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Vital Views
The Severna Park Voice, July 2006
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Council in Action
by Councilwoman Cathleen M. Vitale
Reading, 'Riting and Redistricting
There it is, I said it. That horrible "R" word that can get the blood of
any parent of a school aged child boiling. They've been talking about it
for more than twenty-five years, and it seems as if it's time to talk
about it again. Over the last several months, parents, citizens,
business owners and property owners have been "reading and 'riting"
about redistricting. When does it happen, where will it happen, will it
happen at all? The person or persons who can answer that question, I beg
of you, "will you please stand up?" -- or at least give us your email
address so we can contact you directly. (I have a few hundred people I
would like to give that email address to).
Here are the "facts" as I know them. The Anne Arundel County School
Board commissioned a facilities study to advise them of the conditions
of all Anne Arundel County schools, relating to the physical layout as
well as the programmatic (or educational) layout. To be addressed where
items such as the age of the school, the current use of the schools
classrooms and meeting rooms (cafeteria, gym, etc.), maintenance needed
or expected and whether or not the school was currently and/or projected
to be over or under crowded. Each school was given a rating. Pages and
pages of data were to be collected, and then recommendations (multiple)
are being proposed.
Several news articles have reported pieces of the draft study, which the
County Council received this past week. Of note are the pages and pages
of headlined subparagraphs with little or no comments, and quite often
the words "paragraph to be inserted". The recommendations on which
options to pursue, the costs or priorities have yet to be established.
It is my understanding that a complete and final document is due to the
Board of Education in the coming weeks. At that time, the board will
review the recommendations, implement some, reject others and delay a
third group. As a said before, anyone having a clue, please call me
immediately.
So, what should we do? As you know, I believe in vigilance. Keeping up
and informed is always the first good step and the citizenry has done
just that. Form a working group within your school made up of parents,
interested businesses and community members who have a stake in the
school system. It's not just parents who are anxious about the success
of our schools. Formalize your position. Remember, it's important to
take a stand that includes more than just "leave things alone". As a
Council member, my votes often result from well-articulated arguments
from persons who can outline the issue, give me their understanding of
the problem and offer solutions as well as their approval (or
disapproval) of a decision. In some cases, it changes the way I thought
I would vote all along. Read what is being proposed, it is available
online at the Board's website. Remember, it is only a draft. Put your 'riting skills to work. Provide your position to the people making the
decision. In this case, the members of the Board of Education, is the
Board members, with the recommendations of the superintendent who will
ultimately be responsible for where our children attend school. Finally,
wait until the report is printed, since you don't want to offer to
redistrict if one is not being proposed. Maybe the answer is not
redistrict, but rebuild, redesign or renovate.
From my preliminary review of the partially prepared draft report, I can
only say there is a long way to go before anything happens. But, as has
always been the case with our area, be prepared. See you next month.
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