Magnet Programs

Baltimore County, responding to a sometimes-critical study, plans to expand its magnet school programs, but at a much slower rate than during the first three years of the popular initiative.No new magnet programs will open next fall. But at least two additional high school programs will be proposed for September 1997, school administrators say, responding to a consultants' study that found gaps and inconsistencies in the system."We plan to improve, modify and expand our programs," said the magnet schools director, Anita Stockton.

Baltimore County's fast-growing magnet school program has developed without any strategic plan and needs revisions from its application process to follow-up courses, according to a consultant's study.The study, being used by the school system as the basis for changes, calls for a more consistent screening process for applicants. More collaboration is needed between magnet schools and comprehensive schools, the report adds, and more magnet programs are needed to provide continuity in courses.

With 10,000 students this year, Baltimore County's young rTC magnet programs continue to thrive in two dozen schools and to elicit so much interest that it takes two fairs to show them off.Although there will be no new programs next fall, the 25 programs created in the past three years will continue to offer students the choice of focusing on a particular subject while completing required courses.Magnet programs in the eastern area of the county will be on display tonight at Kenwood High School, 501 Stemmers Run Road, and those on the west side Thursday at Lansdowne High School, 3800 Hollins Ferry Road.

Baltimore County's magnet programs survived a threatened moratorium when the school board quietly sidestepped the issue last night.Before a largely pro-magnet crowd could even express its support, board President Paul Cunningham made a brief statement dismissing the idea of a moratorium."

Baltimore County's magnet schools may be losing some of their attraction.For a short time last week, the school board entertained a budget amendment that would have halted five new magnet programs, even as letters of acceptance were on their way to prospective students.When that was defeated 5-4, board members moved to put a moratorium on future magnet programs. Tabled for now, the motion is due to come up again next week.Appearing out of nowhere, the amendment introduced by board member Dunbar Brooks took other board members, magnet school principals and Superintendent Stuart Berger, a strong proponent of magnet programs, by surprise and left them groping to understand the intentions of a board that has nurtured its magnets.

When Superintendent Stuart Berger helped open Sudbrook Magnet Middle School this month, he told the students that "what Sudbrook is, is different. It is not that it is better."With four specialized curricula, a longer school day, student uniforms and voice mail for teachers, Sudbrook is definitely different from most schools in Baltimore County.But all of the county's 15 magnet programs are different. They teach high finance in Lansdowne, Japanese in Pikesville, dance in Towson, advanced math in Parkville and the science of fitness in Essex.

Cybil Stroh and Elizabeth Arthur started college yesterday.Today, they're going back to high school.Along with 31 other Baltimore County seniors, Cybil and Elizabeth will split their days between high school and Dundalk Community College in a new Parallel Enrollment Program (PEP) for students with time in their high school schedules.Cybil and Elizabeth, for instance, will start their days at 7:45 a.m. at Dundalk High, then, four days a week, walk a few blocks to the college at 9:25 for a 75-minute class and at 10:45 head back to high school for the rest of the day.Each needs only four high school credits to graduate.

Cybil Stroh and Elizabeth Arthur started college yesterday.Today, they're going back to high school.Along with 31 other Baltimore County seniors, Cybil and Elizabeth will split their days between high school and Dundalk Community College in a new Parallel Enrollment Program (PEP) for students with time in their high school schedules.Cybil and Elizabeth, for instance, will start their days at 7:45 a.m. at Dundalk High, then, four days a week, walk a few blocks to the college at 9:25 for a 75-minute class and at 10:45 head back to high school for the rest of the day.Each needs four high school credits to graduate.

Baltimore County's magnet school program continues to grow.Loch Raven Middle School in the Towson area will become the county's second magnet middle school in September 1995. It will have three magnet programs, designed to offer students choice and attract those with similar interests from nearby middle schools. The school also will have a new name -- Loch Raven Technological Academy for Environmental Sciences, Performing Arts and Visual Arts.The first magnet middle school, Sudbrook, opens in September.

Just how effective is the squeaky wheel?White parents at Hillendale Elementary School found plenty of grease available when they complained that their children were denied admission to the new, high-tech Cromwell Valley Elementary School magnet program because of their race.Suddenly, Baltimore County school officials are promising to pump hundreds of thousands of dollars into Hillendale -- which is predominantly black -- and possibly make Hillendale a magnet school, too.Some Hillendale parents were surprised that they were able to extract the promises after only one meeting with Superintendent Stuart Berger.