennial high schools to account for student feeds.

The proposals attempted to balance capacity concerns with maintaining demographic diversity, financial responsibility, minimal transportation and keeping communities together, according to October’s Concept Analysis.

Families from across the county argued Thursday that the current data and process fall short of those goals.

Speakers also challenged the accuracy of enrollment and capacity data driving the decisions between the options. The utilization rates are calculated based on K-12 enrollment data, failing to take into account other programs such as pre-K or Academic Life Skills programs, which take up a substantial amount of space.

“Look, bad data make bad facts. Bad facts make bad policies. So, why would we choose from this subset of concepts that are sub-optimal?” said speaker Kevin Skolnik.

Other public speakers worried that new housing developments are not accounted for, warning the county will have to redistrict again once more families move into their communities: “We dramatically underestimated development in 2019,” said Michael Trivino, a Centennial Lane parent. “We’re doing the same thing today.”

Although the school system says Centennial Lane has more students attending than it can handle, some families say they haven’t noticed any issues.

“Our children are comfortable and they are thriving, so when we are told that the school is overcrowded, it feels disconnected from the truth we experience every day,” said Karen Patel, whose child will soon attend Centennial High School. “Numbers may say one thing, but the lived experience of people inside the building tell a very different story.”

By moving their students, they said, the county would place an unnecessary burden on Columbia schools that continue to face overcrowding issues.

Several students stepped up to speak to the board, explaining the importance of maintaining a sense of community.

“There’s something really special about being part of a community where all the schools feel connected,” said Centennial High School student Emily Hu. “When you separate these schools, when you split up this community, you break traditions. You take away the continuity that gives students a sense of belonging.”

Others cited budgetary concerns, questioning whether moving students who currently walk to schools makes financial sense, citing the district’s recent cuts to staff and student programs.

“The district has cut music programs such as third grade strings, which my brother would have participated in next year,” said Centennial High School sophomore Sarasa Nauen. “Making people who walk to school become bus riders represents needless additional financial stretching for the district.”

The school board will hold a straw vote on the redistricting plans Nov. 13. This is an unofficial ballot conducted as a test of opinion. The board’s final vote is set for Nov. 20.

Have a news tip? Contact Marissa Yelenik at myelenik@baltsun.com.

The appeal was filed by Glenelg residents Matthew and Tricia Dunlop, who said that the farm’s horse camp and other activities went beyond the scope of the permits issued to Here We Grow Stables and Agricultural Learning Center.

“I’m definitely disheartened by the conclusion,” said farm owner Lexi Young. “I just am eager to establish how I can accomplish my goals, act in accordance with the zoning regulations and continue to make a positive impact on the children in our community.”

The 20-acre property at 3260 Pfefferkorn Road was purchased by Young in January. She received a permit for a small farm stand and riding academy and stable in June.

She later began hosting activities on the property, including weekend events with food and alcohol stands, as well as camps advertised as a farm camp, horse camp and spring break camp.

These activities “far exceeded” the scope of the permits, Hearing Examiner Joyce Nichols wrote in her decision.

The Department of Planning and Zoning had informed Young that a farm camp would require a conditional use permit, which her property is ineligible for, as it lacks the required road frontage.

Nichols said Young’s programs went beyond a riding academy and stable, effectively meeting the definition of a farm camp.

During the hearing, both sides agreed that the farm stand did not yet sell agricultural products grown on the property.

“It is undisputed by all persons that the use of the property far exceeded that permitted by the special farm permit,” Nichols wrote. “All persons agree that the sales of food or drink or products were not items grown or produced on the farm.”

Nichols concluded that Young never used the property as a farm stand or riding academy and stable, so amending the permits would not resolve the issue.

Nichols ordered the Department of Planning and Zoning to review the permits again, requiring a statement from Young with all intended uses for the property.

“Any use of the property without new or amended permits shall constitute a violation of the Howard County laws and regulations,” Nichols wrote.

Young said she plans to immediately appeal the decision. She said the hearing was “extremely unfair” and was impacted by prior interactions between her attorney, Sang Oh, and the hearing examiner, Nichols.

“There was a pre-existing negative relationship between the two of them,” Young said, “that I feel confident influenced her decision-making process.”

Young questioned the legitimacy of the decision, arguing she could not violate the farm stand permit if the business had not yet opened.

