Schools are an essential community need, but Mount Airy lags behind other areas of both Frederick and Carroll counties. In Carroll, Mt. Airy Middle is an older facility that is very overcrowded. While a new South Carroll middle school is planned for the future, the project has been postponed from time to time and is still several years away. South Carroll High School is comprised largely of Mt. Airy students yet is over 11 miles away. It needs major renovations – being the only high school in the county out of seven not new or renovated in recent years. Yet there is nothing in the county’s capital improvement plan to address this. In Frederick County, New Market Middle and Linganore High School suffer overcrowding, and Linganore is essentially a failing facility. Yet LHS is only tentatively scheduled for renovation in 2010.
Two-County Realities:
Split between two counties, Mt. Airy must take steps to highlight needs of both. We must work with two county governments and Boards of Education. Two citizen task forces will be needed to focus on their respective counties. The task forces may form into larger groups that include other partners, such as in Carroll County regarding South Carroll High School (and Middle School concerns). The Carroll task force will therefore take part in a broader-based group involving county, regional and Board of Education representatives. We will seek the same cooperation in Frederick County.
Purpose:
Given the interplay between the State, the Boards of Education and the County Commissioners, the citizens of the Mount Airy region need to take steps to highlight the needs, advocate for improving the school situation, and bringing the key players together to begin to find solutions.
Specifically, the citizen task force is asked to focus on the following areas:
Gathering facts, including past studies, reports, and committee recommendations.
Considering the equity of facilities of schools in other parts of both Frederick and Carroll County, including organizing tours and comparing other facilities;
Developing working relationships with members of the Boards of Education and County staff by advocating for improvements to schools attended by our children. Attendance at BOE meetings by committee members should be regular.
Informing other residents of the school situation, inviting broad community participation, and providing regular feedback to the Town Council, and where relevant the County and Board of Education on progress. Meetings should be at least monthly and open to the public for maximum input.
Identifying potential school sites for consideration by the Town and the BOE(s).
Investigating alternatives to bring schools closer to the community or if feasible within town limits, and making recommendations to the Town Council as appropriate. Alternatives may include practical site considerations, or more creative solutions such as regional schools.
Other areas of concern as requested by the Mayor or Town Council, or identified by the task force The Task Force may also address specific concerns as the opportunity arises, and may for such purposes include members of county government, Board of Education staff, the school principle, and citizens from other affected communities, among others.
Composition:
A separate task force with at least 8 or more citizen members is needed for both counties. Citizens must share the town’s feeder area but need not live within town limits. Both the Frederick and Carroll County Task Force will have a chair and a vice-chair (or co-chair) as well as a town council liaison. The chair and vice-chair (or co-chair) of each County group will serve with the Mayor and up two council members as a coordinating team. Members of county government, the Board of Education, respective school principles and other affected citizens are invited to participate and may serve on the task force as ex-officio members for specific purposes.
South Carroll Schools Task Force Membership
Citizen’s Task Force -- At least 8 citizens from the Mt. Airy region (not limited to town residents)
and one or two Town Council liaisons (member and alternate)
Mayor is also a member automatically
Up to 2 citizens from the Sykesville/Eldersburg area
Board of Education (ex officio): 2 persons - Facilities staff, Principal of SCHS, others as needed
Carroll County (ex officio): 2 persons - Budget office, facilities, others as needed
Support from the Board of Education and Carroll County government has been pledged to provide facts, data, and assistance as needed.
Plan for Action
Chair/Vice-Chair selected; followed by selection of membership
Review charge and consider action steps, which should include
Fact gathering
Review of all past reports
School tours
Review of enrollment figures
Consideration of options and short and long term plans
Provide information to the public
Recommendations to County and Board of Education
Present plan of action to town council, Board of Education, County Commissioners
Ensure open meetings and invite citizen participation (scheduling meetings in evenings to ensure participation, for example)
Report regularly to the town council and others – County, Board of Education – as needed.
Recommendations
Should be finalized in Fall of 2006
Will be considered by the Board of Education and County Commissioners
