At a public hearing to help shape a framework for a countywide study of school boundaries, students advocated for more diversity in their classrooms while some parents argued there’s no proof more diverse schools bring about better academic performance.
The school board hopes to hire an independent consultant to review its school boundaries, the lines that determine which schools students attend, and changes are frequently contentious.
Some community members have argued existing boundaries have contributed to crowded schools lacking diversity, and in comments at a Thursday night public meeting, some parents worried changes could hurt their property values.
Among students who testified, the consensus was clear: the boundary study should focus on diversifying schools to reduce the instances of schools with high percentages of minority or white students.
Arvin Kim, an Asian eighth-grade student at Bethesda’s Thomas W. Pyle Middle School with a student population that is 70 percent white, said he’s felt the effects of a lack of diversity.
He said he’s been asked questions such as, “If I ate dog,” not because his peers were being cruel, but because they didn’t understand the implication of their behavior.
“If we allow students of all ethnicities and cultures to coexist and attend school together, these issues can be prevented as students will gain competency, through interacting with others different to themselves, benefiting everyone, making it critical to factor diversity into school boundaries,” Kim said.
Among the Northwood High School students testifying, Brian Kramer said students “constantly feel isolated and under-represented” in their schools and implored the school board to remember “separate is not equal,” in education.
“This analysis must … throw out the old and bring in new boundaries that eliminate socioeconomic and racial isolation in our school system,” Kramer said.
While some parents and community members agreed, many had more concerns, ranging from increased bus times to negative impacts changing schools could have on students’ mental health.
Shabina Ahmed, whose children attend Wayside Elementary School in Potomac, said schools act as the focal point of communities and redefining boundaries based on demographics will “tear our current school communities apart.”
She urged the board to ensure a consultant focus on creating opportunities to increase parental involvement and re-zone schools based on enrollment.
Another Wayside parent, Eli Rothstein, said evidence is lacking that confirms diversifying schools benefits underperforming schools.
“School boundary changes will not only reduce parental involvement, but
will have a direct negative impact on student and school performance, resulting in a further decline of the net (school system) performance,” Rothstein said.
Ben Dai said he worries a boundary change will affect the value of his home and cause excessive stress and anxiety for children required to change schools.
Lynn Amano, a candidate in last year’s school board election, argued diverse schools has helped her children relate to people in society and suggested periodic, routine boundary reviews to ensure schools were being utilized efficiently.
“I do understand that these are tough choices … however, the current overcrowding and socio-economic isolation is not healthy for any of our students,” Amano said.
Caitlynn Peetz can be reached at caitlynn.peetz@moco360.media
