Approximately 2,000 students at Clarksburg, Seneca Valley and Northwest high schools will be affected by the boundary changes, according to MCPS staff members. Seneca Valley High School student Hailey Hill, wearing a pin with the hashtag “Seneca Proud,” told the school board that she supports the plan outlined by Smith. The last time Montgomery County undertook systemwide redistricting was in the mid-1980s, when it closed more than 60 schools because of low enrollment. The Montgomery County Board of Education wanted to make sure future reviews of school assignment boundary lines are in line with their policy and mission. That analysis is in its first phase, and a public hearing on that topic is scheduled for Monday, Nov. 18. She said if the preferred plan goes through, her brother would be separated from his best friend “and he would be alone.”. Related News Public to get first look at Montgomery County boundary study Despite significant shifts in population and demographics, Howard and Montgomery have not made comprehensive changes to their school boundaries for decades. ROCKVILLE – The Montgomery County Public Schools Board of Education approved boundary changes on Nov. 26 to address concerns with projected overcrowding at Clarksburg and Northwest high schools, with high school and middle school reassignments beginning in September 2020. Citing concerns about conditions at Neelsville, including what she said were leaky roofs and “unhygienic” bathrooms, Das said an alternative plan submitted by parents should be adopted. Transportation wasn’t the only concern for families affected by potential changes to existing school boundaries. April 2, 2019 At a special called Montgomery County Board of Education meeting on Thursday, January 18, 2018, the Montgomery County Board of Education unanimously approved to implement the changes in the revised District Facility Plan (pending State Board of Education approval) beginning in the 2018-2019 school year. “They’re putting politics before kids. According to Smith, Montgomery County has seen an additional 10,000 students in his three and a half-year tenure leading the school system, and there is no indication those numbers will slow down. The resolution― to bring in outside consultants to perform an analysis of whether existing school and cluster boundaries allow for effective use of school facilities―was approved on Jan. 8, 2019. Another protester deeply disappointed with the board’s decision was Bill Matarazzo, of Clarksburg, a parent of two school children who will be bused longer distances under the boundary change. I really, really don't want you to split my school," one student testified. The Montgomery County School Board sided with the superintendent on how to restructure school boundaries in upper Montgomery County. MONTGOMERY COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS Rockville, Maryland February 1, 2019 Below are frequently asked questions regarding the Clarksburg, Northwest, and Seneca Valley High Schools Boundary Study process. Shortly before taking the vote that would change the school district boundary, O’Neill was sharply critical of some of the people protesting the boundary change. As the county’s education unions enter the bargaining season in fall 2019, they are likely to speak to boundary change directly or indirectly. Do your children attend school in Montgomery County? Still, it looks like an important first step to potential changes. The Montgomery County Board of Education approved new boundary lines Tuesday night that will shift between 1,000 to 1,200 students from Clarksburg High School to Seneca Valley High School … Enrollment Information → School Boundaries. Like WTOP on Facebook and follow @WTOP on Twitter to engage in conversation about this article and others. Copyright © 2021 by WTOP. Parents and children, many from Clarksburg, Maryland, turned out in strong numbers to protest changes to school district boundaries Tuesday night outside the Montgomery County Board of Education. The review will not require the school district to make any boundary changes, but has sparked tension in Montgomery County, considered one of the most diverse areas of the country. Boundary Analysis . One of the stated goals of Smith’s plan is to address demographic imbalances in the schools and reduce the concentration of students who qualify for free and reduced meals. Parents and children, many from Clarksburg, Maryland, turned out in strong numbers to protest changes to school district boundaries Tuesday night outside the Montgomery County Board of Education. The population was 600,000. The aim of the MCPS school boundary study is to examine how well their existing school boundary process Call 301-309-6277 | Spanish Hotline: 301-230-3073 E-mail: ASKMCPS@mcpsmd.org Outside, Luka Van Herksen, of Clarksburg, a 12-year-old middle school student, said the boundary change will force him to attend Seneca Valley High School, much farther from his home than Clarksburg High School, which he would have attended if his neighborhood boundary had not been changed. All rights reserved. “Adopting a boundary change is the hardest vote that board members make because people are very passionate about where they choose to live, where they want their children to attend,” said District 3’s Patricia O’Neill, Vice President of the Board of Education. The population was 600,000. Dear Montgomery County Public Schools Community: As many of you may know, Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) hired an external consultant to conduct an in-depth, districtwide analysis of school and cluster boundaries. He said that there are too many variables involved in predicting traffic flow, adding, “the reason I say it’s not accurate is because nobody knows how long it’s going to take,” to which the crowd burst into applause. Recommendations on boundary changes will not be included. All rights reserved. The Board of Education will make a decision on the grandfathering in November 2019. Each school in Montgomery County serves students residing in a specific area. The Howard County Council jumped into the fray in August, passing a resolution Oct. 7 to support efforts to “lawfully integrate” schools through the boundary process. ... with some in Montgomery County urging changes that would make schools … The final decision on the plan for the upcounty boundary changes will be held Nov. 26. