MoCo School Boundary Fight: Decision Appealed

Germantown MD

06 January, 2020

12:48 PM

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MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MD — Some Montgomery County residents are appealing a decision made by the county's Board of Education to change boundary lines in three Upcounty high schools, according to a Bethesda Magazine report. The board voted in favor of the change by a 7-1 vote on Tuesday, Nov. 26. The vote the change the boundary lines came despite audible chants from the crowd outside. Board member Rebecca Smondrowski cast the dissenting vote. These changes — recommended by Superintendent Jack Smith — will affect Clarksburg, Northwest, and Seneca Valley high schools. As the largest public school system in the state, Montgomery County has seen a rapid increase in enrollment in recent years. Proponents hope these boundary shifts will alleviate overcrowding in some schools. Others, however, worry that these changes will mean longer bus rides, lower home values, and wider achievement gaps. "Adopting a boundary change is the hardest vote that board members make because people are very passionate about where they choose to live, where they want their children to attend. The mama bear comes out in everybody in that process," said Patricia O'Neill, vice president of the school board. Related: MoCo School Boundary Fight: Board Of Ed Seeking Legal AdviceMoCo School Boundary Changes Approved By Board Despite ProtestsThe Bethesda Magazine report says residents are turning to Maryland's Board of Education in attempts to overturn the county's decision. The Dec. 26 appeal says the county school board "illegally reassigned school boundaries, resulting in unlawful and arbitrary redistricting … denying those students equitable access to the educational rigor," the outlet reported.