Overcrowding at Walter johnson

[Anonymous]

You've nailed the problem, and the reason for the problem is mcps sets it up that way so the Clusters are always competing against each other. That keeps them from seriously fighting MCPS!

A few years back the clusters worked together (slogan that every cluster coordinator testified for was "make the pie bigger," rather than schools each fighting for a larger piece of the pie). Guess what, it worked!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Poolesville is a toxic construction site. My child tells me the toilets hardly work, the water is brown, the school is in a cage and it is chaos especially when it rains. They do not even have a band room and barely a gym. That school is so sub-par and it stinks because those house some of the brightest students in the county.

And, yet other schools have gotten multiple renovations and expansions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You've nailed the problem, and the reason for the problem is mcps sets it up that way so the Clusters are always competing against each other. That keeps them from seriously fighting MCPS!

A few years back the clusters worked together (slogan that every cluster coordinator testified for was "make the pie bigger," rather than schools each fighting for a larger piece of the pie). Guess what, it worked!

How did it work? And if it did, why aren't the cluster coordinators following that model again?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Poolesville is a toxic construction site. My child tells me the toilets hardly work, the water is brown, the school is in a cage and it is chaos especially when it rains. They do not even have a band room and barely a gym. That school is so sub-par and it stinks because those house some of the brightest students in the county.

I’m sorry to hear that. That truly stinks. Especially when MCPS clearly has millions of dollars to spend on other things and other less-useful initiatives. Maybe if MCPS didn’t waste so much taxpayer money, we would have money for the things that matter - decent school buildings, enough teachers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Poolesville is a toxic construction site. My child tells me the toilets hardly work, the water is brown, the school is in a cage and it is chaos especially when it rains. They do not even have a band room and barely a gym. That school is so sub-par and it stinks because those house some of the brightest students in the county.

Yeah, it sucks. No one likes going to school at an active construction site. But that's the reality when you're getting an addition built. There's no holding school available any more, and even if there were it would be really far from Poolesville and no one would like that either. At least Poolesville won't be overcrowded any more when the construction is done, and that'll be two years sooner than any of the other HS construction projects.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Poolesville is a toxic construction site. My child tells me the toilets hardly work, the water is brown, the school is in a cage and it is chaos especially when it rains. They do not even have a band room and barely a gym. That school is so sub-par and it stinks because those house some of the brightest students in the county.

And, yet other schools have gotten multiple renovations and expansions.

Other schools have seen massive increase in student populations which MCPS has prioritized for years. MCPS recognized that problem, and started addressing some of the older schools with stable enrollment figures as also needing help.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You've nailed the problem, and the reason for the problem is mcps sets it up that way so the Clusters are always competing against each other. That keeps them from seriously fighting MCPS!

A few years back the clusters worked together (slogan that every cluster coordinator testified for was "make the pie bigger," rather than schools each fighting for a larger piece of the pie). Guess what, it worked!

How did it work? And if it did, why aren't the cluster coordinators following that model again?

It worked in that the funds for MCPS were increased. Your property taxes were raised, as were mine. Everyone on that Council who was up for re-election, lost. But schools got more money, and many got what they asked for. Not all, there's never enough for all (a panel in 2008 said the schools needed $1.6 billion to catch-up and that is never going to happen and I am certain that number would be more than doubled today).

There's over 200 schools, there's always a school that just got renovated, and there's always a bunch of schools waiting to get renovated. Most are in the middle, could use a refresh, but aren't in enough trouble to have to spend money on them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You've nailed the problem, and the reason for the problem is mcps sets it up that way so the Clusters are always competing against each other. That keeps them from seriously fighting MCPS!

A few years back the clusters worked together (slogan that every cluster coordinator testified for was "make the pie bigger," rather than schools each fighting for a larger piece of the pie). Guess what, it worked!

How did it work? And if it did, why aren't the cluster coordinators following that model again?

It worked in that the funds for MCPS were increased. Your property taxes were raised, as were mine. Everyone on that Council who was up for re-election, lost. But schools got more money, and many got what they asked for. Not all, there's never enough for all (a panel in 2008 said the schools needed $1.6 billion to catch-up and that is never going to happen and I am certain that number would be more than doubled today).