“A lot of people move to areas where there’s farms, and they say that they care about farmland and that they want to protect farmland, but then they don’t give farmers the ability to utilize their property in a way that allows their property to be viable,” Young said.

Both parties have the opportunity to appeal the hearing examiner’s decision to the Howard County Board of Appeals within 30 days.

Have a news tip? Contact Marissa Yelenik at myelenik@baltsun.com.

Each morning, she drives her daughter to school, and each afternoon, she meets the fifth grader on her walk home to watch her cross Martin Road, where cars rush past with little sign of slowing down.

“I don’t feel safe with her crossing,” Hye said. “Some cars stop, but not both [sides] at the same time.”

Families along Martin Road in Columbia agree the road is too dangerous for children to cross alone, a reality that shaped Howard County Schools’ decision to provide bus service to not-so-distant neighborhoods.

School bus services are typically offered to elementary students who live more than 0.75 miles from their school. But when a route is deemed unsafe because of traffic speed, volume, sight lines or missing sidewalks, students within the walking zone can still be assigned a bus.

But each school bus route costs about $100,000 per year to operate. County officials are now exploring increased pedestrian safety measures — such as crossing guards or crosswalks — in neighborhoods near schools to improve walkability and reduce the need for bus routes.

For families along Martin Road, buses remain the only safe choice. Michael Coon, whose two children ride the bus, said the stretch of Martin Road near his home is “dicey,” with poor sight lines and speeding traffic.

“There’s no improvement [that would] improve the sight lines,” Coon said.

The only thing that would make him feel better about his daughter crossing the street is the addition of stop signs on either side of the road and a crosswalk, but he acknowledged “as a driver, that would be annoying.”

If they did add a stop sign, Hye said, “cars would stop actually. Otherwise, they don’t.”

Debra Morgan, whose child previously walked to Clemens Crossing, recalled how her neighborhood had to petition for a bus to cross Freetown Road, west of the school.

“We had to fight tooth and nail to get a bus assigned to that part of the neighborhood,” Morgan said.

The district offered to put in a crossing guard, but the road was so busy that parents requested a bus to ensure their kids’ safety.

“It just seems safer for the kids to be on a bus,” Morgan said. “Howard County has a lot of money, I feel like they should be able to afford buses for people.”

On Martin Road, a street her now-high schooler crosses to walk to Atholton after the family moved, Morgan said a crossing guard and crosswalk would be enough to make her feel safe.

The district and county both value walkability, said Howard Schools Chief Administrative Officer Jahantab Siddiqui.

“Part of the county’s bike and pedestrian master plan is to make as many communities walkable as possible,” Siddiqui said. “They do look at where the impact might be, where students will now be able to access school properties and other public amenities.”

The district meets with Howard County’s Department of Public Works and police department throughout the year to find areas in need of adjustment, Siddiqui said. Often, they already know which adjustments will serve the community best.

Unfortunately, he said, hiring and budget concerns still constrain their choices.

“We want to make sure that when we place a crossing guard in a location it benefits as many students as possible,” Siddiqui said. “We have to be strategic in looking where we can get the most benefit using the workforce that we have.”

The district is already aware of the Martin Road location and has been in talks with the county about the best way they can promote walkability.

“Martin Road is a well-traveled busy roadway,” Siddiqui said. “Speed limits [are higher] there than in most other areas where students would be crossing the road. So, this is one where our preference would be to have a crossing guard and a crosswalk in a place that is accessible for all students to take.”

Hye and Coon said even with improved traffic patterns, they would prefer the county still provide a bus for students along Martin Road.

“It’s tough because on the one hand, it is a lot of money,” Coon said. “There’s got to be some heathy middle ground. To me, it’s important for this to be an option for parents that can’t just drive their kids to school, they need the bus for whatever reason.”

Have a news tip? Contact Marissa Yelenik at myelenik@baltsun.com.

Carroll County residents were given the opportunity to make their voices heard this summer by participating in one of three work groups — agriculture, economy and housing — to provide input and make recommendations to the county.

The Carroll County Master Plan serves as a guide for land use in the county, working to promote health, safety and well-being of its residents.

The Planning and Zoning Commission began working to update the plan last fall, holding several open houses and work groups to educate the public and gather feedback. The document was last updated in 2014.

Approximately 280 people attended the five open house events, submitting 200 written comments on priorities such as funding for updated school buildings, more medical facilities, more hiking, biking and walking trails, better transit options, more housing variety and better entertainment.

