Bring your written comments for submission to the boundary committee and find out more about the review of committee options at Takoma Park Middle School, 7611 Piney Branch Rd, Takoma Park, Md.
Questions? tpkboundaries@gmail.com.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Support the Action Items
In the public discussion session of the Takoma Park Council Meeting, the following action actions were requested on the proposed TPES/ESS school boundary issues:
There are five action items:
There are five action items:
- We want the TPK Mayor and City Council to tell Montgomery County Schools superintendent Weast and the Board of Education "No to Options 4 & 5".
- We want the Mayor and City Council to ask MCPS and Supt. Weast to open the process and allow for additional plan options to be considered BEFORE Weast releases his report on Oct 15, 2009.
- We want the Mayor and City Council to demand that the county have the boundaries in the study reflect the ACTUAL city limits (esp in ESS2, ESS4 and TP1/1b).
- We want the Mayor and City Council to ask MCPS for currentdemographic information on those communities within the Takoma Park city lines that are being moved from TP/PBES in any of Options 1-6.
- We want the Mayor and City Council to demand that the county use current, accurate enrollment information rather than the figures currently being used (especially for the middle schools).
Send your letters and comments to:
Josh Wright, Councilmember, Ward 1 (TP/PB 1b)
7401 Maple Ave., Takoma Park, MD 20912
Phone: 301-312-2717
City of Takoma Park Mayor Bruce Williams
326 Lincoln Ave., Takoma Park, MD 20912
Phone: 240-676-6234
Fax: 301-891-1771
Christopher S. Barclay, Board of Education, District 4
Carver Educational Services Center, Rm. 123
850 Hungerford Dr., Rockville, MD 20850
Phone: 301-431-7736
Fax: 301-279-3860
Find additional BOE members >>
Jerry D. Weast, Ed.D., Superintendent of Schools
Carver Educational Services Center, Rm. 122
850 Hungerford Dr., Rockville, MD 20850
Phone: 301-279-3381
Fax: 301-279-3205
email via Suzanne Peng-Meth
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Part 1. Public comments TPK Council meeting 5/26
Several community members from Takoma Park read statements to the TPK Council & Mayor tonight. This was one:
MCPS is proposing changes in our school boundaries. If these changes are implemented, current school assignments for our children could change, affecting East Silver Spring ES (ESS), Takoma Park ES (TPES), Piney Branch ES (PBES), Sligo Creek ES (SCES), Takoma Park Middle School (TPMS) and Silver Spring International MS (SSIMS).
We as a community are concerned because none of the options fully recognizes the current Takoma Park city boundaries. Additionally, Option 4 and Option 5 would move the North Takoma neighborhood (TP/PB1b) from Takoma Park Elementary School to East Silver Spring Elementary School (see map).
Options 4 and 5 would also eliminate the choice our neighbors in East Silver Spring (ESS3) have to attend Takoma Park schools.
We who live here would like to stay in our neighborhood schools for several reasons, including but not limited to:
• Our children and families have built strong friendships, social networks, and community ties and we want to maintain our after-school access to the Community Center and other Recreation programs in Takoma Park.
• We want to maintain current geographic boundaries, as members of the Takoma Park community.
• We want our neighbors in ESS3 to continue to have the choice to attend schools in Takoma Park, as they have been doing historically.
• Because of the expansion at TPES, we will be busing our TPES children to Grovesnor (about 30 minutes away) for the 2009 school year. If Option 4 or Option 5 are accepted, our children would be required to move again, to ESS, beginning with the 2010 school year.
• With Options 4 and 5, families may be forced to have their children attend two different elementary schools simultaneously.
• We want to retain our short walk to the Takoma Park school where most children walk to school daily. Some parents walk their children to school and then continue walking to the Metro.
We picked this neighborhood to live in so our children could attend the Takoma Park schools. We're deeply concerned about the potential impact the proposed changes will have on the community and ask for your help in supporting your neighbors.
MCPS is proposing changes in our school boundaries. If these changes are implemented, current school assignments for our children could change, affecting East Silver Spring ES (ESS), Takoma Park ES (TPES), Piney Branch ES (PBES), Sligo Creek ES (SCES), Takoma Park Middle School (TPMS) and Silver Spring International MS (SSIMS).
We as a community are concerned because none of the options fully recognizes the current Takoma Park city boundaries. Additionally, Option 4 and Option 5 would move the North Takoma neighborhood (TP/PB1b) from Takoma Park Elementary School to East Silver Spring Elementary School (see map).
Options 4 and 5 would also eliminate the choice our neighbors in East Silver Spring (ESS3) have to attend Takoma Park schools.
We who live here would like to stay in our neighborhood schools for several reasons, including but not limited to:
• Our children and families have built strong friendships, social networks, and community ties and we want to maintain our after-school access to the Community Center and other Recreation programs in Takoma Park.
• We want to maintain current geographic boundaries, as members of the Takoma Park community.
• We want our neighbors in ESS3 to continue to have the choice to attend schools in Takoma Park, as they have been doing historically.
• Because of the expansion at TPES, we will be busing our TPES children to Grovesnor (about 30 minutes away) for the 2009 school year. If Option 4 or Option 5 are accepted, our children would be required to move again, to ESS, beginning with the 2010 school year.
• With Options 4 and 5, families may be forced to have their children attend two different elementary schools simultaneously.
