Reply to Residents appeal MCPS boundary changes, challenge legality of diversity focus

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]A group of Montgomery County residents is turning to the state Board of Education to overturn the county school board’s decision to redistrict students in Clarksburg and Germantown. Community members’ appeal, filed Dec. 26, alleges the school board “illegally reassigned school boundaries, resulting in unlawful and arbitrary redistricting … denying those students equitable access to the educational rigor, resources and supports designed to maximize their academic success.” They ask the state board to overturn the boundary changes.

MCPS has a policy that dictates how school district policies are developed and revised. It says the school board can choose to send amended policies for additional feedback “if substantial changes are made to the policy after the initial public comment period,” but does not define “substantial change.” The policy had been sent out for comment previously for five months. The policy outlined four factors the board is supposed to consider during boundary studies — student demographics, geography, school enrollment and stability of school assignments over time.

But, the policy was updated in 2018, adding language that says the school board “should especially strive” to create a diverse student body at each school. The updated phrasing, however, was introduced at a board meeting on Sept. 13, 2018, and was approved on Sept. 24, 2018.

Appellants allege the policy is illegal because it was not released for public comment after the phrasing elevating the importance of student body diversity was added.

The redacted appeal does not disclose appellants’ names or how many people are involved, but it says they have students in a prekindergarten program, at Clarksburg Elementary School, Rocky Hill Middle School and Clarksburg High School. They say the school board focused too heavily on achieving demographic diversity in schools that are “already racially diverse,” and not enough on ensuring that students attend the schools closest to their homes.

The appeal points specifically to changes involving Neelsville Middle School. Students reassigned to Neelsville from Rocky Hill will be less safe, according to appellants. According to a recent survey of staff, 24.1% of Neelsville respondents said they feel the school is safe for staff and students, compared to about 87% of staff respondents at Rocky Hill.

https://bethesdamagazine.com/bethesda-beat/schools/residents-appeal-mcps-boundary-changes-challenge-legality-of-diversity-focus/?utm_source=Bethesda+Magazine+Master+List&utm_campaign=78c188a499-Beat-01.06.20&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1bbe9df5d9-78c188a499-105213361&mc_cid=78c188a499&mc_eid=142b96f9a7

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And what would releasing it for public comment have done? Every decision of the school board is not a public referendum.

It has never ended well when the rights of racial minorities are put to a public vote by the majority. [/quote]

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