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area. Due to fiscal constraints, the County Council approved a one-year delay for this project. “If you’re going to take a kid and put them on a bus from Boyds or Cabin Branch, and send them to Neelsville or Seneca Valley, the information that you have is not accurate,” Fraser-Hidalgo said. Under the plan, some students currently assigned to Clarksburg High School would be reassigned to Seneca Valley. This process also includes an evaluation of the student (ABC7) — In a lot of school districts, the mere mention of the phrase “school boundaries” is enough to cause controversy and make families nervous. “I don’t think it’s fair … the problem is that it is very far away, which means longer bus rides, every single day, traffic and driving on the highway on the bus, which isn’t safe,” Van Herksen said. The Montgomery County Board of Education held a hearing Jan. 7 to discuss potentially changing the boundaries for each of its 206 schools. Parent Parvati Das testified on behalf of William Gibbs Elementary School’s parent-teacher association. Enrollment has increased by more than 30,000 in the last 20 years. Special to The Sentinel. As the county’s education unions enter the bargaining season in fall 2019, they are likely to speak to boundary change directly or indirectly. Enrollment Information → School Boundaries. I understand that, but at what cost and at whose expense?”. Maryland State Del. Kate Ryan | @KateRyanWTOP. Here’s what we know, according to the county and media reports: The school district has become huge. Therefore, the Board of Education's requested FY 2019-2024 CIP included funding for a new high school in the mid-county region located on the Crown site in the City of Gaithersburg. Take a look at those plans under consideration here. ROCKVILLE – Montgomery County Public Schools ... and that was whether proposed changes would affect students who recently experienced a school assignment boundary change. To research your local school assignment, you may: use the School Assignment Tool, or; call 240-314-4700 from 9 a.m. to 12 noon, Monday–Friday, or; email John_n_salamon@mcpsmd.org But he urged the school board to consider the impact their choice would have on the already congested Interstate 270 corridor and area side roads from Germantown to Clarksburg. Montgomery County Public Schools, 850 Hungerford Drive, Rockville, Maryland 20850 Call 301-309-6277 | Spanish Hotline: 301-230-3073 E-mail: ASKMCPS@mcpsmd.org Parents Raise Concerns at MCPS Boundary Study Meeting. To research your local school assignment, you may: use the School Assignment Tool, or; call 240-314-4700 from 9 a.m. to 12 noon, Monday–Friday, or; email John_n_salamon@mcpsmd.org “Schools To Conduct Countywide Boundary Study” Caitlynn Peetz, Bethesda Beat. WHEREAS, In January 2019, the superintendent of schools charged Montgomery County Public Schools staff to conduct a boundary study process to explore high school reassignments for Clarksburg, All Rights Reserved. High schools in the mid-county region will continue to be over capacity through the six-year planning period. WTOP.com | Alexa | Google Home | WTOP App | 103.5 FM, Latest coronavirus test results in DC, Maryland and Virginia. David Fraser-Hidalgo testified and said that he didn’t have a position on which option should be adopted. The last time Montgomery County undertook systemwide redistricting was in the mid-1980s, when it closed more than 60 schools because of low enrollment. ROCKVILLE – The Montgomery County Public Schools Board of Education approved boundary changes on Nov. 26 to address concerns with projected overcrowding at Clarksburg and Northwest high schools, with high school and middle school reassignments beginning in September 2020. MCPS boundary analysis meeting leaves parents concerned - Rockville, MD - The school system is holding multiple meetings over the next two months to inform parents of the boundary … WTOP: Parents, students protest school boundary change in Montgomery County. The Howard County Board of Education approved changes to several school boundaries around the Maryland county. It comes as enrollment at … Related News Public to get first look at Montgomery County boundary study WTOP.com | Alexa | Google Home | WTOP App | 103.5 FM, Latest coronavirus test results in DC, Maryland and Virginia, Montgomery County officials unveil vaccine-information website, Clarksburg man, 24, accused of murdering his mother, Painful questions after siege of Capitol by pro-Trump mob, ‘Our children are watching’: DC-area schools grapple with addressing US Capitol attack, ‘Insane’: WTOP reporter’s account of Capitol siege by pro-Trump rioters, NSF develops predictive model to flag improper payments in grants, Federal employees offer mixed projections on telework prospects post-pandemic, Payroll providers offer slightly different plans for collecting 2020 deferred taxes, As new member of IC, Space Force is looking for a clearer picture of orbit and beyond. Montgomery County Public Schools, 850 Hungerford Drive, Rockville, Maryland 20850. ... with some in Montgomery County urging changes that would make schools … website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area. Montgomery County school officials recently announced they would study school boundary lines, paying special attention to the capacity of … The Districtwide Boundary Analysis is an initiative designed to provide a comprehensive assessment of Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) boundaries by analyzing data points, such as school facility utilization and capacity, student demographics and proximity to schools. Montgomery County school officials recently announced they would