Conversion Plan Would Meet Demand for Specialty Schools

By Nelson Hernandez
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, July 3, 2008

The Prince George's County Board of Education endorsed a plan last week to convert five underenrolled schools into specialized academies to create more space for its popular language immersion and Montessori programs.

The move is an attempt to relieve pressure on the long waiting lists that have formed for admission to academically successful programs such as the Robert Goddard and John Hanson French immersion and Montessori programs. In a presentation Thursday night, Superintendent John E. Deasy said the school system was able to meet 25 percent of the demand for language immersion programs and 10 percent of the demand for studio, visual and performing arts programs.

In May, the specialty schools were the focus of a debate over the "tag along" policy, under which siblings are automatically admitted to a school once a family wins the admissions lottery. Proponents say the policy helps keep siblings together; opponents say it unfairly restricts admission to the programs to a few lucky families. The school board sidestepped a decision by asking Deasy to come back with options that would make more seats available for the programs.

Deasy's plan would turn Columbia Park and Fort Washington Forest elementary schools into Spanish immersion schools, Thomas Claggett Elementary into a French immersion program, Matthew Henson Elementary into a Chinese immersion program and Benjamin D. Foulois Elementary into a performing and creative arts school.

All of the schools would serve students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade.

The conversions would begin in the 2009-10 school year, and students at the schools who were not enrolled in the programs would be transferred to nearby elementary schools.

In addition to the five schools marked for the conversion, the Judith P. Hoyer Early Childhood Center in Cheverly is expanding its Montessori program through sixth grade over the next two years.

Deasy said the changes would nearly double the number of seats available in the school system's specialty programs. School board members and residents were broadly supportive but raised questions about the location of the sites, the difficulty in recruiting specialized teachers, and how studies in a language such as Chinese or in performing arts would be carried on to high school.

"The program is a start," Deasy said. "It's not possible to make it perfect."

School Plan Wins Approval

It looks as if Hyattsville residents are going to get a new elementary school regardless of whether they like it.

The Board of Education unanimously approved a plan last week to spend $3.2 million to buy four acres next to Nicholas Orem Middle School, ignoring a request by Mayor William F. Gardiner to defer the decision and consider other sites for the 800-student elementary school.

There is little doubt that the growing city needs a new school, but Gardiner, City Council President Krista Atteberry and resident Rachel Magnuson voiced concerns before the board Thursday night about the site and the process by which the school system made its decision.

The speakers questioned the proximity of young students to Nicholas Orem, a school with longstanding performance-related problems. Another concern was the site's proximity to East West Highway, which could make walking to school difficult for youngsters.

The speakers urged the board to allow more time to examine other sites and get more community input.

"Only one option is being presented," Atteberry said. "As much as I want a new school, I must respectfully ask that you table this."

"I'm concerned that a vote in favor may preclude some of the other options that have been discussed," Gardiner said. "I'm asking that whichever way this new school decision goes forward, please engage us."

Board members said that their hands were tied and that other plots of land considered hadn't been feasible, leaving the site near Nicholas Orem as the only choice. The board passed the plan after a short discussion.

"I want to acknowledge the problems we've had communicating with the community around this issue," said Heather Iliff (District 2), who represents the Hyattsville area. "We are in a very tight geographic location with very limited options."

Gardiner said he hoped the board would keep an open mind about other sites and work hard to improve Nicholas Orem's performance. The elementary school is projected to open in August 2011.

Fond Farewell to the Board

Haywood L. Perry III, the outgoing student member of the Board of Education, bid a happy farewell to his colleagues last week as he prepared to head off to the University of Pennsylvania to study philosophy, politics and economics.

Perry, known for his polished manners, was an active member of the board and wasn't afraid to tangle with his adult counterparts. When members moved to strip him of his right to vote in elections for the board's leadership, he parried the attempt. Last week, he cast two important votes in a closely contested debate over whether the school system should buy a new headquarters.

He got a standing ovation, a few gifts and kind words from the superintendent and board members at his final meeting.

"I've been extremely hard on you, Haywood, but I love you," said Pat Fletcher (District 3).

"It is going to hurt me to see you go out the door," said Linda Thornton Thomas (District 4). "You've laid the groundwork for every single person that's going to follow you."

Perry called his year with the board "phenomenal" and said, "Our community has a number of different challenges, but we can't afford to fail."

He will yield his seat to Edward Burroughs III, a rising junior at Crossland High School.