There's over 200 schools, there's always a school that just got renovated, and there's always a bunch of schools waiting to get renovated. Most are in the middle, could use a refresh, but aren't in enough trouble to have to spend money on them.

If they exercised a modicum of common sense there would be boatloads of money to cover these expenses. Instead they spend it on foolish programs that have little to nothing to do with education. Could we manage without another half-baked SEL program? And as much as I love the Kid's museum we might be better off putting that money somewhere else. Maybe refrain from hiring a bunch of unnecessary consultants for communications etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You've nailed the problem, and the reason for the problem is mcps sets it up that way so the Clusters are always competing against each other. That keeps them from seriously fighting MCPS!

A few years back the clusters worked together (slogan that every cluster coordinator testified for was "make the pie bigger," rather than schools each fighting for a larger piece of the pie). Guess what, it worked!

How did it work? And if it did, why aren't the cluster coordinators following that model again?

It worked in that the funds for MCPS were increased. Your property taxes were raised, as were mine. Everyone on that Council who was up for re-election, lost. But schools got more money, and many got what they asked for. Not all, there's never enough for all (a panel in 2008 said the schools needed $1.6 billion to catch-up and that is never going to happen and I am certain that number would be more than doubled today).

There's over 200 schools, there's always a school that just got renovated, and there's always a bunch of schools waiting to get renovated. Most are in the middle, could use a refresh, but aren't in enough trouble to have to spend money on them.

If they exercised a modicum of common sense there would be boatloads of money to cover these expenses. Instead they spend it on foolish programs that have little to nothing to do with education. Could we manage without another half-baked SEL program? And as much as I love the Kid's museum we might be better off putting that money somewhere else. Maybe refrain from hiring a bunch of unnecessary consultants for communications etc.

They got tons of covid money and can manage what they have better. It is absurd.

[Anonymous]

Totally absurd. Need an IG who has eyes on MCPS as their only job. If you are crying a river, can I add Wootton to that river? That school is 50 years old - and needs some attention as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You've nailed the problem, and the reason for the problem is mcps sets it up that way so the Clusters are always competing against each other. That keeps them from seriously fighting MCPS!

A few years back the clusters worked together (slogan that every cluster coordinator testified for was "make the pie bigger," rather than schools each fighting for a larger piece of the pie). Guess what, it worked!

How did it work? And if it did, why aren't the cluster coordinators following that model again?

It worked in that the funds for MCPS were increased. Your property taxes were raised, as were mine. Everyone on that Council who was up for re-election, lost. But schools got more money, and many got what they asked for. Not all, there's never enough for all (a panel in 2008 said the schools needed $1.6 billion to catch-up and that is never going to happen and I am certain that number would be more than doubled today).

There's over 200 schools, there's always a school that just got renovated, and there's always a bunch of schools waiting to get renovated. Most are in the middle, could use a refresh, but aren't in enough trouble to have to spend money on them.

What’s sad about your post is that all those council members lost their seats and no current members have that courage. And even the people on this board that gripe about the schools don’t seem ready to pay more. They will gripe about programs that cost a million here and a million there when even if you cut them all it would not put a dent in the need.
I agree they waste money on some stupid shit but some of that is because it’s cheaper than real solutions. Like buying crap chrome books because they are so much cheaper than decreasing class size and at least the kids can run prodigy problems while the teacher works with the other math group. Or paying a million to kids museum to run a few science programs because they don’t have the 100 million it would take to staff and supply a real ES science curriculum.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You've nailed the problem, and the reason for the problem is mcps sets it up that way so the Clusters are always competing against each other. That keeps them from seriously fighting MCPS!

A few years back the clusters worked together (slogan that every cluster coordinator testified for was "make the pie bigger," rather than schools each fighting for a larger piece of the pie). Guess what, it worked!

How did it work? And if it did, why aren't the cluster coordinators following that model again?

It worked in that the funds for MCPS were increased. Your property taxes were raised, as were mine. Everyone on that Council who was up for re-election, lost. But schools got more money, and many got what they asked for. Not all, there's never enough for all (a panel in 2008 said the schools needed $1.6 billion to catch-up and that is never going to happen and I am certain that number would be more than doubled today).

There's over 200 schools, there's always a school that just got renovated, and there's always a bunch of schools waiting to get renovated. Most are in the middle, could use a refresh, but aren't in enough trouble to have to spend money on them.

