AACPS outlines Phase 2 redistricting plan, releases interactive mapping tool Feb. 1

Anne Arundel County Public Schools staff on a workshop presentation described Phase 2 of a districtwide comprehensive redistricting effort that would redraw attendance boundaries in the Annapolis, Arundel, Broadneck, Crofton, Severna Park, South River and Southern clusters and set a public-comment timeline beginning Feb. 1, 2025.

The superintendent said the work is difficult but necessary. "This is probably the 1 of the top 2 least enjoyable parts of my job," Dr. Christina Bedell said, adding the district must redistrict because of sustained growth and new schools. Chief Operating Officer Bill Heizer and Director of Facilities Kyle Roof gave the board an overview of the planning documents, enrollment projections and the schedule for public engagement.

The nut of the proposal is to balance seats, make more efficient use of existing buildings and strengthen the district's case for capital funding. Heizer and Roof said their recommendations are guided by three planning documents — the long-range study, the Educational Facilities Master Plan (EFMP) and the Comprehensive Maintenance Plan (CMP) — and by state and local policy requirements. Roof cited the Education Article (Section 4-109) as authorizing local school systems to set geographic school boundaries and noted that AACPS policy JAA and its regulation guide the redistricting process.

Staff presented enrollment and capacity data the district will use to evaluate scenarios. Highlights presented: the district expects to add about 5,000 students over the next decade; enrollment was reported as about 79,000 in 2014 and is projected to reach about 91,000 by 2033 (a roughly 12,000 increase over 20 years). Districtwide available seats were shown as roughly 14,581 in 2024 with a projected available total near 9,201 by 2033. The presentation distinguished utilization bands (schools above 110% state-rated capacity considered inadequate; below 75% considered inefficient) and noted that portable classrooms provide additional capacity: staff reported 160 portables countywide with 92 at elementary schools. Using the presentation's state-rated elementary classroom capacity of 23 seats, 160 portables would represent roughly 3,680 additional seats (160 × 23), a figure staff provided as an approximate capacity supplement.

Roof and Heizer said the district used consistent variables from Phase 1 for Phase 2 planning and that scenarios were developed and evaluated using metrics such as utilization, distance to school and assignment stability. Staff said three draft scenarios and an interactive mapping tool will go live Feb. 1; the comment section will be open Feb. 1–May 1. Staff will consider public feedback and make recommendations to the superintendent in June, publish updated enrollment information in July, initiate the JAA public-process steps in July, the board will select options for public hearings in August and vote on final boundaries in November 2025. The recommended implementation year is the 2026–27 school year.

Phase 1 engagement metrics were cited as a benchmark: staff reported about 33,000 unique website users, 86,000 page views, roughly 15,000 unique address searches, about 22,100 survey responses and 461 map comments during Phase 1. "We feel confident that we'll be able to showcase that website very well," Heizer said when asked about technical capacity and potential bandwidth or outage concerns.

Board members asked questions on several topics staff said they will address during the process: how demographic factors are considered, whether socioeconomic data such as free and reduced-price meal (FRPM) rates will be included (staff said FRPM was not included to remain consistent with Phase 1 variables and to follow the factors listed in policy JAA); how portables are counted in utilization; how the district accounts for recent programmatic or curricular changes that could affect enrollment; and how the district coordinates with county and city planning to capture future residential development. Several board members emphasized transparency and broad public participation. Vice President Dent said, "this has to happen in order for us to create better facilities for our students, but also better working conditions for everyone."

Staff cautioned that lines drawn in Phase 2 could affect some families who were moved in Phase 1, and that some students could be impacted twice because the redistricting work is being done in phases rather than all at once. President Silkworth closed by stressing the need for broad participation: "We need involvement and input from all of our stakeholders."

The board did not take any votes during the workshop. No formal motions or final boundary decisions were made; the session was informational and focused on presenting data, process and a public timeline. Staff committed to post audio and video of the workshop and to publish the interactive tool and supporting materials on the AACPS redistricting web pages.

The board's next meeting was announced for Feb. 5, 2025 (closed session 10 a.m.; open session noon).