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Council hears concerns about school choice and superintendent search; mayor proposes coordinated discussion
Summary
Council members raised concerns that student migration to nonpublic schools and school choice could harm Montgomery Public Schools; the mayor said he will pursue discussions with community leaders and participate in national meetings to explore partnerships and solutions.
Council members used a segment of public communication on Feb. 4 to raise concerns about Montgomery Public Schools losing students under school choice programs and the effect on district funding and services.
Councilwoman Mitchell (name as spoken) said the district is losing roughly a thousand students a year and asked what the city can do as the school system conducts a superintendent search. She expressed concern for students who may not be accepted by private or church-run schools and asked how the council and mayor could help retain students and resources for the public system.
The mayor said he will participate in a delegation that will visit the Harlem Children’s Zone to learn about models for community-school partnerships and proposed that city leadership, school board members and the council convene a conversation as the superintendent search progresses. He also said the city is talking with Montgomery Public Schools about memoranda of understanding for shared facilities and workforce-development links, and that the conversation should include state legislative leaders given recent statewide policy changes on school choice.
The mayor framed the discussions as an opportunity to review what the school system is seeking in a superintendent, what the community expects, and how local leaders can collaborate to reduce attrition and strengthen trade and career pathways in schools.
