Initial boundary options for Woodward study area are up

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:I think what people are mostly upset over is the option 3 long bus rides when they are in walk zones. Plus frustration at the deep pockets of poverty that exist and the failure of housing and zoning policy to address that.

People are also frustrated that better opportunities aren’t available at all schools (like all APs - it’s not that hard just make it available online or bus to another high school for first period!). Plus the reality is that some (maybe all) schools have some pretty serious security issues (again that should be fixable).

Of course we need to fill the new schools and everyone understands they could have to move schools. But why should kids have to take long bus rides cross county (East and West) to make up for failed policies? You’re putting it all on them to shoulder, and they’re just kids. Plus their parents who may or may not have reliable transportation. You could be taking away the ability for a kid and their parents to fully participate in all that a school has to offer, just because of transportation. I know I love going to concerts and home games and I just couldn’t do that if the school was a half hour away (and I have a car).

But yes, you are right, some are upset about property values. Just try to have some empathy on that. You’re probably talking $100,000 to $200,000 cut in property value for some areas and that’s going to hurt some families. Maybe affect retirements and sending kids to college etc. so it is a real issue for most families. Be kind on that issue.

We can pretend that we are above that, or it shouldn’t matter, but it does. That doesn’t make it predatory capitalism. You will understand one day when you have a mortgage. (Don’t worry, I fully understand that MCPS is not responsible for my property values and I understand the history.)

Finally, you have to recognize that the playing field is not the same, the Supreme Court has changed, and things sadly just are not the same as they were even 5 or 7 years ago. Recognizing that reality is being a reasonable adult and is not the same as acquiescing.

These issues are hard ones and so glad I don’t have to make these decisions myself. I do think we can all be kind though, not extremist, and empathetic.

This kind of condescending shit while preaching about kindness is unreal.

Not being condescending, it’s just that when you sign that big mortgage … things change.

You're assuming that anyone who disagrees with you about the role of property values in this conversation doesn't have a mortgage. Most of us do. I do. I didn't change when I bought a house. Maybe you did, but you need to own your beliefs there rather than acting like people who don't share them must not understand what it's like. That's condescending.

+1 and this is so obvious

Speak for yourselves
Don't pretend you are entitled to be assigned to any particular school
Recognize low income kids by and large want to learn and do not deserve to be in schools with disruptive kids or that lack advanced classes any more than your kids do.

But this thread shows that there are disruptive kids everywhere, in every school. Sounds like you are making a judgement about poor kids.

Yes, kids whose families have fewer resources are more at risk of having behavior issues, for a wide range of reasons. That doesn't mean all of them do. That's why a large body of research shows that concentrating poverty in certain schools is really bad for kids.

So you’re just saying poor kids are more likely to have behavior problems. Still sounds like you are making a judgement. Why not just speak for yourself, versus having to use stereotypes about others?

NP - comments based on data are not stereotypes, they are empirical observations. We need to speak about them in order to solve problems, not cover our eyes and pretend they don't exist. Most intelligent people understand that when you talk about averages or tendencies, you don't assume every person shares those characteristics.

Oh please. Recognize that nothing about these conversations is about data and facts. It’s just about scoring progressive points and shaming people based on seeeping statements.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think what people are mostly upset over is the option 3 long bus rides when they are in walk zones. Plus frustration at the deep pockets of poverty that exist and the failure of housing and zoning policy to address that.

People are also frustrated that better opportunities aren’t available at all schools (like all APs - it’s not that hard just make it available online or bus to another high school for first period!). Plus the reality is that some (maybe all) schools have some pretty serious security issues (again that should be fixable).

Of course we need to fill the new schools and everyone understands they could have to move schools. But why should kids have to take long bus rides cross county (East and West) to make up for failed policies? You’re putting it all on them to shoulder, and they’re just kids. Plus their parents who may or may not have reliable transportation. You could be taking away the ability for a kid and their parents to fully participate in all that a school has to offer, just because of transportation. I know I love going to concerts and home games and I just couldn’t do that if the school was a half hour away (and I have a car).

But yes, you are right, some are upset about property values. Just try to have some empathy on that. You’re probably talking $100,000 to $200,000 cut in property value for some areas and that’s going to hurt some families. Maybe affect retirements and sending kids to college etc. so it is a real issue for most families. Be kind on that issue.

