BOE Nixes Vote On Grade Level Change; Looking At Alternatives

Jan. 19, 2012

Upon leaving the executive session of a specially called meeting on Tuesday, the Garrett County Board of Education informed those in attendance that it would remove the vote on grade level reconfiguration from its current agenda.

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The decision came as a relief to many of the parents and concerned citizens who turned up to voice their opinions on the proposal. Many used the public comment portion of the meeting to express their thanks to the board for postponing a decision on reconfiguration and also to request more time to come up with solutions on solving Garrett County's school budget losses. Solutions, they hoped, would not involve reconfiguration, school closings, and long bus rides for young children.

The event was held in the cafetorium of Southern Middle School and was called for after the BOE decided against a vote on the reconfiguration proposal at its previous meeting the week before (Jan. 10).

Having twice removed the vote on the proposal to move fifth graders from elementary to middle schools, the board will now look into the viability of leaving the grade levels as they are, or perhaps adopting alternative solutions.

In a presentation before the public comment portion of the meeting, Sue Waggoner, interim superintendent of schools, stated that the board plans to use the coming months to look into kindergarten enrollment rates, as well as staffing needs "at all levels."

She has expressed the importance of parents taking advantage of kindergarten enrollment, as the board is currently working with birth rate statistics. "We need to know where these children are going to attend elementary school," she said. Though effectively halted, the possibility of grade reconfiguration remains on the table.

Waggoner's presentation also contained information on the school system's efforts to reduce bullying in schools, topic brought up in public comment at the previous meeting. Parents who wish to access the form on bullying, harassment, or intimidation may do so by visiting the BOE web site: www.ga.k12.md.us.

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Staying put

Garrett’s fifth-graders won’t to go middle school

Cumberland Times-News

Wisdom and some common sense must have contributed to the Garrett County Board of Education’s decision not to place fifth-grade students in middle schools.

A proposed move to do so was part of a five-year reconfiguration plan designed to address staff and space problems and offer fifth-graders a chance to take foreign language and technical education classes.

Parents were concerned about the consequences of fifth-graders associating with other students who were older, chiefly the potential for bullying of the younger students. Fifth-graders have SpongeBob lunch boxes and could be “made fun of” by eighth-graders who do not, said one parent.

The fifth graders also would have had to do without recess and the opportunity for exercise it provides.

Those who are familiar with grade schools know there is a marked difference in the maturity level of students from year to year, and the younger the student, the greater the difference — and the difference can be traumatic.

We commend the Garrett County school board for listening to parents and recognizing this fact. Parents seemed to be relieved by the decision.

Another plan is now being considered that may act to both solve the logistical problems and address parents’ legitimate concerns, but the details won’t be known until later this year.

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Garrett’s fifth-graders are staying in elementary schools

Elaine Blaisdell Cumberland Times-News


OAKLAND — The Garrett County Board of Education Tuesday night decided against a proposed plan to move fifth-grade students into middle schools during a special meeting at Southern Middle School.
School officials are now considering an elementary alternative that will be based on next school year’s kindergarten enrollment. That plan won’t be finalized until enrollment figures become available later in the spring.
“I’m relieved to see another plan on the table. It gives me the confidence on what you, the school board, is doing for our school,” said resident Melissa Long, one of nearly 200 people in attendance.
“I’m against fifth-graders going to middle school. I counsel youth and the number one issue I see is insecurity. Sending them to middle school will only amplify this,” said Mike Robinson, pastor and member of Friendsville Advisory Committee.
The reconfiguration would have provided the maximum effective use of staff and space while providing students optimum educational programing, said Sue Waggoner, interim superintendent of schools. As part of the plan, fifth-graders would have been able to participate in foreign language and tech education classes.
The reconfiguration was part of a five-year plan developed by Waggoner. That plan also calls for the closing of Dennett Road, Kitzmiller and Friendsville elementary schools.
Hearings for those school closures begin today at 7 p.m. in the Friendsville school gymnasium.
Should Friendsville close, the 103 students who attend the school will be sent to Accident and Grantsville elementary schools, according to Waggoner. In addition, school position reductions are proposed as part of the plan.
Kitzmiller Elementary’s 50 students would be redistricted to Yough Glades and possibly Broadford elementary schools as part of the plan.
“We are $3 million short. There is no way around the closings,” said Waggoner.
Hearings are also set for Kitzmiller on Thursday at 7 p.m. in the school multipurpose room and for Dennett Road Tuesday at 7 p.m. in the Southern High School gym.

