Anne Arundel County Board of Education members said Wednesday that it would take at least a year before any plans to replace, renovate or redistrict schools become reality.
The board and school district officials attempted to reassure Severna Park parents who were worried about early reports that an independent study presented to the board Wednesday would recommend redistricting their schools to alleviate stress on buildings.
Representatives from MGT of America told board members and new Superintendent Kevin Maxwell that redistricting across existing feeder system boundaries was only being recommended in three areas.
In one instance, redistricting was proposed to make room for a new elementary school.
“We clearly heard there is some ownership of the zone they?re in,” said MGT consultant Ed Humble.
Public meetings and workshops will be scheduled in the future to help board members and residents understand the recommendations contained in the $50,000 study.
Humble said the board already faces redistricting in the Arundel attendance zone to make room for the new Gambrills Elementary School, scheduled for completion in the next few years.
The study also proposed redistricting Solley Elementary students to Jacobsville Elementary to alleviate crowding in the northeast attendance zone.
MGT also recommended redrawing boundaries to include Severn Elementary in the Meade feeder zone instead of Old Mill, also as a fix for overcrowding in the Old Mill zone.
Numerous internal boundary adjustments and grade realignments were proposed to better use under-capacity buildings and make space for special education and alternative programs.
“We think you?ve got a need in this district for targeted programs like special education and alternative programs,” Humble said. “We think you have enough space for these targeted programs.”
