Below is a summary of the redistricting information compiled by the CES PTA Legislative Committee as of January 28, 2007. Note that this is a static page: it reflects information available at that time, so items discussed below may have been overtaken by later events. The ultimate results of the 2007-2008 redistricting process are published on the Anne Arundel County Public Schools' website, on the "Redistricting Plan" page. For the most current information about Gambills area redistricting, go to the main Legislative Committee webpage.
The Board of Education has presented their proposal for redistricting, which will now go forward for public hearings. The most important news for us is that no Crofton schools are directly affected this year, though the relief of overcrowding at Arundel High School that will occur as the Seven Oaks students return to Meade High School will certainly benefit our children down the line. The Board of Education amended the Superintendents proposal to include sending Seven Oaks students to Meade, but grandfathering more classes sophomores, juniors and seniors, possibly siblings. Each of these will be considered separately at the public hearings. There were about 12-15 people at the Board meeting representing the Seven Oaks community, and William Carroll spoke on their behalf stating that the community intends to fight the move.
For Crofton Elementarys part, this means that we are on track to prepare for redistricting next Fall as planned. It was heartening to see that the Board and Superintendent scrupulously respected the process as previously laid out, and did not try to include any areas not originally targeted for redistricting (as some had heard they might).
Though it may seem early, NOW is the time to start collecting information on what the various communities would like to see happen. For the most part this will be handled on a neighborhood-by-neighborhood basis, but the Crofton Elementary School CAC has prepared an excellent, and very short, survey to collect opinions from CES parents on redistricting. PLEASE TAKE TIME TO FILL OUT THE CAC SURVEY AND SEND IT BACK!!! Our ability to represent your interests next Fall is only as good as the information you give us.
Both the construction funding for Gambrills Elementary and the Arundel High School Science Wing (which will improve the ability of Arundel HS to meet science curriculum requirements while also creating additional seating capacity at the school) are in the Board of Educations Capital Budget and we have been assured they are in no danger at that level. They will be going to the State next week to make one last attempt to get additional state funding for construction, but it is unlikely to be significant.
Because the Superintendent has asked for significant increases in education spending for next years budget, we will need lots of support both leading up to and at the County budget hearings. We will be including a request in the next few weeks for you to write letters to our County Executive and County Councilman; please take a few minutes to write a personal letter or email requesting their support.
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Return to the Legislative Committee webpage for more redistricting information.
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