Contact Elaine Blaisdell at eblaisdell@times-news.com

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Fifth-graders move up a year early under proposal

Elaine Blaisdell Cumberland Times-News


OAKLAND — In addition to calling for the closing of several elementary schools, the Garrett County Board of Education’s five-year plan outlines the reconfiguration of fifth-grade students into middle schools. The reconfiguration is being considered because of reduced space, staff and “related arts,” according to Sue Waggoner, interim superintendent of schools.
“The reconfiguration will provide the maximum effective use of staff and space while providing students optimum educational programing,” said Waggoner. “The reconfiguration will afford fifth-graders the opportunity to participate in foreign language, tech education classes and allow them to experience more than they have at the elementary school.”
A presentation on the reconfiguration will be held Tuesday at 8 p.m. at Southern Middle School. After the presentation, the board will take public comment followed by possible action on the recommendation.
Rebecca Gordon, a Finzel resident whose child is a fourth-grader at Route 40 Elementary, attended the Jan. 10 board meeting and questioned if the board had done any research on how the reconfiguration would impact the fifth graders academically and behaviorally. Gordon said that she wasn’t provided with an answer.
Fifth- and sixth-graders would be on a separate lunch schedule from the other grade levels, so there would be no interaction with the older students, explained Waggoner. They would also have pods to separate them from the rest of the grade levels.
Gordon noted that studies done by Harvard, Duke and Johns Hopkins universities indicate that students fare better if they are left in a kindergarten-through-eighth-grade setting.
In her research, Gordon did come across a study where the reconfiguration was completely successful, but she noted that at this school the fifth-graders were in a different building than the rest of the middle-schoolers.
“We just don’t have the resources to do that,” said Gordon, noting that it would be impossible to separate the students completely while they are in the same building.
Gordon suggests that elementary schools remain open as kindergarten through eighth grade.
Many parents who attended the January board meeting were concerned about bullying, according to Gordon.
“There is bullying going on now in the middle school. In fifth grade, kids still have SpongeBob lunch boxes and they are going to go to the middle school and get made fun of,” said Gordon.
Other concerns of Gordon’s include the lunch schedule and the fact that fifth-graders are going to be riding the bus with eighth-graders.
“I’m also concerned with the fact that there is no recess, especially with obesity rates climbing,” said Gordon.
The fifth-graders will be eating lunch at 10:50 a.m. with no snack, according to Gordon. In her child’s case, that means an extra hour wait to eat because of the hour-long bus ride from school to home.
“This will mean bigger class sizes, loss of jobs and a lot of disruption to our kids,” states a petition started by Elizabeth Hebden to stop the closing of Dennett Road Elementary.
“I feel it is unreasonable to send fifth-graders to the middle school, they will miss out on experiences of being the fifth-graders,” wrote Michelle Riggleman on the online petition.
Gordon also opposes the Dennett Road Elementary closing.
“I understand that Kitzmiller and Friendsville schools need to close because the numbers are just not there. But the numbers for the Dennett school are there,” said Gordon.
Hebden, an Oakland resident, started a petition on Change.Org to keep the school open and she opposes the reconfiguration. With 511 signatures so far, the petition appeals to the board, county commissioners, Gov. Martin O’Malley, the state Senate and House of Delegates, Delegate Wendell Beitzel and Sen. George Edwards to keep the school from closing.
Gordon is encouraging everyone to attend Tuesday’s meeting.
“I’m asking that every parent, grandparent, aunt and uncle please attend this meeting. It’s affecting our children’s future,” said Gordon, who plans on speaking at the meeting. “I want my children to have a voice.” 
For more information on the petition, visit the website http://www.change.org/petitions/the-governor-of-md-keep-dennett-road-elementary-school-open-and-pk-5.

Contact Elaine Blaisdell at eblaisdell@times-news.com.

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Closing school would be ‘devastating’

Public meetings scheduled this month in regard to Garrett County’s five-year plan

