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Sunday, February 15, 2015

Wicomico Schools Announces Redirection of Redistricting Process; Information & Input Meetings Will Not Be Held

Based on input and questions already received from the community, Wicomico County Public Schools will set aside for now any discussion of school boundary changes for the 2015-2016 school year. The Redistricting Information & Input Meetings that had been scheduled for Feb. 12, 17 and 19 will not be held.
Four of the considerations became part of the redistricting conversation but do not involve changing school boundaries. These considerations remain in the plans for next school year. School system officials will meet with the schools involved and with those staff members, families and students to work out details for:
Bennett Middle: The new Bennett Middle School will open with the same student attendance area. In order to transport all BMS students without requiring additional buses, Bennett Middle’s school day is proposed to be 8:15 a.m.-3:15 p.m.
Middle school ESOL program: The plan is to have one center at Bennett Middle to serve the school’s approximately 50 students, and another center at Wicomico Middle to serve approximately 42 ESOL students from the other four middle schools, 20 of whom are in the Wicomico Middle walking area. This change would reduce transportation time and increase instructional time for most students.
Charles H. Chipman Elementary/Glen Avenue Elementary: Grade 2 would move to Glen Avenue, the school Chipman students currently begin attending in Grade 3, starting with the 2015-2016 school year. Glen Avenue has capacity for the additional students. Chipman would become a prekindergarten-grade 1 school with more room for prekindergarten classes, and the school would begin to transition to the Charles H. Chipman Early Learning School.
School system administrators and the Board of Education read and heard many comments, questions and concerns and concluded that the timing was not right for making boundary changes for the 2015-2016 school year. Many people suggested the school system proceed slowly with any changes. School officials heard the input and have responded.
The school system will continue to work with schools, families, staff members, and others in the community to explore possible solutions to the topics and issues that were part of the redistricting discussion, and to explore ways of balancing enrollment among all of Wicomico’s schools and making effective use of facilities. Both the active participation of the community and the detailed work of the Internal Redistricting Committee were invaluable in this process.
Input is welcome at any time at comments@wcboe.org or 410-677-5251.

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hopefully, they won't every revisit it! What a joke!

I do worry though that they will "sneak" it in like they did Frederickson for his reappointing!

Anonymous said...

Joe u did it again and the parents are happy for now.

Anonymous said...

Is a damn shame that the board flinches when a few people speak up. Strong leaders make a decision and stick with it and don't waiver.

Same thing happened last year with sports. First parents were told that if their school didn't have a sport, their child would have to go to the school with the least population (Wi Hi). People cried and whined and then they were allowed to choose between 2 schools (JMB and Wi Hi).

Just like we complain that Annapolis makes too many decisions for us, parents do the same thing when it comes to the BOE.

Nothing bus spoiled brats.

Anonymous said...

I give the BOE credit for listening to the Delmar families.

Anonymous said...

Now if we can end busing in Wicomico county

Anonymous said...

More proof as to why we need a voucher system...parents should have Final say as to where and how their children are educated. This is the parents responsibility, Not a government agency or Pol.

Anonymous said...

its called listening to the people you represent dumbass

Anonymous said...

WE won!

Anonymous said...

7:06, agreed. I wonder how many children 6:12 has in the schools.

Now, I have a question. Why does Glen Avenue have the capacity for more students? Did Jim Ireton scare some away? Is the east side losing families? What's up?

Anonymous said...

You only won if you believe you're in a conflict where fighting is clean and opponents do what they say they're going to do.

Anonymous said...

7:03
That might have been an option at some point but you can't expect people in towns like Parsonsburg, Pittsville, Willards and Poweville to drive all the way to Salisbury. They should have built Parkside on this side of town to begin with and it wouldn't be a problem.

Anonymous said...

If it was a situation that the school board believed was BEST for the students it should have been done. Wonder what the motives really were

Anonymous said...

I think part of the reason that some schools are under/over capacity is because there are too many special exceptions being granted.

Anonymous said...

That may be true. I have a child that will be going to HS next year. From what I've been told its impossible to get an exception. So my question is how do you actually get one?

Anonymous said...

Home owners that are paying the property taxes should have a major say in these issues, no one that is just renting and living at an apartment complex. Odds are they will not be there for 30 years like home owners with the mortgages !

Anonymous said...

You buy a house based on the school district if you have young kids.