Dyson's Bill

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</div> <div>  Is it because we suddenly find ourselves behind the curve in obtaining proper sites for our next new schools?  </div> <div> Is it because the Board of County Commissioners has set the development limit for schools at 107% of State capacity, which works out to be 111% of our local capacity in the elementary schools, thus allowing our schools to become overcrowded?  </div> <div> Is it because the Development Review Forum is pushing to have 100 students added to the capacity of each high school because some students attend tech center classes for half a day?</div> <div> There is one thing all educational research shows to be true.  Smaller classes lead to better learning.</div> <div> The question becomes, “How will SB 705 affect learning in the classrooms? Judge for yourself. </div> <div> Dyson's bill requires the Board of County Commissioners to write a zoning ordinance that meets the following requirements: </div> <div> “the<FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT>adequate public facilities ordinance shall contain provisions establishing and enforcing the following level of services standards for essential public services and facilities  </div> <div> enrollment may not exceed 100% of the local rated capacity in elementary, middle, and high school districts designated by the St. Mary's County Board of Education  </div> <div> the calculation of the local rated capacity may not include relocatable classrooms; and </div> <div> the St. Mary's County Public Schools administration shall perform and certify the calculation of the impact of a proposed development on school capacity in the affected school districts;”</div> <div> The development community has screamed that construction will cease.   However, the only way to stop construction on approved lots is by not issuing building permits.  There is nothing about building permits in this bill. All 12,000 of the previously approved lots that are now vacant can be used to keep the construction industry building. </div> <div> One member of the development community has insisted that the words:   “All findings and approvals of adequacy shall expire at the end of 24 months from the date of certification.” And “development approvals granted prior to October 1, 2005, shall be retroactively subject to the provisions of this act if the projects have not been completed by July 1, 2006” mean that if a house doesn't have an occupancy permit by October 1, 2006, it must go back through the process.  If this gentleman were not a lawyer, one could excuse his apparent misunderstanding of the development process.  However, for his information the development process for houses ends when the LOT IS RECORDED.  No occupancy permit is required, just the recording of the lot. A lot can be built on whenever one can get a building permit.  Building permits are not part of the development process. </div> <div> Let's face it.  All this debate about the construction industry and development is not the point.  If SB 705 is enacted, elementary schools (where critical math and reading learning are supposed to take place) will no longer automatically be allowed to rise to 111% of local capacity.  Schools will be less crowded than if the current 111% is allowed to be the standard.  In a less crowded school, students will have a better chance of learning basic skills when they are supposed to and will be less likely to fall further and further behind.  That's really what it's all about.  </div> <div> The developers can create additional lots next year or the year after when the schools are built.  Can the children put off their acquisition of critical skills until next year or the year after?  I don't think so.  St. Mary's County citizens who care about our children's education should support this bill.  It's not about development.  It's about our children!</div> <div> Ps:  I'm going to Annapolis on March 11 to testify in favor of this bill.  If you want to come along, just send me an e-mail.  If enough people want to go, we'll charter a bus and hold a legislation party.  If not, we'll hold a tail gate party in the Navy stadium parking lot.</div> <div> If you can't go and still want to support the bill, call 1-800-492-7122 and ask for your delegate.  Tell him or his staffer that you want him to help pass SB 705.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>