Elaine Blaisdell Cumberland Times-News


FRIENDSVILLE — Friendsville and Kitzmiller elementary schools are proposed to close, in addition to the Dennett Road Elementary School, as part of a five-year plan for Garrett County schools. Faculty members were notified Dec. 13 of the proposed closing at the end of the school year, according to Jamie Fike, a member of the Friendsville Advisory Committee.
The nine-member committee, which was formed by Friendsville Principal Tracie Miller, was created recently to research the feasibility of the five-year plan and the impact on the students and the community as a whole, according to Fike.
Prior to the Christmas break, Friendsville Mayor Spencer Schlosnagle and council held an emergency meeting on the proposed school closings. Fike told the Times-News that Schlosnagle, who is a member of the Advisory Committee, stated at the meeting that the closing would have a negative impact on Friendsville as a whole.
Fike echoed the mayor’s sentiments, stating, “The closing of Friendsville Elementary School will definitely have a devastating effect on our little town ... going far beyond the town limits. It could become a whole county issue.”
Public meetings on all three proposed school closings will be held this month. Should Friendsville close, the 103 students who attend the school will be sent to Accident and Grantsville elementary schools, according to Sue Waggoner, interim superintendent of schools. In addition, school position reductions are proposed as part of the five-year plan developed by Waggoner.
The plan proposes the reduction of eight teaching/principal positions, one custodian position and one secretary/assistant position at Friendsville Elementary. The overall anticipated savings is $674,522.
Should Kitzmiller Elementary close, the 50 students will be redistricted to Yough Glades and possibly Broadford. The plan also calls for the proposed reduction of approximately 3.5 teaching/principal positions, one custodian and one secretary/assistant. The overall anticipated savings is $279,077.
The potential school closings and reductions were apparently brought on by an anticipated state funding shortfall of about $3 million and a loss of student population, according to a previous Times-News article. Waggoner anticipates an 11 percent decrease in funding from the state this year.
During a recent meeting of The Greater Cumberland Committee, Garrett County Commission Chairman Jim Raley said that according to the 2010 census, 20 percent of student population in Garrett County was lost. The county has lost approximately 800 students since 2000 and there is an expected 3.6 percent decrease in enrollment, which is the largest in the state, explained Waggoner. In 2019, the state estimates enrollment will be down by 9.3 percent. The declining student population is caused by a decrease in birth rates, according to Waggoner.
“Education is always an issue. Last year, Allegany lost about $6 million and Garrett County lost about $2 million. We are going to try to do our best to hold that cut down and introduce a piece of legislation to do something there,” said Sen. George Edwards during the TGCC meeting.
Edwards is working on a bill that would cap the funding losses, according to Waggoner. Last year, Edwards was able to help pass the Budget Reconciliation and Finance Act of 2011 to cap losses at 6.5 percent for both Allegany and Garrett counties.
“I’m glad that Edwards is pushing this legislation but I’m unsure of how will it will do because of how the state is doing at this time,” said Waggoner.
Dennett Road area residents have signed a petition in hopes of stopping the school from closing.
Last year, the board of education voted to close Bloomington Elementary School.
Public hearings on the proposed closings will be held separately for each school:
• Friendsville, Wednesday at 7 p.m. in the gym with a make-up date of Jan. 25.
• Kitzmiller, Thursday at 7 p.m. in the multipurpose room with a make-up date of Jan 23.
• Dennett Road, Jan. 24 at 7 p.m. in the Southern High School gym with make-up date of Feb. 1.
Those interested in speaking at the Friendsville meeting must sign up by 6 p.m., according to Fike. Members of the Advisory Committee plan to speak at the Wednesday meeting.
Testimony at the hearing will be limited to three minutes per person but written testimony or data may be submitted to the board of education in conjunction with the testimony or in lieu of an oral presentation and must be postmarked by Feb. 29. Comments can also be at www.ga.k12.md.us.
Waggoner will make a final recommendations on the proposed school closings at the regular school board meeting Feb. 14 at 5:30 p.m. at Southern Middle School.
The final decision on all three school closings will be made at the March 13 board meeting.
Contact Elaine Blaisdell at eblaisdell@times-news.com.

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Proposed School System Changes Draw Large Crowd To BOE Meeting

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Jan. 12, 2012

Emotions ran high at Tuesday's meeting of the Garrett County Board of Education, as concerned citizens, many of whom hail from the Friendsville area, filled the board room to express their opinions and grievances with the recent five-year plan set forth by the board to right the school system's budget woes.

The board was scheduled to take action on a proposal to reconfigure the grade structure of the school system – a move that would place fifth grade students in middle schools – but that action was postponed until Tuesday, Jan. 17, in light of some of the issues addressed in the public comments portion of the meeting.

BOE members heard and took note of the information put forward in that public forum, which was schedule for 4 to 4:30 p.m., but ran well over 2½ hours. A video feed of the meeting was set up in the main lobby area of the Garrett County Board of Education building to accommodate the overflow of participants and onlookers.

Many of the concerns voiced dealt with the issue of young students being emotionally and developmentally unready for the change of venue, the unintended consequences of housing fifth and eighth graders in the same building, the strain placed on elementary students by the extended commute times, and the loss of the more "nurturing and intimate" setting provided by smaller class sizes.

Some of these concerns were addressed by Sue Waggoner, interim superintendent of schools, in a presentation earlier in the meeting. Waggoner expressed that the board had considered and shared the majority of these concerns, laying out a tentative but detailed schedule for students in the event the reconfiguration took place.

According to the presentation, in the larger middle school each grade would have its own "pod" within the school and be kept separate from the other grades. Each grade would have its own lunch shift and every student would also be assigned his/her own home room. Enrichment/remediation periods would also be built into each schedule.

Furthermore, fifth and sixth graders would be heterogeneously grouped and on a different bell schedule than students in the seventh and eighth grades. Classes would last 35 minutes and have four minutes between them.

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