The county also published a survey asking residents what they value about the county and what could be improved, receiving nearly 500 responses in total. Respondents primarily indicated interest in continuing the county’s commitment to agricultural land preservation, supporting a rural lifestyle, and managing growth responsibly.

The work groups were made up of about 25 people from businesses and professions, local government and the public.

Participants reviewed studies and discussed public comments, compiling a report with recommendations on what should be considered during the development of the Master Plan.

The reports will be presented to the Planning and Zoning Commission for their consideration at 6 p.m., Wednesday in Room 003 of the County Office Building, 225 N. Center St., in Westminster.

The meeting will be livestreamed at youtube.com/@CarrollCountyGov. The public is welcome to attend; however, public comments will not be taken.

A joint work session between the Planning and Zoning Commission and the Board of County Commissioners is scheduled for 1 p.m., Nov. 18, to discuss the next steps in the Master Plan process and how the work group reports will guide it.

Have a news tip? Contact Marissa Yelenik at myelenik@baltsun.com.

The building will serve as a marketplace for local vendors who do not have a physical location to “strengthen local supply chains, support makers and bring new opportunities to small, Howard County-based businesses,” the county said in a Thursday news release.

Historic floods in 2011, 2016 and 2018 rushed through town, destroying buildings, devastating the city’s infrastructure and leaving three people dead.

Located at 8125 Main St., the building was revitalized as part of Howard County’s Safe and Sound plan — a seven-part project aimed at protecting the community from future flooding and preserving both culture and architecture.

The Caplan’s building project cost more than $1.5 million in county and state funds, restoring and renovating the building with flood vents, specialty flood windows and building construction as close to the original as possible — from the original hardwood flooring to the exterior nameplate.

“When we took on building the iconic Caplan’s building back to life, we sought to create a resilient community hub that could serve both our public and local entrepreneurs and small businesses,” County Executive Calvin Ball said.

“The efforts we have made to protect Caplan’s, both inside and out, are sure to continue to preserve the building’s historical character for generations to come.”

The Market at Caplan’s will be open Wednesdays through Sundays and will serve as a “retail incubator.”

The Howard County Economic Development Authority will oversee operations and provide support to vendors, including marketing assistance and business education, to support local economic growth.

Have a news tip? Contact Marissa Yelenik at myelenik@baltsun.com.

During a recent joint work session with the Howard County Council, Board of Education member Jacky McCoy pointed to several neighborhoods within 0.3 miles of Clemens Crossing Elementary School that receive bus services. Those students are separated from the school by Martin Road, a busy street without a safe crosswalk.

In these neighborhoods, students receive what is colloquially called a “hazard bus” — an unofficial term not recognized by the county — to ensure they can safely travel to and from school. Hazard buses are provided to students who live within a school’s walking zone but lack a safe route because of a busy road, a missing sidewalk or an unsafe crossing.

“We’re spending money on transportation because kids can’t walk across the street,” McCoy said. “Can’t we, as a county and a school system work together to get crossing guards? … We’re doing things that are not fiscally responsible even when it comes to transportation.”

Each additional bus route costs the district about $100,000 per year, said Tim Rogers, manager of school planning for the Howard County Public School System.

McCoy suggested that relatively simple improvements — such as crosswalks or crossing guards — could make some routes safe enough for walking and potentially eliminate bus routes altogether.

Eliminating hazard busing isn’t just about saving money, she said. Research shows that physical activity improves focus and physical health in students.

“Crossing guards are a lot more efficient and fiscally responsible, and they’re humans interacting with our children,” McCoy said. “We’re spending a lot of money on transportation, and our kids aren’t getting the benefit of walking to school, because they need that physical activity.”

Members of the County Council expressed support for the idea, asking their colleagues to share areas where crossing guards could make a difference.

“We are working to reduce hazard busing and increase the ability for kids to walk to school, to be able to stay after school for a program and walk home,” said council member Christina Rigby.

But the issue isn’t quite that simple, said Howard Schools Chief Administrative Officer Jahantab Siddiqui.

While the school system is aware of the issue and is collaborating with the Department of Public Works to improve walkability where possible, many factors go into determining whether a route is walkable — including traffic speed, traffic volume, the line of sight, the number of lanes and the volume of students.

