By Adam Pagnucco.
At today’s school board meeting, the board will discuss MCPS’s process for deciding upcoming closures of elementary and/or middle schools. The staff’s presentation to the board is a must-read for anyone who will be affected.
Here are a few key points.
First, as has been commonly known for some time, MCPS’s enrollment has been falling. The chart below illustrates that decline. However, student losses are not uniform across MCPS’s many schools. That’s the most important single reason why MCPS is examining its facility distribution.
Second, MCPS lays out a timeline for decision-making. No schools will be closed this year. Instead, MCPS is unveiling a nine-step process culminating in a school board vote on closures and/or consolidations on April 15, 2027. This slide shows that process.
The closure decision will be followed by a boundary study pertaining to remaining schools. Implementation of the new structure will begin in the 2029-2030 school year.
Third, the presentation contains a slide on metrics and criteria as shown below.
MCPS cites Maryland COMAR 13A.02.09.01, which is a state regulation that governs school closings. Following is its entire text.
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A. Each local board of education shall establish procedures to be used in making decisions on school closings.
B. The procedures shall ensure, at a minimum, that consideration is given to the impact of the proposed closing on the following factors:
(1) Student enrollment trends;
(2) Age or condition of school buildings;
(3) Transportation;
(4) Educational programs;
(5) Racial composition of student body;
(6) Financial considerations;
(7) Student relocation;
(8) Impact on community in geographic attendance area for school proposed to be closed and school, or schools, to which students will be relocating.
C. The procedures shall provide, at a minimum, for the following requirements:
(1) A public hearing to permit concerned citizens an opportunity to submit their views orally or to submit written testimony or data on a proposed school closing. This includes the following:
(a) The public hearing shall take place before any final decision by a local board of education to close a school;
(b) Time limits on the submission of oral or written testimony and data shall be clearly defined in the notification of the public meeting.
(2) Adequate notice to parents and guardians of students in attendance at all schools that are being considered for closure by the local board of education. The following apply:
(a) In addition to any regular means of notification used by a local school system, written notification of all schools that are under consideration for closing shall be advertised in at least two newspapers having general circulation in the geographic attendance area for the school or schools proposed to be closed, and the school or schools to which students will be relocating;
(b) The newspaper notification shall include the procedures that will be followed by the local board of education in making its final decision;
(c) The newspaper notification shall appear at least 2 weeks in advance of any public hearings held by the local school system on a proposed school closing.
D. The final decision of a local board of education to close a school shall be announced at a public session and shall be in writing. The following apply:
(1) The final decision shall include the rationale for the school closing and address the impact of the proposed closing on the factors set forth in Regulation .01B;
(2) There shall be notification of the final decision of the local board of education to the community in the geographic attendance area of the school proposed to be closed and school or schools to which students will be relocating;
(3) The final decision shall include notification of the right to appeal to the State Board of Education as set forth in Regulation .03.
Notes
Md. Code Regs. 13A.02.09.01
Regulations .01 amended effective August 26, 1985 (12:17 Md. R. 1707); January 15, 1989 (15:27 Md. R. 3131)
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Those are the basics. Check out the entire presentation and, if you’re interested in attending, MCPS’s engagement calendar.