Many neighbors attended the first open meeting about school redistricting last week at Loch Raven High School. No public comment was allowed, but we did break down into small groups and were able to give our individual as well as collective opinion on which boundary option out of 4 possible options we preferred. Option G was the one that keeps most of the Rodgers Forge neighborhood attending RFES and thus keeps our kids walking to school. Option G would render RFES at 93.18% capacity. However, many residents were agreeing that even if the school is at capacity it is acceptable if it keeps the neighborhood in tact. It is being at 150-200% over capacitiy that is unacceptable. So even if Option G were broader and covered a little more ground such as Gaywood, Rodgers Choice and the Rodgers Forge Apartments, many residents felt that the school could absorb it. Some of the other boundary options cut up the Rodgers Forge neighborhood in ways that made many residents who attended the meeting question a process that would have led to such options--especially the one that cut Rodgers Forge at the Blenheim Road boundary where chunks of Dunkirk and Murdock Roads would be separated from the rest of the neighborhood.
Mark Your Calendars! Residents are strongly encourages to attend the next meeting on January 20 at 7PM at Dumbarton Middle School. At this meeting the Boundary Committee for BCPS will review the tabulated results from the meeting that we attended last week. Committee members will make their recommendation to the School Board before its February 9 meeting. Both sessions are open to the public. A public hearing on the preferred option is scheduled for February 24, 7pm at Loch Raven High School. The Board is expected to vote on the boundary issue at their March 9 meeting. Today's Baltimore Sun has an article on the issue - http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/education/bal-md.co.boundary10jan10,0,4661392.story