Although there is an existing crosswalk across Martin Road, Siddiqui said many neighborhoods would have to walk farther to use it. County research found students and families often choose to cross at unsafe locations to shorten their commute, making that solution impractical.

Budget limitations and hiring shortages further complicate potential fixes, Siddiqui said.

Crossing guards are hired by the police department, which Siddiqui said maintains an “amazing partnership” to place crossing guards where they get the best possible impact — but is equally susceptible to funding constraints.

HCPSS recently adjusted its walking boundaries, increasing the distance students were able to walk at the middle and high school levels. This decision removed bus service from 3,500 students across the county. After community feedback, the board reduced the distance to a maximum distance of 0.75 miles for elementary school, 1 mile for middle school and 1.5 miles for high school.

This decision added 11 buses back, servicing about 1,700 students, Siddiqui said.

Encouraging walkability where possible, Siddiqui said, is “certainly a great way for students to get to school if they’re able to, but it also does help us manage the shortage of bus drivers and the cost of student transportation.”

However, in many older areas, installing sidewalks can be “profoundly hard,” Rigby said.

Siddiqui said in these areas, property owners often own all the way up to the road.

“It becomes problematic because then the county has to work on getting the right of way, and not every homeowner is willing to give the right of way on their property to the county to build a sidewalk,” Siddiqui said.

Officials say they plan to continue evaluating where safety improvements could reduce the need for hazard buses, though any changes will depend on available funding and coordination.

“If we could get a list, say this is how many crossing guards we need, this is where we need them, and if the whole council works together to elevate their priority, I think we have a higher chance of success,” Rigby said.

McCoy urged community members to make their voices heard, saying that the county can’t realistically identify every area where safer walking routes could replace busing alone.

“We’re reliant on the community to alert us,” McCoy said. “It just makes sense for us to join together and try to do the best that we can with what we have.”

Have a news tip? Contact Marissa Yelenik at myelenik@baltsun.com.

The record will remain open until Friday, after which Hearing Examiner Joyce Nichols will come to a decision.

Owner Lexi Young, who grew up with horseback riding being a staple in her life, purchased the farm at 3260 Pfefferkorn Road with hopes of turning the property into a place of community for children.

Though she may have plans for her property in the future the permits being disputed are for a farm stand and a horseback-riding academy program.

“There may be future applications, but we’re not here to talk about them,” said Young’s attorney, Sang Oh.

Young said that many activities she hosts on the property are covered by zoning allowances permitted to them as an agricultural and rural-residential property. She believed she acted within the scope of what was allowed, after consulting with an engineer and having conversations with the Department of Planning and Zoning.

The appeal filed by her adjoining neighbors, Matthew and Tricia Dunlop, of Glenelg, argued that the zoning department made an error in approving the permit application.

The appeal contended that Young’s use of the land as a “camp” is not covered by the Riding Academy and Stable Permit. It also argued that since she failed to describe the products that would be sold at the farm stand, her acquired small farm permit was insufficient. The appeal noted there was “no evidence” the farm would grow or produce the goods sold, which is a requirement of the permit.

The Dunlops’ attorney, Grant Giel, argued that Young displayed a clear intent to run a camp prior to the permit’s approval. He said the zoning department either made a legal error by approving activities not covered under the permit or they “conspired with her” to “circumvent the requirement for a summer camp.”

Oh dismissed the accusation, stating that horse camps are a typical part of horse academies.

Young said that kids need to be kept engaged, and by keeping the horses the focus of all activities they continue to fall within the scope of her permit.

“A camp is ordinary, incidental and an accessory to a riding academy and stable,” Oh said.

But any camps require special permission, Giel said, through a conditional use permit.

Oh argued there is no applicable conditional use permit. If individuals have a problem with Young’s activities that go beyond the horse camp, he said, those issues should be brought to the Department of Planning and Zoning for enforcement.

Young said she has received support from the local community, but was surprised by the appeal. She did not receive any complaints prior to the case, she said.

Carrie Brinser, an adjacent neighbor, testified that if Young continues expanding her farm business, Brinser will be forced to move from her property to maintain peace for her family.

Lisa Forand, a neighbor across from Pfefferkorn Road, said she isn’t personally impacted by the operations, however, she noted she’d feel differently if her home were located closer to the property. She does see how the farm could benefit kids in the area.

“If they want to use it to the betterment of the community, then that’s okay with me,” Forand said.