study school boundary lines, paying special attention to the capacity of buildings, student demographics and travel patterns. The review will not require the school district to make any boundary changes, but has sparked tension in Montgomery County, considered one of the most diverse areas of the country. This ROCKVILLE –Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) staff amended its timeline for the boundary review analysis, days before it was scheduled to recommend a consultant to the Board of Education. “I have two siblings, and they’re going to two different schools; and all three of us, we’re going to be going to three different schools in three different ZIP codes and that’s a lot,” Van Herksen said. © 2019 WTOP. Drew Skilton, who graduated last year from Walter Johnson High School, told The MoCo Student on the sidelines of an April 2019 meeting that the boundary changes was necessary to measure the measure the county’s changing demographics since the last time such a study was conducted, about 40 years ago. People on all sides of the school boundary issue in Howard County agree that schools are overcrowded and that there are differences in resources and opportunities depending on where kids go to school. All Rights Reserved. The Superintendent chose the current boundary map … Members of the 13,000-strong powerhouse teachers union, Montgomery County Education Association, for … The move was proposed as a solution to the disparity in socioeconomic status between various schools and clusters. “Over the last couple of days, I’ve been deeply troubled by the tone of emails that have come to the board … It is absolutely uncalled for, unbelievable; and in 20 years on the board, I have not seen this low level of behavior, and it does not speak well for our community,” O’Neill said. Boettcher added that she also has a brother who has autism and who has a tough time making friends. The last time Montgomery County undertook systemwide redistricting was in the mid-1980s, when it closed more than 60 schools because of low enrollment. On January 8, 2019, the Board of Education (Board) adopted a resolution asking the Superintendent to utilize external consultants to conduct an in-depth review and analysis of how existing school and cluster boundaries support or impede the effective use of school facilities in Montgomery County Public Schools. districtwide analysis of school boundaries, Public to get first look at Montgomery County boundary study, School bus cameras catch 9,300+ who didn’t stop in Montgomery Co. in 5-week period, Montgomery County school report: Hazing not widespread, but ‘we could do better’, Painful questions after siege of Capitol by pro-Trump mob, ‘Our children are watching’: DC-area schools grapple with addressing US Capitol attack, ‘Insane’: WTOP reporter’s account of Capitol siege by pro-Trump rioters, NSF develops predictive model to flag improper payments in grants, Federal employees offer mixed projections on telework prospects post-pandemic, Payroll providers offer slightly different plans for collecting 2020 deferred taxes, As new member of IC, Space Force is looking for a clearer picture of orbit and beyond. Each school in Montgomery County serves students residing in a specific area. Like the District , Montgomery County Public Schools hasn't done a county-wide boundary study in decades, due to resistance from parents who don't want their kids' school to change. The population was 600,000. The changes … © 2019 WTOP. Members of the 13,000-strong powerhouse teachers union, Montgomery County Education Association , for … Even these limited changes have led to pitched battles over who will go to which school. In finalizing boundary changes for several upcounty schools, the local school board on Tuesday set an important precedent for communities throughout Montgomery County. The population was 600,000. Fraser-Hidalgo told the board that estimates of travel times in the area are impossible to predict reliably. More than 250 people attended Montgomery County Public Schools’ boundary analysis meeting at Northwest High School in Germantown on Tuesday. Even progressive groups have stayed away from boundary change. Despite significant shifts in population and demographics, Howard and Montgomery have not made comprehensive changes to their school boundaries for decades. But if the plan that Smith prefers goes into effect, Boettcher will go to a different high school than her friend. Montgomery County Public Schools, 850 Hungerford Drive, Rockville, Maryland 20850 Call 301-309-6277 | Spanish Hotline: 301-230-3073 E-mail: ASKMCPS@mcpsmd.org March 26, 2019 “How Students In Montgomery County Are Leading The Push For School Redistricting” Margaret Barthel, WAMU. School boundary changes in Montgomery County are undergirded by policy that ensures that geography does not trump other factors in setting school districts, including diversifying student populations. MoCo For Change is an all youth organization, mobilizing the students of Montgomery County to solve the most pressing issues of our time. Schuyler Boettcher, a fourth grader at Germantown Elementary School, explained her opposition to the plan favored by the superintendent. MCPS officials and board of education members designate the work described in the request for proposals (RFP) as a boundary review analysis. Grade 11 and 12 students would be grandfathered at their current school assignment. School officials have repeatedly said they’re years away from actually making any changes, and asked the consultants to not give any specific recommendations for boundary changes. But parents on the county’s affluent west side, fearing that they would lose access to high-ranked schools that command very high home prices, began organizing to stop the boundary analysis. Log in to your WTOP account for notifications and alerts customized for you. By Ana Mulero. The second round of options under consideration includes the one favored by Superintendent Jack Smith, known as Option 11a. 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