Anne Arundel’s Board of Education added new map options to the pending redistricting plans in response to new enrollment data presented at Wednesday’s school board meeting.
The board had been considering four options: Anne Arundel Superintendent Mark Bedell’s two original recommendations and versions of those plans with amendments proposed by board members in September.
Preliminary enrollment data made half the options potentially unworkable, district staff said. The board has since expanded the list of options to six, adding Bedell’s new proposal and a version that includes board amendments.
Half of the original options propose moving the Apex Arts program from Annapolis High School to Severn Run High School. The new data shows Severn Run’s enrollment is growing too fast to make that feasible.
“This utilization change, along with the 14% increase in utilization at Severn Run High School, impacts the viability of moving the Apex program,” said Bill Heiser, chief operating officer.
The district is nearing the end of a three-year process to redraw the map that determines which schools students attend. With the final vote set for November, parents have been fighting to spare their neighborhoods from a move.
Before reading prepared remarks on the new data, Bedell spoke off-script with a request.
“I just simply ask people that we try to do everything in our power to operate with some level of cordiality,” Bedell said. “We don’t need to be in a situation where people are having fear for their safety within the community because they spoke up or said something that you didn’t like.”
In the coming days, the district will announce dates for hearings where the public can comment on the proposed maps.
This article will be updated.
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