Giel suggested that Nichols either reverse Young’s permits or send the case back to the zoning department with instructions to clarify that the permit does not extend past the farm stand and riding academy.

Have a news tip? Contact Marissa Yelenik at myelenik@baltsun.com. Contact April Santana at asantana@baltsun.com or at 443-834-7525

County Executive Calvin Ball recently announced Troy Park in Elkridge as the new preferred location for the 14th high school, with construction starting as soon as 2034. But some officials say there is not enough need to justify the new project in the near future.

“I know Guilford Park is where it is, and the folks in Elkridge have to travel all the way down Route 1, which is burdensome. But, realistically, with the rate of growth in the county and the birth rate … is fiscally responsible to think about a 14th high school?” Board of Education member Jacky McCoy said. “It’s not like we picked the best places to put the high schools, at least in recent times.”

The county has struggled with overcrowding issues, but with the 2023 opening of Guilford Park High School, which added 1,658 seats to the Jessup area, plus renovations to Hammond High School, which added 200 more, capacity concerns at high schools have eased.

Now, projections in the 2025 Educational Facilities Master Plan show only three high schools — Guilford Park, Glenelg and Marriotts Ridge — are expected to exceed 100% capacity by the 2034-2035 school year.

During a joint Howard County Council and Board of Education meeting on Wednesday, council and board members questioned whether the cost of a new high school would be better spent on other projects.

“With the rate of growth in the county and the birth rate, is there a realistic need for a 14th high school in the next 20 years?” McCoy asked. “Are we looking to build something that will be later on underutilized?”

With four nearby schools with capacity utilization projected to be below 90% in 2034, the report suggests that “boundary review could be considered to balance utilization in the future” instead of adding a new high school.

“We don’t have a recommendation to pursue a 14th high school,” said Tim Rogers, Howard County Public School System’s manager of school planning.

Daniel Lubeley, executive director of capital planning and construction for HCPSS, estimated a new high school would cost between $180 million and $190 million, with prices likely to rise due to market volatility.

While capacity issues aren’t as severe as they once were for high schools across the county, Elkridge residents have long awaited the new high school.

Chief Operating Officer Cornell Brown said decisions about future construction should be guided by data that goes beyond enrollment numbers — information gathered through the Educational Sufficiency and Space Utilization Evaluation that will show how well facilities meet educational and programmatic needs.

That information will feed into the Capital Budget Prioritization Process, a board-approved scoring system from spring 2025 that ranks construction and renovation projects based on need, facility condition and programmatic requirements rather than simply available land or enrollment pressures.

This will give them a systematic approach to ongoing issues, Brown said, such as the $198 million in deferred maintenance costs the county has built up in recent years.

“Capacity is the one thing that we look at, but we also need to take a look at our early childhood programs, our special-ed programs, our career technology programs … [to] make sure our buildings can support the programs that we need,” Brown said. “It’s nice to have property that we can utilize, but it’s more important to be able to have the data to make the decision on what you will use that property for.”

With budget constraints at the forefront of the discussion, McCoy said data has to continue to drive decisions.

“As far as capacity is concerned, we don’t have that need. Not that I’m against a 14th high school, but we are in a world where … we can’t just buy things or do things because we want them, but because we have to use what money we have.”

Have a news tip? Contact Marissa Yelenik at myelenik@baltsun.com.

Located at 6200 Valencia Lane, the contemporary Japanese restaurant offers a menu featuring wagyu, sashimi, noodles, vegetables and a variety of drinks.

“It’s so exciting to open the doors to our new location in the Merriweather District and welcome the community to experience Gyusan,” chef and co-owner Junzo Miyajima said in a news release. “The vibrant, walkable setting allows us to share Japan’s culinary artistry with a wide range of visitors, residents and office tenants, visitors, and residents alike.”

The restaurant held its soft opening on Oct 4., said the front of house manager, Kenny Chen.

Gyusan offers three options for customers: all-you-can-eat barbecue, all-you-can-eat sushi and a la carte options for either food.

The Columbia location is Gyusan’s second location, offering what Chen calls a “more polished product.”

The restaurant is owned by Ivea Restaurant Group, a franchise that owns a variety of other Asian dining options across the greater Washington, D.C. area.

Gyusan’s grand opening date is currently unknown, Chen said, as the restaurant continues to test out preliminary operations.

Have a news tip? Contact Marissa Yelenik at myelenik@baltsun.com.