PURPOSE OF PRESENTATION:  The Board of Education of Frederick County (BOE) will discuss Crestwood Area Redistricting Study options after hearing feedback from the community at their public hearing, which was held on November 1, 2023.

BACKGROUND/SUMMARY: 

Staff presented the Superintendent’s Recommendation for the Crestwood Area Redistricting Study to the BOE at the May 3, 2023, Board meeting. Four community meetings were then held so staff could present the initial recommendation, gather community comment, and respond to questions. Information about the scope of work, study area, community engagement, frequently asked questions, the initial Superintendent’s Recommendation and an interactive map can be found on the project web page at https://www.fcps.org/capital-program/crestwood. Community comments and questions have been accepted at the project email, CrestwoodRedistricting@fcps.org.

Following the community meetings in May, the BOE directed staff to prepare alternative options to the study area attendance boundaries, while considering community feedback. Staff prepared three alternatives that address a collection of community comments, while at the same time addressing factors of Board Policy 200. A description of the alternatives, and an analysis of how each address Policy 200, can be found on the project web page: https://www.fcps.org/capital-program/files/documents/crestwood/AddendumSuptRecommendation_eng.pdf. Staff notes that there are several neighborhoods in the study area that are impacted in one or more of the alternatives that were not impacted in the initial Superintendent’s Recommendation. 

Three community meetings were held in early September in which staff presented the alternatives, responded to questions and accepted comments. Comments and questions continue to be received by email. A work session was held on September 27, 2023, with the BOE directing staff to continue the discussion of the redistricting study options. A survey was prepared in which community members can provide their feedback on the initial recommendation and alternatives. The survey remained open until October 5, 2023. Responses to the survey, and comments received at the community meetings, were summarized and provided to the BOE.  

A public hearing was held on November 1, 2023 at 6 p.m. in the Board Room of the Frederick County Public Schools Central Office, to hear feedback on the redistricting study options presented to the community, including the Superintendent's initial recommendation and the three alternatives developed after community feedback on the original recommendation.

The Board will make the final decision on December 6, 2023.

PROCESS STATEMENT:

The redistricting study was led by FCPS Facilities Planning staff and included Transportation, Fiscal Services, CII, SASA, and Public Affairs staff. FCPS staff was assisted by the consulting firm, CropperGIS, in preparing revised attendance boundary maps and compiling/evaluating data. 

PRESENTER(S) & TITLE(S): N/A

SUBMITTED BY: 

Paul A. Lebo, DSL, Chief Operating Officer