Schools
Board of Education to Hold Work Session on Boundary Study Nov. 2
The work session will include a discussion of the new boundary study as well as a review of Superintendent Joushua P. Starr's capital improvements recommendations.
A discussion of the controversial boundary study that calls for a change in the makeup of Bethesda-Chevy Chase elementary schools will take place at the Board of Education's November 2 work session.
The latest boundary recommendation, released on Oct. 14 by Superintendent Joshua P. Starr, of elementary students from the East Bethesda community to Bethesda Elementary for grades K through 5.
Under Starr’s recommendation, the boundary changes would begin in August of 2013.
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Currently, some students are bused between the Rosemary Hills community in Silver Spring and Bethesda Elementary, and East Bethesda students are assigned to Rosemary Hills Primary School for grades K to 2 and Bethesda Elementary for grades 3 to 5.
Starr said the changes will end "a longstanding concern of communities affected by the current assignments."
Find out what's happening in Bethesda-Chevy Chasewith free, real-time updates from Patch.
East Bethesda residents the changes will allow more of their kids to be part of a local school community, cut down on travel time and keep their school within capacity.
Despite Starr's hope of ending community concern, only one of the five options for boundary changes would provide their community with the socio-economic diversity they desire. That's option three. They said the other options, particularly one, two and five make more room for East Bethesda kids at Bethesda Elementary while the other schools in the cluster, Rosemary Hills Primary, Chevy Chase Elementary and North Chevy Chase Elementary will have to take on significantly more English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) and Free and Reduced Meals (FARMS) students.
Residents wishing to speak at the meeting about the boundary plan can register with the Board of Education by calling 301-279-3617.
The meeting will also be a chance for the community to hear details of Starr's extensive recommendations for capital improvements report.
The work session is scheduled to take place at 6 p.m. on Nov. 2 at the Carver Educational Services Center, 850 Hungerford Drive, Rockville.
