Calvert County school officials’ effort to ease overcrowding at Beach Elementary School (BES) in time for the start of the next school year is proceeding. During a Thursday, May 23 work session the Calvert County Board of Education (BOE) voted unanimously to take two of the three elementary school redistricting plans presented by a committee to public hearings in early June. The BOE would likely make a final decision in early July.

The third proposal was discarded primarily because it factored in an elementary school—Huntingtown—which had no representation on the committee.

In addition to setting the hearing dates for June 3 and 4 at the Mary Harrison Center in Owings starting at 7 p.m. both evenings, the BOE agreed to direct Superintendent of Schools Dr. Jack Smith to draft a resolution based on a statement the committee included at the end of its report. That resolution will then be forwarded to the mayor and town council of Chesapeake Beach. The committee’s statement is basically an admonishment of the town’s handling of residential growth and the severe impact it has had on the student population at BES.

The redistricting committee members stated, “Calvert as a county is losing overall student population, while the incorporated town of Chesapeake Beach is gaining enrollment and is increasingly burdening the local infrastructure. In further examining the trend, it is apparent a disparity exists between the county’s growth policies and those of the incorporated area of Chesapeake Beach and this disparity has the potential to create an even greater future claim on the very limited assets and infrastructure in the affected county areas near the town.”

The committee suggested town officials either work to coordinate development policies with the county or consider adopting and implementing an Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance (APFO). Neither Chesapeake Beach nor North Beach have APFOs and are exempt from the county’s ordinance.

School officials presenting the proposals to the BOE conceded the issue of elementary redistricting is likely to recur in two to five years.

“This isn’t a long-term fix, this is something temporary,” said Calvert County Public Schools Executive Director of Administration Kimberly H. Roof.

The student populations at Plum Point and Windy Hill elementary schools will be impacted by the redistricting process.

To view the committee’s report visit CCPS’ web site www.calvertnet.k12.md.us