BOARD OF EDUCATION TO CONDUCT PUBLIC HEARING ON ANNAPOLIS-AREA REDISTRICTING OPTIONS

The Board of Education of Anne Arundel County will conduct a public hearing in March on five redistricting options involving Annapolis-area schools, four of which are aimed at relieving overcrowding at Tyler Heights Elementary School.

The hearing will be held at 7 p.m. on Thursday, March 5, 2015, in the Board Room of the Parham Building in Annapolis. Testimony will only be taken on the following options:

  • Shifting approximately 150 students from the Reserve at Quiet Waters neighborhood from Tyler Heights to Georgetown East, and approximately 48 students from the Harbor House neighborhood from Tyler Heights to Eastport, effective in the 2016-2017 school year. This option was recommended by Superintendent George Arlotto.
  • Moving approximately 99 students from the Reserve at Quiet Waters neighborhood living east of Thom Drive and south of Graf Court, as well as those residing on Martha Court, from Tyler Heights to Georgetown East effective in the 2015-2016 school year, and then moving the remainder of the students from the Reserve at Quiet Waters neighborhood from Tyler Heights to Georgetown East, and approximately 48 students from the Harbor House neighborhood from Tyler Heights to Eastport, effective in the 2016-2017 school year.
  • Moving students from the Reserve at Quiet Waters neighborhood from Tyler Heights to Georgetown East in August 2015; moving approximately 48 students from the Harbor House community from Tyler Heights to Eastport in August 2016; and moving approximately 42 students from the Bay Ridge Avenue/Tyler Avenue, The Landings, North Green, and Regent Street communities from Tyler Heights to Georgetown East in August 2016. This option was recommended by the Annapolis Area Redistricting Committee.
  • Move students in the Harbor House, Eastport Terrace, and Bay Ridge Avenue/Tyler Avenue North communities from Tyler Heights to Eastport; move students from the Woodside Garden and Juliana Circle communities from Eastport to Georgetown East; move students in the Ambridge, Timber Creek, and Cedar Ridge communities from Tyler Heights to Georgetown East; move students from the Regent Street community from Tyler Heights to Germantown; and move students in the Severn House, Fairview, Highland, and Parkwood communities from Georgetown East to Eastport, effective in the 2015-2016 school year. In addition, transfer the prekindergarten program from Tyler Heights to Georgetown East in the 2016-2017 school year. This proposal was offered by Annapolis resident Jessica Pachler and impacts approximately 280 students.
  • Adjusting the boundary between Mills-Parole Elementary and Edgewater Elementary to possibly reallocate properties along Admiral Cochrane Drive (including Knights of Columbus property) to Mills-Parole Elementary.

The Board will consider the testimony along with other information before reaching its final decision. A vote is scheduled for the Board’s April 22, 2015, meeting.

Anyone wishing to speak at the hearing will be allotted three minutes. Those wishing to speak can sign up beginning at 6 p.m.

Informational sessions will be held prior to the hearing on dates to be announced in the near future.