Reply to Concerned about BOE Candidate Sunil Dasgupta’s binding boundary review commission

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[quote=Anonymous]I have read some of Sunil Dasgupta’s writings on boundary changes and he proposes an independent binding boundary review commission in order to insulate decisions from the political process.  I find this very concerning.

In boundary studies, the community is usually given options.  The community weighs in.  After the Superintendent puts out options, the community weighs in again.  The final weigh in and check from the public is the political process that gives people the opportunity to vote for Board of Education members.  At the very least, it seems that Sunil wants to remove this public voice at the polls.

Below are some excerpts:

Here, the Apple Ballot candidate Dasgupta suggests that "an independent and binding boundary review commission could help insulate the process from the electoral politics that surrounds the school board." https://www.sourceofthespring.com/general-news/schools/school-boundaries-focusing-on-process/

As a part of his four step plan for redistricting, Sunil writes: "Second, consider making the independent school boundary commission’s findings and recommendations for redistricting binding. This will help insulate redistricting from the politics faced by elected school board members and inject long-term planning and rationality into the redistricting process."  https://www.marylandmatters.org/2019/12/17/opinion-focus-on-process-to-get-school-redistricting-right/

In 2017 I believe there was a boundary study in the Richard Montgomery cluster.  A number of options were presented that would have moved students from Twinbrook Elementary to higher performing schools in the cluster.  The community at Twinbrook pushed back on the Board of Education’s recommendations wanting to stay at the school close to their homes and were their community could support them.  Instead, they were able to secure an addition for their school.  Under Mr. Dasgupta’s Policy I’m not sure this would have happened because he wants the independent binding commission and wants to give back construction dollars for which we can receive a state match for operational dollars.

I’d like to learn more about this issue.  I think it is very important to hear from students and parents in these impactful decisions.

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