Northwood @ Woodward

[Anonymous]

We're DCC with a MS student, and still trying to learn more about this situation (I have the recorded Zoom and the slide deck from earlier this week). Right now it looks like the current Northwood students are going to get evacuated from one construction site to another construction site. They will start off with no/next to no sports facilities and no auditorium, and the auditorium may take 1, 2, or 2+ years. Earlier start to the day along with a longer bus commute, and hauling students all over the downcounty for activities after school lets out, too.

If I had a student already at Northwood who felt strongly about staying part of the community it would be one thing. But right now, looking at this, I'm thinking Northwood is absolutely off the HS application list for DC. How do other folks feel? And what do people think this will do to the HS choice process in the DCC? Even harder to get into Blair? Boosting populations at Kennedy and Einstein? Will MCPS take any steps to try to rebalance the rest of the DCC?

[Anonymous]

Anytime a school relocates to a holding school things are iffy. Our kids' ES did it for 18 months, into an absolute wreck of a holding facility with a trailer park out back because it was nowhere near large enough. At least the Woodward building will be new!

[Anonymous]

Even though it is our home school, we definitely ranked Northwood lower on the choice form, anticipating all of the chaos. Kid was assigned to Einstein, happily.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We're DCC with a MS student, and still trying to learn more about this situation (I have the recorded Zoom and the slide deck from earlier this week). Right now it looks like the current Northwood students are going to get evacuated from one construction site to another construction site. They will start off with no/next to no sports facilities and no auditorium, and the auditorium may take 1, 2, or 2+ years. Earlier start to the day along with a longer bus commute, and hauling students all over the downcounty for activities after school lets out, too.

If I had a student already at Northwood who felt strongly about staying part of the community it would be one thing. But right now, looking at this, I'm thinking Northwood is absolutely off the HS application list for DC. How do other folks feel? And what do people think this will do to the HS choice process in the DCC? Even harder to get into Blair? Boosting populations at Kennedy and Einstein? Will MCPS take any steps to try to rebalance the rest of the DCC?

Do you mean the current SSIMS students, who have been dealing with years of construction there, who'll be feeding to Northwoodward and its ongoing construction?

[Anonymous]

Woodward will be done except an auditorium. Not a huge deal. The commute is. They aren't going to increase the number of students at other schools as there is no space. Its a mix of lottery and other factors for getting a spot in other schools.

[Anonymous]

Northwood will have increased capacity while it is at Woodward as well as once its own new building is done. Seems like lots of kids will be assigned to Northwood no matter what.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Woodward will be done except an auditorium. Not a huge deal. The commute is. They aren't going to increase the number of students at other schools as there is no space. Its a mix of lottery and other factors for getting a spot in other schools.

They can still increase the number of students at Kennedy by a couple hundred. None of the other DCC schools have more space.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Woodward will be done except an auditorium. Not a huge deal. The commute is. They aren't going to increase the number of students at other schools as there is no space. Its a mix of lottery and other factors for getting a spot in other schools.

One proposal on the Zoom was to use the cafeteria stairs as seating for a makeshift performance space.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Woodward will be done except an auditorium. Not a huge deal. The commute is. They aren't going to increase the number of students at other schools as there is no space. Its a mix of lottery and other factors for getting a spot in other schools.

One proposal on the Zoom was to use the cafeteria stairs as seating for a makeshift performance space.

The principal said they are going to do a performing arts plan where they go to other school facilities just like athletics. To be honest, he was about the only one who seemed to actually have ideas.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Woodward will be done except an auditorium. Not a huge deal. The commute is. They aren't going to increase the number of students at other schools as there is no space. Its a mix of lottery and other factors for getting a spot in other schools.

They can still increase the number of students at Kennedy by a couple hundred. None of the other DCC schools have more space.

True, Kennedy is not one of the top schools so there should be slots.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Woodward will be done except an auditorium. Not a huge deal. The commute is. They aren't going to increase the number of students at other schools as there is no space. Its a mix of lottery and other factors for getting a spot in other schools.