We can pretend that we are above that, or it shouldn’t matter, but it does. That doesn’t make it predatory capitalism. You will understand one day when you have a mortgage. (Don’t worry, I fully understand that MCPS is not responsible for my property values and I understand the history.)

Finally, you have to recognize that the playing field is not the same, the Supreme Court has changed, and things sadly just are not the same as they were even 5 or 7 years ago. Recognizing that reality is being a reasonable adult and is not the same as acquiescing.

These issues are hard ones and so glad I don’t have to make these decisions myself. I do think we can all be kind though, not extremist, and empathetic.

Some of us don't have mortgages as we were financially responsible, bought what we could afford at a lower income and never moved. So, we put that extra money into paying off our houses so come college time no mortgage (or better high school when activitiy expenses are high). I'd be thrilled if my property went down $100-200K or more. Less taxes. Think logically.

Look, we get you don't want our kids. We are ok with it. We may have just as much money as you or more but you look down on us because of where or how we live nor do you want your housekeeper or gardener's kids with your kids. Many of us choose not to live in your school district to avoid our kids growing up in that world of entitlement and want them to be down to earth.

The big issue of busing the not so wealthy kids is if they are sick/parents don't have cars, they cannot pick them up easily. Or, get back and forth easily for activities and sports.

The easy solution is to make the less wealthy schools more appealing by providing them with the classes and activities/sports/clubs so people will stay. But, wait, that takes away from the wealthy schools.

You'd be thrilled to have your home lose $100,000-200,000 in value, so that you could save $1000 a year in property taxes? And you are the logical one?

You realize what you want is for the county to keep all the low income kids concentrated in certain schools so your property value stays up? How can you look yourself in the mirror?

Yes surely the people (overly)worked up about property values realize they have invested in inequality….

I mean clearly they know because they are explicitly advocating to keep the schools segregated.

I would just like my kid to go to the school that is a 10 minute walk away, as this has immense consequences for family time, after school activities, community, and where and how much I can work.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What I don’t get is why they are insisting using the new school as an excuse to attempt to reengineer the county. Seems like this should be simple — Wheaton and WJ get split and go to the new school. Period.

All this nonsense is going to do is deflate property values some places, increase them in others, and cause people with means to shift where they can go to better schools. Trying to force boundary changes isn’t going to work

Do you think Option 1 is "reengineering" the county? Have you even looked at the options or are you just reacting to what people are saying about Option 3?

They’re all reengineering in different ways. Split articulations, breaking up neighborhoods. They need the option for the least change for the most number of kids

I agree with this, if only to avoid having the lawsuits and intense arguments that would follow from not doing it. Aren’t we all still tired of school based fighting from Covid?

[Anonymous]

Your property value can change and sorry but there is nothing you can do. MCPS has the right to change boundaries. It sucks but there is nothing you can do unfortunately. I don’t think they care if some families move to private. It will not be a mass exodus so a non issue really. I say get on board and accept the changes or move out of MOCO if you don’t like it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your property value can change and sorry but there is nothing you can do. MCPS has the right to change boundaries. It sucks but there is nothing you can do unfortunately. I don’t think they care if some families move to private. It will not be a mass exodus so a non issue really. I say get on board and accept the changes or move out of MOCO if you don’t like it.

Or we can use our collective voice to put pressure on them to create better options….

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Curious what the Wheaton community thinks the best solution is? Different matriculation pattern or sounds like adding on isn’t possible with the distance between buildings? FLO analytics kept mentioning the Edison building and sounds like that is not helpful? Seems like FLO has a disconnect on this point.

It is ridiculous that none of the options really solve for this when new Woodward and expanding Northwood are both adjacent. Also, can’t Wheaton adjust its own size by accepting fewer kids applying from the other DCC schools?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your property value can change and sorry but there is nothing you can do. MCPS has the right to change boundaries. It sucks but there is nothing you can do unfortunately. I don’t think they care if some families move to private. It will not be a mass exodus so a non issue really. I say get on board and accept the changes or move out of MOCO if you don’t like it.

Or we can use our collective voice to put pressure on them to create better options….

Agree that the fatalism of the PP is unfounded and unrealistic. People will advocate in their children’s and their own best interests.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They should move the magnet to the lowest performing school- Kennedy?

