LA PLATA, Md.—Members of the Charles County Public Schools high school redistricting committee were selected Oct. 9 by the Charles County Board of Education. Seven committee members were chosen in a random drawing that included names from each middle and elementary school, as well as community members who applied to serve. The drawing selected two representatives at the elementary school level, two representatives at the middle school level and three representatives from the Charles County community. The following members were selected:
-- Betty Tayman, Dr. Gustavus Brown Elementary School;
-- LaCharles Earle, Eva Turner Elementary School;
-- Karen Haskins, Mattawoman Middle School;
-- Kristopher Foote, Milton M. Somers Middle School;
-- Joanna Wilson, community member;
-- David Cooksey, community member; and
-- James Hooper, community member.
These committee members will work with a representative from each of the county’s six high schools, as well as school system and county staff, on the high school redistricting committee. Each high school advertised the opportunity to represent the school as part of the redistricting committee, and each high school principal held a public drawing to randomly select their representative. The following members were selected at the high school level:
-- Tawanda Rooney, Henry E. Lackey High School;
-- Cindy Arnone, La Plata High School;
-- Charlotte Shirriel, Maurice J. McDonough High School;
-- Suzanne McCarthy, North Point High School;
-- Suzann Martin, Thomas Stone High School; and
-- Christina Adeboyejo, Westlake High School.
Three principals will also serve on the committee. They are Sandra Taylor of William A. Diggs Elementary School; Virginia McGraw, William B. Wade Elementary School; and Kenneth Schroeck, Piccowaxen Middle School.
The redistricting committee, composed of 10 parent representatives, three community members and three Charles County Public Schools principals, will work together on the high school redistricting. The redistricting will be comprehensive, establish alternatives for an attendance zone for St. Charles High School, as well as review and change attendance zones for all high schools. The Board of Education last month approved opening St. Charles High School as a partial high school with grades 9, 10 and 11 when it opens in August 2014. Seniors in the class of 2015 would finish and graduate from their current high school. The Board hopes to approve a final redistricting plan by June 2013, but the plan will not be implemented until August 2014 when the new high school opens.
The following is a timeline of the redistricting process. For more information, visit the school system website at http://www2.ccboe.com/parentscomm/transportation/hsredistricting.cfm.
November 2012: Redistricting committee meeting to develop two alternatives.
December 2012: Redistricting committee meeting to develop two alternatives.
January 2013: Redistricting committee meeting to develop two alternatives.
February 2013: Redistricting committee finalizes two alternatives.
March 2013: Redistricting committee's report presented to the Superintendent's operations group. Redistricting committee's report publicized and available to the public.
April 8, 2013: Redistricting committee's report presented to the elected Board at the board meeting.
April 2013: Public hearing on committee's alternatives.
May 2013: Superintendent presents his recommendation to elected board; public hearing to be held on Superintendent's recommendation.
June 2013: Elected Board takes action on Superintendent's recommendation. Redistricting decision occurs one year prior to the opening of St. Charles High School in August 2014. Students affected by the redistricting will change schools in August 2014.
Source: Charles County Public Schools