One proposal on the Zoom was to use the cafeteria stairs as seating for a makeshift performance space.

They could use the WJ or another DCC school for performances.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Woodward will be done except an auditorium. Not a huge deal. The commute is. They aren't going to increase the number of students at other schools as there is no space. Its a mix of lottery and other factors for getting a spot in other schools.

This is untrue. Firstly, not having an auditorium for all 3 years is terrible.
Auditoriums are used all the time at schools for theater, dance performances, assemblies, AP exams, testing, talent show, etc.

Sports fields will not be ready either.
This will affect not only all outdoor athletics but PE as well. Only one indoor gym space will be available to Northwood students and no completed outdoor space.

There will be no student parking available as only staff parking spaces will be completed when Northwood arrives.

Longer commuting time means some kids will be picked up as early as 6 am and will be dumped at school 45 minutes before the start of school.
MCPS also wants the school day to end earlier for Northwood as they need the buses to get to their next shift on time.

There are other issues as well.

MCPS was not honest with the community about Woodward being completed and now it is too late for students to try to switch to other schools. MCPS should have delayed the move by one more year if the school is not ready to accept students

[Anonymous]

Come to the County Council meeting on Monday, April 8, 7pm and help protest the delayed auditorium!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Woodward will be done except an auditorium. Not a huge deal. The commute is. They aren't going to increase the number of students at other schools as there is no space. Its a mix of lottery and other factors for getting a spot in other schools.

This is untrue. Firstly, not having an auditorium for all 3 years is terrible.
Auditoriums are used all the time at schools for theater, dance performances, assemblies, AP exams, testing, talent show, etc.

Sports fields will not be ready either.
This will affect not only all outdoor athletics but PE as well. Only one indoor gym space will be available to Northwood students and no completed outdoor space.

There will be no student parking available as only staff parking spaces will be completed when Northwood arrives.

Longer commuting time means some kids will be picked up as early as 6 am and will be dumped at school 45 minutes before the start of school.
MCPS also wants the school day to end earlier for Northwood as they need the buses to get to their next shift on time.

There are other issues as well.

MCPS was not honest with the community about Woodward being completed and now it is too late for students to try to switch to other schools. MCPS should have delayed the move by one more year if the school is not ready to accept students

The speaker on the Zoom meeting insisted that Woodward still being under some kind of construction when Northwood arrived had always been part of the plan.

Agreed that relocating students for after-school activities is going to feel like punishment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Woodward will be done except an auditorium. Not a huge deal. The commute is. They aren't going to increase the number of students at other schools as there is no space. Its a mix of lottery and other factors for getting a spot in other schools.

This is untrue. Firstly, not having an auditorium for all 3 years is terrible.
Auditoriums are used all the time at schools for theater, dance performances, assemblies, AP exams, testing, talent show, etc.

Sports fields will not be ready either.
This will affect not only all outdoor athletics but PE as well. Only one indoor gym space will be available to Northwood students and no completed outdoor space.

There will be no student parking available as only staff parking spaces will be completed when Northwood arrives.

Longer commuting time means some kids will be picked up as early as 6 am and will be dumped at school 45 minutes before the start of school.
MCPS also wants the school day to end earlier for Northwood as they need the buses to get to their next shift on time.

There are other issues as well.

MCPS was not honest with the community about Woodward being completed and now it is too late for students to try to switch to other schools. MCPS should have delayed the move by one more year if the school is not ready to accept students

The speaker on the Zoom meeting insisted that Woodward still being under some kind of construction when Northwood arrived had always been part of the plan.

Agreed that relocating students for after-school activities is going to feel like punishment.

Yes, that's always been the plan. Phase 1 of Woodward will be occupied by Northwood students. While Northwood students are there, Phase 2 of Woodward will be built.

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/facilities/construction/project/woodwardhs