• We want to retain our short walk to the Takoma Park school where most children walk to school daily. Some parents walk their children to school and then continue walking to the Metro.
We picked this neighborhood to live in so our children could attend the Takoma Park schools. We're deeply concerned about the potential impact the proposed changes will have on the community and ask for your help in supporting your neighbors.
5/26 7:30 p.m.: Tell the TPK City Council where you stand
Talk to Takoma Park mayor Bruce Williams about your concerns regarding the change in school boundaries. Open hours at his office from 5 pm-7 pm
At 7:30 pm, come to the Takoma Park Community Center auditorium for the Council meeting.
At 7:30 pm, come to the Takoma Park Community Center auditorium for the Council meeting.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Next Public Meeting-May 27 at 7:30 p.m.
Public Information Meetings on Boundary Review
for East Silver Spring, Piney Branch, Sligo Creek, and Takoma Park Elementary Schools
Takoma Park Middle School
7611 Piney Branch Road, Silver Spring, Maryland
_______________________________________________
• Review of Committee Options—May 27, 2009
7:30 to 9:00 p.m.
Background
Following community input, on March 27, 2006, the Board of Education acted to reorganize East Silver Spring Elementary School to Grades Pre-K–5 (from the current Pre-K–2) and to construct an eight room addition to accommodate the additional students. The Board of Education also acted to address overutilization at Sligo Creek Elementary School and Takoma Park Elementary School through construction of a sixteen room addition at Takoma Park Elementary School. This addition was designed to be large enough to address overutilization at Sligo Creek Elementary School through a future boundary study.
Boundary Study
On November 20, 2008, the Board of Education authorized a boundary study to review the boundaries for East Silver Spring, Piney Branch, Sligo Creek, and Takoma Park elementary schools, and their attendant middle schools—Silver Spring International and Takoma Park middle schools. The two middle schools are included in the review since Sligo Creek Elementary School articulates to Silver Spring International Middle School, while the other elementary schools articulate to Takoma Park Middle School.
The boundary review process begins with a community advisory committee—that will meet from March 2009 through June 2009—followed by a superintendent recommendation in mid-October 2009, followed by Board of Education review and action in November, 2009. Any boundary changes would be implemented in August 2010, when the additions at East Silver Spring and Takoma Park elementary schools are completed. MCPS staff from
the Division of Long-range Planning will facilitate the community advisory committee process. The public information meetings advertised with this flier are an opportunity to learn more about this process.
Interpreter services will be available at these two meetings for Spanish and Amharic speakers.
Individuals who need accommodations, including sign language interpretation or other special assistance, may contact the Family and Community Partnerships Unit at (301) 279-3100 and TDD (301) 279-3323.
During the boundary review, and up through Board of Education action, materials will be posted at the following web site:
www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/planning/CommunityInfo_Boundary.htm
for East Silver Spring, Piney Branch, Sligo Creek, and Takoma Park Elementary Schools
Takoma Park Middle School
7611 Piney Branch Road, Silver Spring, Maryland
_______________________________________________
• Review of Committee Options—May 27, 2009
7:30 to 9:00 p.m.
Background
Following community input, on March 27, 2006, the Board of Education acted to reorganize East Silver Spring Elementary School to Grades Pre-K–5 (from the current Pre-K–2) and to construct an eight room addition to accommodate the additional students. The Board of Education also acted to address overutilization at Sligo Creek Elementary School and Takoma Park Elementary School through construction of a sixteen room addition at Takoma Park Elementary School. This addition was designed to be large enough to address overutilization at Sligo Creek Elementary School through a future boundary study.
Boundary Study
On November 20, 2008, the Board of Education authorized a boundary study to review the boundaries for East Silver Spring, Piney Branch, Sligo Creek, and Takoma Park elementary schools, and their attendant middle schools—Silver Spring International and Takoma Park middle schools. The two middle schools are included in the review since Sligo Creek Elementary School articulates to Silver Spring International Middle School, while the other elementary schools articulate to Takoma Park Middle School.
The boundary review process begins with a community advisory committee—that will meet from March 2009 through June 2009—followed by a superintendent recommendation in mid-October 2009, followed by Board of Education review and action in November, 2009. Any boundary changes would be implemented in August 2010, when the additions at East Silver Spring and Takoma Park elementary schools are completed. MCPS staff from
the Division of Long-range Planning will facilitate the community advisory committee process. The public information meetings advertised with this flier are an opportunity to learn more about this process.
Interpreter services will be available at these two meetings for Spanish and Amharic speakers.
Individuals who need accommodations, including sign language interpretation or other special assistance, may contact the Family and Community Partnerships Unit at (301) 279-3100 and TDD (301) 279-3323.
During the boundary review, and up through Board of Education action, materials will be posted at the following web site:
www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/planning/CommunityInfo_Boundary.htm
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Welcome to the conversation!
Montgomery County Public Schools is proposing changes in our school boundaries. If these changes are implemented, current school assignments for our children could change, affecting East Silver Spring ES (ESS), Takoma Park ES (TPES), Piney Branch ES (PBES), Sligo Creek ES (SCES), Takoma Park Middle School (TPMS) and Silver Spring International MS (SSIMS).
We are asking for the support of the Takoma Park City Council and the mayor to support our rejection of Options 4 and 5 proposed by the MCPS boundary study committee.
Questions? email tpkboundaries@gmail.com
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