One Crofton to advocate for Crofton families after AACPS’ redistricting decision
One Crofton, a newly formed organization dedicated to protecting the social welfare and unity of the Crofton community, announced its formation today. The organization intends to operate as a 501(c)(4) tax-exempt non-profit, working to ensure that decisions affecting Crofton schools, students, and families are made transparent and grounded in facts. One Crofton has also retained Silverman Thompson, a Maryland law firm, to assist in its efforts to bring accountability and greater legal clarity to the factual inconsistencies and unanswered questions surrounding the Anne Arundel County Public Schools’ (AACPS) Phase 2 redistricting decision.
This announcement comes as nearly 500 parents, students, and community members signed and submitted a detailed response letter to AACPS Board of Education President Robert Silkworth and Superintendent Dr. Mark Bedell. The letter spearheaded by One Crofton, disputed AACPS’ November 21, 2025, public release that focused on the tone of the community’s objections to the redistricting process. Meanwhile the board remained silent on the many substantive inaccuracies raised by the community. The community’s efforts to understand the board’s erratic and unfounded decision-making process were left unanswered.
The community letter, submitted over the weekend, also pointed out that while the board found time to admonish the public, they have yet to release the list of reassigned students to school staff, even though the board voted 5-3 to adopt the plan nearly two weeks ago. As a result, many students whom the board promised would be supported have been left struggling with the decision without proactive outreach from school administrators and counselors. Moreover, affected families have received no direct communication from the school board, leaving some families completely unaware that the decision will have a direct effect on their students.
One Crofton President, Mike Chittenden, said AACPS has repeatedly attempted to shift the focus away from the facts presented during the hearings. “We are disappointed that certain board members and staff are attempting to push a disingenuous narrative to distract from the multitude of factual inaccuracies and procedural irregularities they have never addressed,” Chittenden said. “Our community raised legitimate concerns, not one of which has been meaningfully answered. The process appeared predetermined.”
AACPS’ own conduct has invited continued scrutiny. Lack of concern was underscored by President Silkworth’s dismissive reference to it as “the Nantucket thing” during the November 5, 2025, public meeting and Dr. Bedell’s lamenting having to miss Monday Night Football to attend a public hearing.
One Crofton emphasizes that five members of the board passed the split articulation of Nantucket Elementary, despite the vigorous objections of the three dissenting members, regarding incorrect and inconsistent capacity data, unsupported claims about state construction funding, the absence of any traffic or transportation analysis related to safety concerns, and no explanation for why Nantucket Elementary was the only school selected for split articulation at the elementary level. Community research repeatedly contradicted AACPS staff assertions.
If AACPS can respond to community frustration so expeditiously, it should be able to provide clear guidance, student lists, and accurate data with the same urgency.
Our response is bigger than the final vote. It is about restoring trust in a process that lost its way and spent county resources on a faulty solution. One Crofton’s work will continue until the facts are acknowledged and the community gets the honesty it deserves.
