When Baltimore County Public Schools launches a series of eight forums on magnet schools this month, Laurie Trentler will be there. So will Jennifer Comotto, who is organizing a group to attend with her.
Last fall, Trentler, president of Cromwell Valley Elementary School's PTA, and Comotto, head of Concerned Parents of Cromwell Valley Elementary, were instrumental in the effort to maintain the school's magnet status.
They say they are not alone in having a keen interest in what Baltimore County Public Schools has to say about the future of the system's magnet schools and programs.
"We've been rallying parents to go to the community forums," said Trentler, a Towson resident, "but we wonder how much of the forum is lip service."
Comotto echoed the sentiment. "They like to say they are considering the community but we don't know if that is the case," said the Carney resident, whose child who attends Cromwell Valley is an "out of boundary" student.
Leeann Schubert, director of educational options at BCPS, which oversees the Office of Magnet Programs, is aware of the concern. "We expect big turnouts [at the forums] and we are prepared. We encourage people to come," Schubert said.
Indeed, if you can't attend personally, BCPS still wants to hear from you. During the run of the forums, there will be an opportunity to comment on the topic on its website.
Schubert said that county schools' Superintendent Dallas Dance "strongly supports magnet programs."
There are 70 different magnet programs in 28 elementary, middle and high schools. In the Baltimore County Board of Education's proposed FY 2016 budget, approximately $479,000 is earmarked for the magnet office.
An analysis of the system's magnet programs and schools dates to 2013, when a BCPS-commissioned audit was published. The audit had 14 recommendations on issues such as admission criterion, consistent application of rules, equitable access to elementary program and equal distribution of high-demand high school programs.
The audit also recommended the formation of a task force to develop a five-year strategic plan that addressed the recommendations and set the tone for future programs. As a result, the Magnet Task Force, 54 members from the community, including parents, students and school staff, was formed.
The forums and online survey are intended to give the Magnet Task Force feedback as they formulate recommendations on the future of the programs.
"Public input is critical. We need to understand where the parents and stakeholders stand. Decisions cannot be made in isolation," Schubert said.
However, Schubert indicated that the task force is not limited to the 2013 audit's 14 recommendations.
"They may go beyond aspects of the 14 recommendations. They may have an impact beyond the 14," she said.
Ultimately, the Magnet Task Force's recommendations will be sent to Dance, who then presents his recommendations to the Board of Education. The school board will make the final decision on Dance's recommendations.
Although a timeframe is not certain at this point, Schubert expects a fairly quick turnaround. The final school board meeting of the 2014-2015 academic year is scheduled for May 19. Typically, the board votes on matters before it at the end of the meeting.
There is also the matter of implementation.
"We believe some changes will go into play for the 2015-2016 school year," said Schubert. "But we are also looking at long-term systemic changes that may take several years to implement."
Whatever the outcome, she added, "Any child currently in a magnet program will finish out the program at the school they are in."
"No one can say that magnet school changes have not been in the works for several years," said Baltimore County Councilman David Marks, whose Fifth District covers the Towson area.
Marks referred to the Cromwell Valley Elementary School situation, where BCPS wanted to make an immediate change to the "walker" policy but, thanks to parental outcry, instituted a transition period instead.
"Public input always makes a difference," said Marks.