What’s sad about your post is that all those council members lost their seats and no current members have that courage. And even the people on this board that gripe about the schools don’t seem ready to pay more. They will gripe about programs that cost a million here and a million there when even if you cut them all it would not put a dent in the need.
I agree they waste money on some stupid shit but some of that is because it’s cheaper than real solutions. Like buying crap chrome books because they are so much cheaper than decreasing class size and at least the kids can run prodigy problems while the teacher works with the other math group. Or paying a million to kids museum to run a few science programs because they don’t have the 100 million it would take to staff and supply a real ES science curriculum.

They have 300 million in unspent ESSER funds.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You've nailed the problem, and the reason for the problem is mcps sets it up that way so the Clusters are always competing against each other. That keeps them from seriously fighting MCPS!

A few years back the clusters worked together (slogan that every cluster coordinator testified for was "make the pie bigger," rather than schools each fighting for a larger piece of the pie). Guess what, it worked!

How did it work? And if it did, why aren't the cluster coordinators following that model again?

It worked in that the funds for MCPS were increased. Your property taxes were raised, as were mine. Everyone on that Council who was up for re-election, lost. But schools got more money, and many got what they asked for. Not all, there's never enough for all (a panel in 2008 said the schools needed $1.6 billion to catch-up and that is never going to happen and I am certain that number would be more than doubled today).

There's over 200 schools, there's always a school that just got renovated, and there's always a bunch of schools waiting to get renovated. Most are in the middle, could use a refresh, but aren't in enough trouble to have to spend money on them.

If they exercised a modicum of common sense there would be boatloads of money to cover these expenses. Instead they spend it on foolish programs that have little to nothing to do with education. Could we manage without another half-baked SEL program? And as much as I love the Kid's museum we might be better off putting that money somewhere else. Maybe refrain from hiring a bunch of unnecessary consultants for communications etc.

THIS

So many MCPS problems are due to mismanagement of funds. If we had more oversight on spending, maybe we could hold Central a office accountable when they implement ridiculous programs that have no direct benefit for students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You've nailed the problem, and the reason for the problem is mcps sets it up that way so the Clusters are always competing against each other. That keeps them from seriously fighting MCPS!

A few years back the clusters worked together (slogan that every cluster coordinator testified for was "make the pie bigger," rather than schools each fighting for a larger piece of the pie). Guess what, it worked!

How did it work? And if it did, why aren't the cluster coordinators following that model again?

It worked in that the funds for MCPS were increased. Your property taxes were raised, as were mine. Everyone on that Council who was up for re-election, lost. But schools got more money, and many got what they asked for. Not all, there's never enough for all (a panel in 2008 said the schools needed $1.6 billion to catch-up and that is never going to happen and I am certain that number would be more than doubled today).

There's over 200 schools, there's always a school that just got renovated, and there's always a bunch of schools waiting to get renovated. Most are in the middle, could use a refresh, but aren't in enough trouble to have to spend money on them.

What’s sad about your post is that all those council members lost their seats and no current members have that courage. And even the people on this board that gripe about the schools don’t seem ready to pay more. They will gripe about programs that cost a million here and a million there when even if you cut them all it would not put a dent in the need.
I agree they waste money on some stupid shit but some of that is because it’s cheaper than real solutions. Like buying crap chrome books because they are so much cheaper than decreasing class size and at least the kids can run prodigy problems while the teacher works with the other math group. Or paying a million to kids museum to run a few science programs because they don’t have the 100 million it would take to staff and supply a real ES science curriculum.

Which council members are you referring to, and/or what year was this?

https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/COUNCIL/LIMS/formerCMs.html

[Anonymous]

For the first time in history, more than 3,000 students entered Walter Johnson (WJ) to begin the school year. The total number, 3,028 (as of Sept. 30), is more than 700 students over the school’s capacity.

https://mocoshow.com/2024/10/07/walter-johnson-high-school-surpasses-3000-students-for-the-first-time/?fbclid=IwY2xjawFxNCpleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHbrBvq7wJFXxXXGLj6n0x-UmShJ4V8QZKfd9LcLQdQtPdW7i6ZAtADy7ZQ_aem_JBHsd6WhhPZFNupEuSoLmA&sfnsn=mo