2004 Sept 14 MCPS BOE MSMC Memo

8/14/2019 2004 Sept 14 MCPS BOE MSMC Memo

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DISCUSSION/ACTION

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Office of the Superintendent of SchoolsMONTGOMERY COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Rockville, Maryland

September 14, 2004

MEMORANDUM

To: Members of the Board of Education

From: Jerry D. Weast, Superintendent of Schools

Subject: Student Assignment Process for the Middle School Magnet Consortium

On November 20, 2003, the Board of Education, as part of its action on the Requested FY 20052010

Capital Improvements Program, approved three boundary studies, including a middle schoolboundary study to create boundaries for the reopening of the Downcounty Consortium Middle

School #9 (Belt). On March 9, 2004, the Board of Education approved submission of a federalMagnet Schools Assistance Program (MSAP) grant application that would create magnetprograms at Argyle, Belt, and Parkland middle schools and would include a student choice

assignment process rather than traditional boundaries. As part of the March 9, 2004, action, theBoard of Education modified its November 20, 2003, action and excluded the middle school

component of the boundary study until such time as the United States Department of Education

acted on the grant application.

On August 13, 2004, the Board of Education received official notice that the MSAP grant wasmade to the Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) in the amount of $7.2 million. Based

on the MSAP grant award, MCPS needs to implement a student choice process for studentassignments to Argyle, Belt, and Parkland middle schools beginning next fall when the MiddleSchool Magnet Consortium is formed. In accordance with the Board of Educations Long-range

Educational Facility Planning Policy, FAA, it is necessary to conduct a community choice areareview process to revise the current boundaries for Argyle and Parkland middle schools. Due to

the date of the notice of the grant award and the timeline required for implementing the grant, anabbreviated community process is needed. Attached is an abbreviated process outline for a

choice area advisory committee.

Present at the table for todays discussion are Mr. Joseph Lavorgna, director, Department of

Planning and Capital Programming; Mr. Bruce Crispell, senior planner, Department of Planningand Capital Programming; and Mr. Erick Lang, director, NEC/DCC Consortia Office.

AGENDA SAVEPRINT
http://091404.pdf/


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Members of the Board of Education 2 September 14, 2004

Recommended Resolution

WHEREAS, On March 9, 2004, the Board of Education, as part of its action on the FY 2004Magnet Schools Grant Proposal for Argyle, Belt, and Parkland middle schools, excluded the

middle school component of the boundary study to create boundaries for the reopening of theDowncounty Consortium Middle School #9 (Belt) until such time as the United StatesDepartment of Education acted on the grant application; and

WHEREAS, On August 13, 2004, the Board of Education received official notice from the

federal Magnet School Assistance Program (MSAP) that a grant award was made to MCPS onthe basis of its March grant application to create magnet programs for Argyle, Belt, and Parklandmiddle schools; and

WHEREAS, The MSAP grant includes implementing a student choice process for student

assignments to Argyle, Belt, and Parkland middle schools, beginning with the 20052006 schoolyear; and

WHEREAS, In accordance with the Boards Long-range Educational Facility Planning Policy,FAA, it is necessary to conduct a community process to revise the current boundaries for Argyle

and Parkland middle schools; and

WHEREAS, Due to the late date of the notice of the grant award and the timeline required for

implementing the grant, an abbreviated community advisory process is needed; now thereforebe it

Resolved, That the Board of Education approve a community advisory process for a studentchoice assignment plan for the Middle School Magnet Consortium that includes Argyle, Belt,

and Parkland middle schools; and be it further

Resolved, That the superintendent provide his recommendation on the choice areas for thestudent choice assignment plan by October 15, 2004, along with the recommendations forboundary studies approved by the Board of Education on November 20, 2003; and be it further

Resolved, That the superintendents recommendation on the choice areas for the student choice

assignment plan for Argyle, Belt, and Parkland middle schools be reviewed by the Board of

Education, as outlined on the attached draft process outline that provides for a work session andpublic hearing before Board action.

JDW:LAB:JJL:vnb

Attachment


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Middle Schools Magnet Consortium

Argyle, Belt, and Parkland Middle Schools Choice Area Advisory Committee

Process Outline

Meeting Date Topic

9/20/04 Communitywide meeting to present process and timeline

and1 9/20/04 Committee charge; overview of process; timeline; review

of committee issues, concerns, and ideas; establishcriteria to evaluate options

2 9/22/04 Staff presents options

3 9/29/04 Feedback on options

10/4/04 Communitywide meeting to present options being

considered and to get community feedback

4 10/6/04 Final committee evaluation of options; position papers

submitted to the staff

10/8/04 Committee report to the superintendent

10/15/04 Superintendents choice area recommendation to the

Board of Education

11/3/04 Board of Education work session on boundary and choice

area recommendations and CIP items

11/10 and Board of Education hearing on CIP, boundary, and

choice 11/11/04 area recommendations

11/18/04 Board of Education action on CIP, boundary, and choicearea items

PTAs are encouraged to hold meetings throughout the process to foster communicationswithin the community.

Documents

2004 Sept 14 MCPS BOE MSMC Memo