Anne Arundel County Schools redistricting scenarios to be announced Wednesday
Overcrowding and empty seats are among the enrollment issues forcing Anne Arundel County to redraw school boundary lines.
Parents like Stephanie Doersam said they have a good idea of what to expect.
"We need people to fight and say, 'we need this to happen.' Nobody wants their kids redistricted, nobody wants to change schools but realistically it's the only way to make it work for what's going on right now with their schools," Doersam said.
Even though the school district is growing and building new schools, like the Old Mill complex, it still has 16,000 empty seats spread across the county.
Anne Arundel County Schools spokesman Bob Mosier wants to reassure parents and students that their voices will be heard.
"Everybody will make their case there will be ample opportunity to make their case when we unveil this web tool tomorrow," Mosier said. "People will be able to put in their address and they'll be able to see the elementary, the middle and the high schools."
The district will roll out the proposals in two phases, one this year and one next year.
County Executive Steuart Pittman called the redistricting a difficult process.
"I just want to lend my support to the board of education and the superintendent," Pittman said. "I can just tell you that this is very difficult and heart-wrenching for some families because there will be children who will be changing schools and some people will be happy, but a lot of people won't."
Mosier explained the proposals the district will seek public opinion on.
"They're not recommendations, they're not options, they are potential scenarios that we want to get comment on," he said. Those comments will come ahead of a possible board vote on phase one by the fall.