Superintendent's Woodward Boundary Recommendations and Other Key BOE Updates

[Elaine Liao Avin]

KP Community -

As you may have already heard, the Superintendent and MCPS made their boundary study recommendations in yesterday's BOE meeting. The press release on the recommendations can be found on the MCPS website as is the presentation.

For our area, the recommendation for the Woodward (and Northwood expansion) boundary study was a modified Option B. KP (and GP) articulation in Option B remained unchanged in modified Option B.  This means KP Tuckerman still shows a split from KP to Tilden - Woodward and a portion of GP (not sure if this is all of Town of GP - so don't quote me!) splits at high school to WJ while the rest of GP goes to Woodward.  Modified Option B also moved a portion of Wheaton Woods elementary to Woodward via Parkland MS, a portion of Woodlin ES to Silver Creek - BCC, among other changes.  Many split articulations outside of KP and GP still exist in his recommendation. I put a map below to show the differences between Original B and Modified B and created a summary that reviews all clusters. I watched the meeting live and here are some other key points:

• MCPS seems very focused on eliminating "islands" and called out KP and GP specifically as examples (probably because we were the most vocal about it).
• MCPS also introduced/proposed an elementary school boundary study to come right after this where it will address these "islands" AND proposed adding elementary school and middle school consolidation/closing some schools as part of the elementary (and to some extent middle school again) boundary study.  BOE still has to review and approve the scope but this will be of particular interest to K parents and incoming K parents as they are looking at conducting the study and implementation could be as soon as 2029-2030 school year.

Other notable updates from the meeting:

• The Superintendent and MCPS also recommended Option H for the Crown Boundary study.  This is probably getting the biggest highlight in the news because this option moves Wootton to the new Crown High School where there was heavy advocating against Option H (even in the individual testimony right before they presented the boundary recommendations).  There was also a less recommended alternate Option H where Wootton stayed in this current place but they highlighted wider spread under-capacity across the high schools as a downside.  Due to the snow, Taylor had to reschedule is in person meeting with Wootton which is still happening soon.

• Regional Academic programming is still happening at the same time and they shared some information in the same boundary presentation deck around what programming is offered in which high schools.  Middle school programming is still in progress.  They didn't spend a lot of time on this.

• After Boundary presentation, the BOE asked questions around the math standards policy changes. I wasn't able to stay on for the rest of that but they all had similar questions that we all do. I think there is a heavy emphasis and concern around these standards changing and curriculum is changing and the support needed for our teachers to be able to learn new curriculum and teach to the new standards all at the same time.

I'll be giving an update and fielding questions and sentiment at the PTA meeting next Monday.  Thank you for keeping up with all these updates. ALOT is happening right now

Thanks

Elaine

KP Cluster Rep

[Elaine Liao Avin]

Sorry for the additional email but two more important things:

1. BOE will review and vote on boundary recommendations on March 26, 2026
2. There are a series of work sessions leading up to March 26th that individuals can register to testify or attend. Aside from Public Hearing #2 which is designated for Woodward/Northwood, you can also sign up for the CIP ones (I have seen people talk about whatever they want in these hearings as long as you register).

Here is the link to Feb 24 Public Hearing and link to the list of meetings and where to sign up for public comments in general.  I will reshare on Monday but this got released today and these things can go fast so sharing now.  Thanks!