I see South County parents are protesting redistricting again. Are their kids better than the kids from other areas who are on the redistricting list?

Well since I have been fortunate enough to keep my child OUT of Wash Co Schools, would you kindly explain to me the need for and reasoning behind the current redistricting plan?

I don't have time now; I am heading out the door and will be gone until Oct. 3. I will explain it to you when I return.

Still waiting.

[size="3"][size="4"][size="5"][size="6"]Sorry for the delay; I've been busy. First, school boards are required by MD state law to provide equal opportunities for students in all schools within a county in so far as possible. That does not mean that every high school, for example, has to offer the exact same courses. There are a few opportunities for accomplishing the equity. Let's say a student from one high school wants to study a foreign language only offered at another high school in that county. One option would be for that student to transfer to that school.
Providing equal opportunities also applies to the number of students in a class. Thus, if one or more schools in a county are experiencing overcrowded conditions while other county schools have available capacity, the school board must make changes to equalize classroom capacities between schools. This can be done in a number of ways. The simplest method is to add portable classrooms. However, there is a limit to how many portable classrooms a school facility can support. (There are some negative aspects to portable classrooms also.) Another method is to build an addition on to the overcrowded school(s). However, the state will not participate in funding additions if there is excess capacity in other schools in the county, especially if the school(s) with excess capacity are in a district adjacent to that with the overcrowding. Another solution is to build a new facility in the county; here again the state has rules and regulations regarding its financial participation in the construction of a new building if the only reason is to relieve overcrowding and capacity exists in other schools. The new school must be able to relieve overcrowding in many locations not just in one area. Finally, there is redistricting.
The present redistricting proposals have been created because of two situations which exist. (There are six or seven elementary schools which are currently overcapacity. Some are in South County, but some are in Hagerstown and one is in the west section of the county.) Rockland Woods Elementary School has a significant amount of excess capacity. It's district borders a number of other districts several of which are in South County. The second factor is that the school system is building Eastern Primary on land it already owns in a district which is bordered by most of the other districts in the city and some beyond. By removing the pre-kindergarten, kindergarten, first grade, and second grade classes from several surrounding schools, space in those schools is freed for the third, fourth, and fifth grade students. This move has a domino effect allowing students from outlying overcrowded schools to move to bordering schools that are losing their primary grade students.
I know that there are many factors which the school system staff and the redistricting committee consider when a redistricting proposal is made. One of the considerations is the amount of time a student would spend riding a school bus. The standard for this county is 40 minutes. Other considerations include safety issues of the route such as turn arounds, poverty levels at the various schools, the number of middle schools an elementary feeds into, etc. This current redistricting committee has been working for almost a year. They do not take their task lightly and spend many hours outside the meetings reading and analyzing proposals and communicating with parents in their respective school districts.
Does this help? Do you have specific questions that I may be able to answer? Chief

Thank you, that helped.

It also answered many questions.

You forgot one little thing though, busing kids to Cascade will at least partially justify the $1 million dollar "gift" Dr. Morgan gave herself from PMDC.

What did you mean by your last comment--your time to explain.

Cascade School enrollment has been declining considerably over the last number of years.

Dr. Morgan is on the Board of PMDC & Super of Schools.

PMDC had a million lying around, and suddenly WCPS (Cascade in particular) are given $1 Million. That to me would do some much needed repairs/reconfiguration of the school for a potential influx of students from a redistricting.

And that is exactly what is being done with that money. Cascade is getting updates and improvements to be ready when enrollment increases because of the development of the former base. You made it sound as though she was presonally getting $1 million.

WHEN? you mean if the base gets developed.

My problem with the gift, is the appearance of a conflict of interest. That even this newpaper brushed off, when I brought it up.

Dr. Morgan is on the PMDC board. (Gift Giver)
Dr. Morgan is Super of Schools. (Receiver of Gift)

Dr. Morgan voted on the gift, according to Dori Nipps (PMDC Chief)

Conflict of interest is all over that, wouldn't you agree?

No, I disagree because she does not directly benefit from the gift; the community does. How is this different from the superintendent or board members going to the county commissioners to ask for money for renovations to a school ? They vote for the county commissioners. I really see no inpropriety here. Chief
P.S. The renovations will not wait until the base is developed. You can go to the school system's web site, go to the facilities planning dept. and view the facilities master plan.

Agree, to disagree.

She does benefit.

She appears to be doing something, bringing in money. Which in turn helps her look good. Appearance of conflict of interest.

Few people even realize that she is on the Pen Mar board; in fact, I bet most people have no idea of anyone on that board. She did not seek the position; she was asked to join. I believe there are about 12 people on that board. One of the superintendent's duties is to seek funding for the school system. In addition to excise taxes, which go for infastructure impacted by new developments, the County Commissioners require developers to go through mitigation when their developments would significantly impact overcrowded schools. This results in the developer paying for needed improvements, donating land or services, etc. So once again, I fail to see any impropriety or any suggestion of it as well as any direct benefit to Dr. Morgan. She is just doing what she was hired to do. Chief

P.S. I guess we will have to agree to disagree. What other education topics can we discuss?

Interesting, so according to your statements, because no one knows of the board, and/or her involvement in it, then it is ok, to have an appearance of Conflict of Interest.

I realize she is on the board. I also know many of the members of the board, since I live in the area which that board impacts greatly.

No, that was not the conclusion I was suggesting. Again, I do not think there is even the appearance of a conflict of interest. You and your neighbors would have an interst in what is happening with the base, but few people outside that area pay much attention to what is going on there. Though that fact has nothing to do with the superintendent.

On another subject, I am surprised that there is so little conversation on the Herald-Mail Forum since it has been reinstated. Its earlier version had much discussion of various public issues. Do you have any idea why many past contributors are ignoring it?

A few things about the forum:

1. Fee based now, only $5, but it is the principle for many. I'm free since I am a 7 day subscriber.
2. Fear of the hammer the Mods will be weilding, after the some of the shennaningans that went on, between threats of lawsuits, multiple personality disorders and the like.
3. Many of the former regs, now post elsewhere.