Gopal Kailad: Testimony at August 21, 2025 Board of Education Meeting

Good afternoon. My name is Gopal Kailad, and I'd like to present three objections to the abolition of countywide programs proposed on July 24.

My first objection is that we need the countywide programs to compete with programs across the river like Thomas Jefferson High School. Our programs are competitive because they access the broadest pool of high-achieving students. They are consistently nationally recognized, and crucial in attracting new businesses and residents to the county. Given the smaller pool of advanced students available to each regional program, it is statistically improbable that six programs would be equally competitive with one another and with institutions such as Thomas Jefferson High School.

My second objection derives directly from the July 24th presentation.

Ms. Franklin pointed to students' preference for attending countywide programs over regional ones. But the regional programs are young, while the countywide programs have been building their reputation for decades. In addition, countywide programs select from a larger pool; statistically speaking, their cohorts will consist of higher-achieving students. Naturally, many students will prefer to attend these programs. If anything, this should tell us how difficult it is to set up a program and grow it to national prominence, and how valuable such programs are to the county.

It is extremely misleading to compare the transportation requirements of an established countywide program with those of regional programs that are still trying to find their footing, and then use that comparison to advocate for the elimination of countywide programs.

It was also suggested that regional programs do not have the IB HL classes that RM has. If regional programs are unfairly provided with less resources, then we should provide them with more give them more teachers and offer more courses. Abolishing countywide programs is irrational—it's punishing them for doing well.

My third objection is to the current six region model.

This model will not create equally competitive regions. The Wootton and Churchill clusters are the two biggest feeders to the countywide programs in the downcounty ar and they've been grouped together in Region 4. Clarksburg and Northwest are the two biggest feeders from the upcounty area, and they are together in Region 6. This hasn't been well thought-out.

While establishing new regional programs is commendable, abolishing the countywide programs is not the solution. Thank you.