Embedded Files
Good afternoon, Mrs. Yang, Members of the Board, and Dr. Taylor,
My name is Lin Li, father of two MCPS students. I’m here today to urge you to reconsider the proposed regional model. We should learn lessons from failure in a similar model applied to another district, and recognize the risk that this model could worsen segregation and inequity.
First of all, a similar model was initiated just one year ago in StaIord County, Dr. Taylor’s previous district. With a size of 1/5th of MCPS, StaIord County had much smaller implementation scale, with 4 programs at 4 high schools in the 1st year. By contrast, MCPS would have 27 brand new programs at 27 high schools.
Despite this smaller scale, StaIord County experienced a school bus “melt-down”. The first year saw thousands of students without a bus route. The crisis was so severe that they had to mandate opt-in for bus transportation this year. We must recognize the similar risk to transportation in MCPS.
Secondly, the county-wide and magnet programs currently offer direct bus routes to every elementary, middle, high school, public library, and community center. With the new regional model, students would have to transfer first at their local high school. They would either wake up even earlier and spend a long time transferring, or find alternative means of transportation. How much earlier can our kids wake up? And would it be fair for students with financial constraints?
Finally, the regional model undermines decades of progress toward equity. The Blair magnet program was successfully introduced for breaking the segregation, but this new model threatens to reverse that progress. Look at this map on the right: The regions in the north and east can now access the Poolsville and Blaire Magnet programs; in the new model, they would be on their own.
In summary, I urge MCPS to stop the planned regional model implementation or to significantly revise the current plan.
Thank you for your time.
Page updated
Report abuse