Broadneck Cluster Redistricting Proposal To Be Discussed Jan. 22

ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY, MD — Families in the Broadneck area can speak out about the redistricting proposal that could impact their students at the Anne Arundel County board of education's Jan. 22 meeting.

Anne Arundel County Superintendent George Arlotto presented the proposal to the board at its Dec. 4 meeting. The plan calls for shifting four neighborhoods north of College Parkway on the eastern edge of the current Broadneck Elementary School attendance area from that school to Cape St. Claire Elementary School. The shift of the neighborhoods, identified as 603, 604, 605 and 606 in redistricting documents that can be found online here, is projected to move 108 students from Broadneck Elementary to Cape St. Claire Elementary. It would move Broadneck Elementary from 109.6 percent of capacity to 93.4 percent, and Cape St. Claire from 76.6 percent of capacity to 92.4.

Arlotto’s recommendation, which shifts fewer students than the one proposed by a redistricting committee made up of parents from potentially impacted schools in the Broadneck cluster, also includes a grandfathering clause for students who would be entering fifth grade in the 2020-2021 school year. No middle or high school boundaries would be changed under Arlotto’s Recommendation.

The meeting will be held in the board room at the Parham Building, 2644 Riva Road, Annapolis. The board will meet in a public session at 5:30 p.m. for the sole purpose of voting to immediately go into closed session, during which time it will discuss confidential matters as permitted by the Maryland Open Meetings Act including, but not limited to, legal advice, personnel and negotiations. The closed session is not open to the public. The public session of the meeting will resume at 7 p.m.

Members of the public wanting to testify before the board can sign up in advance online or by phone. Signups now will open on the Friday before a board meeting when the agenda for that meeting is published and will close at 4 p.m. on the day before the meeting. Members of the public can sign up here or by calling 410-222-5311.