MEMORANDUM

TO: City Council

FROM: David J. Deutsch, City Manager

SUBJECT: Status Report/Council Poll

DATE: October 4, 2007

Status Report

1. Maryland Science and Technology Center (Melford)

Staff has received inquiries lately about employment at this location. St. John Properties has estimated 1,356 employees currently located in its facilities. The combination of Census, Institute for Defense Analysis and the International Masonry Institute adds another 250 employees, for a total employment base at the park of 1,606.

2. K-8 Regional Community Workshops

Schools’ Superintendent Deasy will hold a series of community forums on a proposal to convert some County schools to kindergarten through eighth grade. Interest in such realignment has gained popularity since middle school students attending K-8 schools performed better on last year's standardized tests than most of their counterparts in traditional middle schools.

Several K-8 schools already exist for special programs -- French Immersion, Montessori, and the Performing Arts School. Deasy's proposal would expand the number of schools so that there is at least one in every region of the system. Three different scenarios, each involving different schools, will be presented at these forums. At this point, the only Bowie area school mentioned for possible conversion to K-8 is Pointer Ridge Elementary School.

An article from the Washington Post about Deasy's proposal and the Public Schools’ press release on the forums are attached.

Attachments
Community Forums Announcement on Pre-K - 8th Grade Schools Proposal
Article on Pre-K - 8th Grade Proposal