November 20, 2024

Featured image of Crown High School under construction by MyDrone.pro on 11/11/2024

There have been a few meetings regarding the upcoming MCPS Boundary Studies and also the budget as it related to the CIP (Capital Improvements Plan) which has major impacts on timing and considerations for the boundary studies.

Since many of our followers are especially interested in this topic, we’re doing a roundup of the various updates regarding these items. There were two public hearings on Facilities and Boundaries on 11/4/2024 and another on 11/6/2024. There were two BOE work sessions on Facilities and Boundaries on 10/24/2024 and 11/8/2024.

Decisions will be made in the upcoming session on 11/22/2024 and we will provide more updates after that meeting.

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RFP Deadline for Boundary Study Passes After Being Extended

The RFP deadline was extended to the end of October 2024 for the contract to do the boundary study for/with MCPS. According to MCPS slides, the vendor evaluation is now underway and “Vendor recommendation to be prepared for Board action on November 21, 2024”

Goals of MCPS to Keep Current Projects on Track

The primary goals for this CIP budget session appear to be to keep the current projects on track for completion. You can read more about the CIP plan here.

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AI Summary of the 4 Meetings Over the Past Month

While we were not able to watch all of the videos over the past month, advances in AI technology now allow us to easily summarize the videos while having a low bias for what to report on. We cannot guarantee everything below is 100% accurate due to the nature of AI but this is what it came up with to detail what happened in the meetings.

Board of Education – Facilities and Boundaries Preliminary Presentation and Work Session (October 24, 2024)

This initial work session set the stage for understanding the scope and rationale behind the boundary studies and CIP. The main points discussed were:

• Facility Assessments: MCPS conducted thorough assessments of school infrastructures, identifying which schools were in critical need of renovations or new facilities. This included discussions on overcrowded schools and outdated facilities that affect the learning environment.
• Enrollment Projections: The session highlighted trends in student enrollment and projected future numbers based on population growth data. This analysis is crucial for determining which schools need expansions or boundary adjustments.
• Boundary Adjustment Proposals: The Board presented initial ideas for adjusting school boundaries to balance enrollments, reduce overcrowding, and make better use of available space across schools.
• CIP Budget Implications: The financial aspects were reviewed, focusing on the costs of proposed projects and prioritizing them based on urgency and impact.

Board of Education – Facilities and Boundaries Work Session #2 (November 8, 2024)

In the follow-up work session, the Board reviewed feedback from the public hearings and refined the proposals accordingly:

• Community Input Integration: The Board showed how feedback from the first two hearings was incorporated into revised proposals. Adjustments were made based on feasible suggestions from the public, showing responsiveness to community needs.
• Updated Data Consideration: The Board discussed updates in data that informed their decision-making, including revised enrollment figures and demographic data.
• Implementation Strategies: Plans were outlined for implementing changes, with considerations for minimizing disruptions. This included phased rollouts, timelines for communication with parents, and ensuring that staff and resources were adequately prepared to support transitions.
• Next Steps: The Board laid out the process moving forward, including additional review sessions, approval timelines, and budget allocations for the CIP to support proposed changes.

Community Feedback from the First Hearing (November 4, 2024)

The first public hearing provided a platform for community members to express their thoughts and concerns directly to the Board. Key themes from this feedback included:

• Concerns About Student Well-being: Parents raised worries about the social and emotional impact that boundary changes might have on students. Specifically, they highlighted the potential disruptions to friendships, school routines, and continuity of education when students are reassigned to different schools.
• Transportation and Commute Issues: Many community members pointed out the potential increase in travel times for students if boundaries were adjusted. They expressed concerns about longer commutes leading to decreased time for homework, extracurricular activities, and family interactions.
• Neighborhood Cohesion: Residents emphasized the importance of maintaining neighborhood unity within school zones. Adjusting boundaries that split close-knit communities raised significant concerns about weakening local bonds and shared identity.
• School Performance Disparities: Some speakers discussed existing disparities in school performance and resources, stressing that boundary changes should aim to equalize educational opportunities rather than exacerbate gaps. Parents from under-resourced areas emphasized the need for more comprehensive support and fair distribution of funding and programs.
• Safety and Logistics: Issues related to student safety during commutes, including safe walking paths and bus availability, were frequently mentioned. Parents requested detailed plans for transportation and assurance that any new routes would be safe and efficient.

Community Feedback from the Second Hearing (November 6, 2024)

During the second public hearing, community members revisited their initial concerns but also introduced more specific suggestions and alternative approaches:

• Proposals for Phased Adjustments: Stakeholders suggested that, instead of immediate boundary changes, MCPS should consider phased implementation over multiple years to allow students and families more time to adapt.
• Requests for Grandfathering Policies: Many parents advocated for “grandfathering” provisions that would allow current students to stay at their schools until they complete a certain grade level, thus minimizing abrupt disruptions.
• Feedback on Specialized Programs: Concerns were raised about how boundary changes would impact access to specialized academic programs (e.g., magnet schools, immersion programs). Parents stressed the importance of preserving students’ eligibility to participate in these programs without added commuting burdens.
• Community-Specific Data: Several speakers called for more transparency and a detailed presentation of the data MCPS used in formulating proposals. They requested community-specific data, such as demographic studies and neighborhood-specific enrollment projections, to better understand how their area would be affected.
• Equity and Access: Equity was a recurring theme, with participants urging the Board to ensure that boundary changes promote equitable access to high-quality facilities, staff, and educational programs across all regions. They pointed out that boundary adjustments should prioritize closing resource gaps rather than shifting them.

Concerns and Suggestions Addressed to the Board

• Transparency in Decision-Making: Community members expressed frustration with the perceived lack of transparency in how decisions were made and communicated. They requested clearer and more frequent updates on the decision-making process, including rationale for selecting certain boundary adjustments over others.
• Direct Impact Stories: Parents shared personal stories illustrating the impact of past boundary changes or facility-related issues on their children, emphasizing the need for solutions that prioritize student well-being.
• Partnership and Communication: The importance of continued partnership between MCPS and parents was highlighted, with calls for more interactive engagement sessions and the inclusion of community advisory boards to monitor the changes over time.

Community Suggestions for the Board’s Consideration

• Utilization of Under-Capacity Schools: Parents suggested re-evaluating underutilized schools and considering strategies to make better use of available space, rather than just shifting boundaries.
• Long-term Planning: Several speakers noted the importance of integrating boundary studies with long-term population growth trends and urban planning to avoid frequent, disruptive adjustments.
• Feedback Mechanisms: Community members proposed developing ongoing feedback mechanisms, such as surveys or listening sessions, even after boundary changes are implemented, to gauge the actual impact and adjust plans if necessary.

Board’s Response to Feedback

In response, the Board members acknowledged the importance of community input and emphasized their commitment to balancing enrollment, maintaining equity, and minimizing disruptions. They assured attendees that feedback would be incorporated into future iterations of the proposals and that community engagement would remain a priority as plans progressed.

Images of Crown High School Construction by MyDrone.Pro on 11/11/2024

Previous Boundary Study Articles

MCPS Boundary Studies Updates from 2/27/24 BOE Meeting (Woodward / Crown / Damascus High Schools)

MCPS 50 school redistricting: How Boundary Changes Could Impact Families – Opinion

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