That is the whole purpose of magnets if you look up their history in Ed policy — create magnets that would draw wealthier kids to lower ranked schools

+1 That’s why it’s at Blair in the first place.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Curious what the Wheaton community thinks the best solution is? Different matriculation pattern or sounds like adding on isn’t possible with the distance between buildings? FLO analytics kept mentioning the Edison building and sounds like that is not helpful? Seems like FLO has a disconnect on this point.

It is ridiculous that none of the options really solve for this when new Woodward and expanding Northwood are both adjacent. Also, can’t Wheaton adjust its own size by accepting fewer kids applying from the other DCC schools?

Wheaton itself can't adjust its own size, but DCCAPS could theoretically stop assigning out of bounds students there. However, they might then have to do the same at overcrowded Blair and Einstein too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Curious what the Wheaton community thinks the best solution is? Different matriculation pattern or sounds like adding on isn’t possible with the distance between buildings? FLO analytics kept mentioning the Edison building and sounds like that is not helpful? Seems like FLO has a disconnect on this point.

It is ridiculous that none of the options really solve for this when new Woodward and expanding Northwood are both adjacent. Also, can’t Wheaton adjust its own size by accepting fewer kids applying from the other DCC schools?

Option 2 does.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Curious what the Wheaton community thinks the best solution is? Different matriculation pattern or sounds like adding on isn’t possible with the distance between buildings? FLO analytics kept mentioning the Edison building and sounds like that is not helpful? Seems like FLO has a disconnect on this point.

It is ridiculous that none of the options really solve for this when new Woodward and expanding Northwood are both adjacent. Also, can’t Wheaton adjust its own size by accepting fewer kids applying from the other DCC schools?

Option 2 does.

While creating long bus rides and split articulations. No thanks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Curious what the Wheaton community thinks the best solution is? Different matriculation pattern or sounds like adding on isn’t possible with the distance between buildings? FLO analytics kept mentioning the Edison building and sounds like that is not helpful? Seems like FLO has a disconnect on this point.

It is ridiculous that none of the options really solve for this when new Woodward and expanding Northwood are both adjacent. Also, can’t Wheaton adjust its own size by accepting fewer kids applying from the other DCC schools?

Option 2 does.

While creating long bus rides and split articulations. No thanks.

So is there a tweak to solve this? Is there a different option?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Curious what the Wheaton community thinks the best solution is? Different matriculation pattern or sounds like adding on isn’t possible with the distance between buildings? FLO analytics kept mentioning the Edison building and sounds like that is not helpful? Seems like FLO has a disconnect on this point.

It is ridiculous that none of the options really solve for this when new Woodward and expanding Northwood are both adjacent. Also, can’t Wheaton adjust its own size by accepting fewer kids applying from the other DCC schools?

Option 2 does.

While creating long bus rides and split articulations. No thanks.

So is there a tweak to solve this? Is there a different option?

Yes. Limit the number of schools affected by Woodward. Move the magnet programs and limit COSA.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Curious what the Wheaton community thinks the best solution is? Different matriculation pattern or sounds like adding on isn’t possible with the distance between buildings? FLO analytics kept mentioning the Edison building and sounds like that is not helpful? Seems like FLO has a disconnect on this point.

The Wheaton cluster coordinator's testimony in 2023 :

"there is a quick and practical solution to our overcrowding
problem that has yet to be utilized - an unfinished shell located within the
Thomas Edison building. Our Community strongly urges MCPS to build
out and finish that shell so that both Wheaton and Thomas Edison can
use that space to accommodate our growing population."

https://go.boarddocs.com/mabe/mcpsmd/Board.nsf/files/CXCN955EC89E/$file/Narissa%20Johnson%20-%202023%20CIP%20Testimony%20.pdf

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Curious what the Wheaton community thinks the best solution is? Different matriculation pattern or sounds like adding on isn’t possible with the distance between buildings? FLO analytics kept mentioning the Edison building and sounds like that is not helpful? Seems like FLO has a disconnect on this point.

It is ridiculous that none of the options really solve for this when new Woodward and expanding Northwood are both adjacent. Also, can’t Wheaton adjust its own size by accepting fewer kids applying from the other DCC schools?

Option 2 does.

While creating long bus rides and split articulations. No thanks.

The split articulations are an issue, yes, but option 2's bus rides generally seem reasonable. Except they continue with the busing of TOK to WJ.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1eAAZPLhvTmcZoRxk4eJsa_O4i2WAqeug/view