Very far cry from being used. This is a very sad story. Sorry to see this happening. There should be more going to this school by now. Meaning enrolled. This is a sad thing and it kind of scares me at thinking what may end up happening. Manditory transfers due to over crowding. Sad in deed.


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June 1, 2008

42 students apply to attend Rockland Woods Elementary


By ERIN CUNNINGHAM (erinc@herald-mail.com)

HAGERSTOWN



Forty-two students have applied to attend Rockland Woods Elementary even though they do not live in the attendance zone for Washington County’s newest school.

“That is more than a typical school, as far as special permission requests,” said Assistant Superintendent for Elementary Instruction Michael Markoe.

Other county schools average between 10 and 12 requests for students to attend a school out of their district.

Open enrollment was extended until Sunday, giving families additional time to apply. Markoe said the applications will be reviewed and a decision is expected by July 1.


The Washington County Board of Education decided to extend the deadline for open enrollment after redistricting efforts failed to push enrollment at Rockland Woods Elementary past 500 students. The 750-seat elementary school will open in August, along with larger replacement schools for Maugansville and Pangborn elementary schools.

Students accepted through the special permission process will not receive transportation outside the school’s attendance zone.

Markoe said officials will review applications and make decisions based on the relief it provides at the student’s home school and how that student would affect class sizes at Rockland Woods.

“One of our primary goals at Rockland Woods is to keep class sizes low,” he said.

Officials are hoping to keep class sizes between 21 and 24 students.

Applications also will be reviewed based on a student’s home school and the enrollment there.

“What kind of relief does it give? Boonsboro (Elementary) and Greenbrier (Elementary) will be our first priority,” he said.

Both schools are overcrowded and well over their state-rated capacity.

However, only eight of the applicants come from Boonsboro and Greenbrier, each of which had four students apply to enroll at Rockland Woods.

The schools with the most applicants were Emma K. Doub and Eastern elementary schools, with seven each, Markoe said.

Fountain Rock and Funkstown elementary schools each had four applicants.

Most applicants were incoming kindergartners (11). There were eight applicants from first, second and third grades, and five in fourth grade. One applicant was a fifth-grader.

Markoe said those numbers will be important when evaluating class sizes.

“Forty-two is a good number (of applicants),” he said. “That definitely demonstrates interest by parents to start (their children) out in a state-of-the-art school.”

Parents listed several reasons for wanting their children to attend Rockland Woods Elementary, including child-care needs and smaller class sizes.

“There have been a range of reasons,” Markoe said. “Some have mentioned their homes are actually closer to Rockland Woods.”

If Rockland Woods opened with only students in its attendance zone, it would have a population of about 470 students. The $25 million school has a750-student capacity.

About 20 classroom teachers have been hired.

Isn't that the school over which Marta Reed (I think that is her name) flipped out because she didn't want her children educated in the same place with children from different parts of the county?

The current BOE members brought this on by not supporting the Facilities Enrollment Advisory Committee's recommendations of enrolling students from Greenbriar and Boonsboro which are both very overcrowded. Then they asked this committee to come up with a new recommendation. This time they recommended transfering students from Keedysville which would greatly reduce Boonsboro Elementary School. But, once again, the BOE caved in to Board member Donna Brightman and the Boonsboro group. For many years the Boonsboro parents have been crying about the overcrowding at Boonsboro Elementary, but it is just like the situation with people wanting a Wal Mart, just as long as it isn't in their back yard or affecting their students.
Now the door is open to more developers in the Rockland area without having to contribute to school costs and the state can turn down requests from the BOE for construction money in attendance areas ajoining Rockland because there is so much capacity there. It is a sad affair especially since Rockland will be an outstanding facility with separate art, instrumental music, and vocal music rooms as well as a science lab.

yes it is

the on-going Rockland Woods School... They are just never satisfied... First there's not enough to fill the school, then try to break up communities with re-districting, then go to open enrollment and now trying to turn down the applicants they so desperately needed...

Will they EVER be satisfied????

This elected BOE seems to be having a hard time "getting it right."

Not sure who all is to blame, but it does seem that the plan for this school sure got messed up royally.