(SIGN-UP SHEET FOR PUBLIC COMMENT AVAILABLE AT 8 P.M.)

PURPOSE OF PRESENTATION:  Consider the request to redistrict the Gambrill Park Road study area from the Governor Thomas Johnson Middle School (GTJMS) and Governor Thomas Johnson High School (GTJHS) to Middletown Middle School (MMS) and Middletown High School (MHS) attendance areas.  The Gambrill Park Road study area includes those residences along the east and west sides of Gambrill Park Road from the intersection of Shookstown Road north to the intersection of Delauter Road.  A map of the study area is attached.

BACKGROUND/SUMMARY:  In December 2009, the Frederick County Board of Education (BOE) approved a redistricting in this same area of Gambrill Park Road. The redistricting was approved in response to a request from the community and following staff evaluation and analysis. This redistricting changed the attendance area for residences at the elementary school level only; redistricting them from the North Frederick Elementary School attendance area to the Wolfsville Elementary School (WoES) attendance area.  While the Gambrill Park Road area remained in the GTJMS and GTJHS attendance area, the BOE did permit those students living in the study area to choose to attend MMS and MHS with parent transportation.   This created a split feeder for WoES.  

There are currently 27 students in 16 households living in the study area.  Eleven are elementary students, eight are middle and eight are high school students.  The students currently attend 10 different schools.  Nine attend WoES, six MMS, four MHS, two Monocacy Valley Montessori and one each attend GTJHS, Brunswick High School, Urbana High School, Frederick High School, West Frederick Middle School and Yellow Springs Elementary School.

MMS is currently operating at 87% of state rated capacity (SRC), MHS at 98%, GTJMS at 60%, and GTJHS at 68%.  For the 2015-16 school year, MMS is projected to operate at 88% of SRC, MHS at 97%, GTJMS at 58% and GTJHS at 69%.  As noted above, most of the middle and high school students in this area are already attending Middletown schools with parent transportation.

The Director Transportation Services evaluated the redistricting request and concluded that the cost implications of transporting students from the study area to Middletown schools rather than Governor Thomas Johnson schools are cost neutral.

Facilities Services staff evaluated the request with regard to BOE Policy 200.2 which states that, at a minimum, attendance area changes will consider the following factors in priority order:

A.    Reducing present and avoiding future school overcrowding to minimize the need for future redistricting.

B.    Reducing the number of individual schools and feeder patterns with high percentages of students eligible for free and reduced price

       school meals.

C.    Providing fairness concerning the number of years students attend schools that are low performing or are a high priority for

       renovation.

D.   Proximity to schools, maximizing walkers and minimizing length of bus runs.

E.    Establishing boundaries that do not split neighborhoods and communities.

F.    Establishing feeder patterns that are not split at the middle and high school.

The BOE Policy 200 is attached. 

Facilities Services staff found that the number of students involved in the proposed redistricting are minimal and are unlikely to contribute to school overcrowding or the percentage of students eligible for free and reduced price school meals.  In addition, the proposed redistricting would not affect the number of walkers as these students would be bussed to both the Governor Thomas Johnson schools and Middletown schools.  Finally, the proposed redistricting would change the attendance area boundaries such that the existing split feeder at WoES would be corrected.

PROCESS STATEMENT:  Letters were sent to the parents/guardians of students living in the study area notifying them of the redistricting request, the public meeting and the BOE public hearing.  A Find Out First notice was also released with the same information. 

A public information meeting was held on April 15, 2015 at MMS.  Approximately 25 citizens attended; most were residents of the study area.  Comments made by those attending the public meeting were generally in favor of the proposed redistricting although a few wanted the area to remain in the GTJMS and GTJHS attendance area.  Additional public comments have been sent to the BOE via email. 

At this time the Superintendent is recommending to the Board that they approve redistricting the Gambrill Park Road from the intersection with Shookstown Road north to the intersection of Delauter Road and located within the Wolfsville Elementary School attendance area, from Govenor Thomas Johnson Middle School and Governor Thomas Johnson High School attendance area to Middletown Middle School and Middletown High School attendance area.

PRESENTER(S) & TITLE(S):

Elizabeth Pasierb, Supervisor of Facilities Planning

SUBMITTED BY:

Raymond Barnes, Executive Director of Facilities Services