Woodward HS boundary study - BCC, Blair, Einstein, WJ, Kennedy, Northwood, Wheaton, Whitman impacts

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Adventist hospital site would have worked but it seems like the DCC just isn't a priority.

I agree the hospital is the largest potential site inside the beltway. But even that is only 14 acres. BCC is the smallest current HS site, and it's 16.36 acres.

Maybe not ideal but would work if they built up and didn't bother with nonsense like a sports arena which doesn't seem all that necessary anyway.

It may not seem all that necessary to you, but the discussion about Woodward showed that most people disagree with you and believe a high school needs a sports stadium.

Sports aren't a necessary part of public education.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Cue the dulcet tones of Seth Adams, accompanied by a deck of visuals drawn from across the country, encouraging consideration of alternate approaches to educational architecture in light of exigencies, receiving gentle nods from the BOE & audience...but then roundly ignored by his own department when push comes to shove. Adventist would have required verticality, both up and down (for parking/transportation, though the low elevation would present a challenge), and greater imaginative vision to accommodate fields and the like.

It wasn't/isn't the only option, but when it comes to providing for reasonably equivalent educational services/facilities in the area, MCPS has no stomach for the cost, and MoCo has no interest in existing-community-serving long-range planning that would tend to preserve options. Instead, that "let's think outside the box" approach only seems to come into play for something like low-cost repurposing an office building for a specialty campus, failing to serve the majority of the local population and leaving the school bereft of athletics, etc. Only the classical area of TP, with its own governance and heavy political influence, seems to get any consideration, but even they fall short on the scale of a modern high school, the catchment for which would require inclusion of less-favored inside-the-beltway areas.

Side note: it will be interesting to see whether the CIP finally including study funding for Eastern MS results in something comparable to newer facilities elsewhere or more of an unimaginative minimalist whitewash.

Does anyone know how big Northwood's footprint is? The new building is going to be put on the existing footprint.

Adventist would be the perfect site for a smaller school-- if it is a scale issue, then the County is failing it's citizens with its lack of imagination. Why not build a smaller school on Adventist and zone it for the surrounding SS and TP neighborhoods that border Sligo Creek? Or make it a high school that's application only? Kids walk down/bike to Sligo Creek to get to school

+1000

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Adventist hospital site would have worked but it seems like the DCC just isn't a priority.

I agree the hospital is the largest potential site inside the beltway. But even that is only 14 acres. BCC is the smallest current HS site, and it's 16.36 acres.

Maybe not ideal but would work if they built up and didn't bother with nonsense like a sports arena which doesn't seem all that necessary anyway.

It may not seem all that necessary to you, but the discussion about Woodward showed that most people disagree with you and believe a high school needs a sports stadium.

Sports aren't a necessary part of public education.

Great to know that MCPS can look to solve their fiscal problems by shutting down athletics county-wide!

MCPS is responsible for providing similar access to reasonably equivalent educational experiences across the whole county. They can't give short shrift to an area that is "difficult" because of poor past planning and claim to be doing their job.

If they wanted to entertain the posssibility of a high school without field sports in order to save money, they'd need to provide something different/unique that would result in matriculating students having a reasonably equivalent liklihood of desiring to attend that school vs. others in the county (and not just adjacent schools), given the choice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Adventist hospital site would have worked but it seems like the DCC just isn't a priority.

I agree the hospital is the largest potential site inside the beltway. But even that is only 14 acres. BCC is the smallest current HS site, and it's 16.36 acres.

Maybe not ideal but would work if they built up and didn't bother with nonsense like a sports arena which doesn't seem all that necessary anyway.

It may not seem all that necessary to you, but the discussion about Woodward showed that most people disagree with you and believe a high school needs a sports stadium.

Sports aren't a necessary part of public education.

Great to know that MCPS can look to solve their fiscal problems by shutting down athletics county-wide!

MCPS is responsible for providing similar access to reasonably equivalent educational experiences across the whole county. They can't give short shrift to an area that is "difficult" because of poor past planning and claim to be doing their job.

If they wanted to entertain the posssibility of a high school without field sports in order to save money, they'd need to provide something different/unique that would result in matriculating students having a reasonably equivalent liklihood of desiring to attend that school vs. others in the county (and not just adjacent schools), given the choice.

They could hire so many teachers by shutting down this program which has nothing to do with education.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is Crown getting delayed also?

Nope. So as of now Woodward, Northwood, and Crown will all be opening in Fall 2027.

And Damascus HS is also delayed until Fall 2027. So there could be 4 new HS buildings all opening at once.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is Crown getting delayed also?

Nope. So as of now Woodward, Northwood, and Crown will all be opening in Fall 2027.

And Damascus HS is also delayed until Fall 2027. So there could be 4 new HS buildings all opening at once.

Sounds like an appropriate time for a systemwide boundary study.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Adventist hospital site would have worked but it seems like the DCC just isn't a priority.

I agree the hospital is the largest potential site inside the beltway. But even that is only 14 acres. BCC is the smallest current HS site, and it's 16.36 acres.

Maybe not ideal but would work if they built up and didn't bother with nonsense like a sports arena which doesn't seem all that necessary anyway.

It may not seem all that necessary to you, but the discussion about Woodward showed that most people disagree with you and believe a high school needs a sports stadium.

Sports aren't a necessary part of public education.

Woodward is walking distance from wj so in theory they could share.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Extending Northwood's use of the holding school for three years is really a terrible thing. The community wanted a holding school in the DCC but MCPS forced Woodward, which families were at least ok with because it would be new.

But how long are the kids not going to have athletic facilities or performing arts spaces...for a school that has a performing arts academy?

Plus Northwood is one of the poorer schools and transportation is an issue. They are flat out going to be eliminating many parents from being able to engage at all with their child's school for up to 75% of their high school career.

What other options were there that were less bad than Woodward?

There was an option discussed of an urban campus in DTSS or utilizing space on the Adventist campus in TkPk. Both would have required MCPS to spend more money, though, so Woodward was the best option.

A lot more money, I'm guessing.

Yes.

https://go.boarddocs.com/mabe/mcpsmd/Board.nsf/files/BAEVW7736805/$file/Northwood%20HS%20Holding%20Ctr%20Eval%20MGT%20Consulting%20Grp%20190314%20PPT.pdf

?

It appears the costs were fractional of that required to build Woodward. There was also a failure of vision.

Why didn't they sue to void the ridiculous contract that rules the old Montgomery Hills JHS property and combine that with the Woodlin property (which ended up being demolished anyway) to make a HS-sized holding school, needing, then, only to find space for an ES? How about refurbish the old Blair as a holding school and find smaller spaces for SSIMS and SCES? Perhaps the complete old Parkside property, asking the private-use Acorn Hill Waldorf to move? Perhaps one of the other options rejected for a HS but suitable for a MS? Perhaps one of the other options for an area elementary school rejected a decade ago over vocal objection from community members participating in the review because MCPS presented jaded views of the options and wouldn't evaluate independent ideas? Too many sacred cows and not enough dedication to the area, in comparison to that given others (though not exactly great, there, either).

Sure, they don't want to spend $. But their mandate should be to provide reasonably equivalent educational services, including facilities, to each community in the county, not to provide similar funding to each. The "it's their turn" approach only works when the turns result in that equivalence and are jiggered to address, for the most part, whatever facilities are most presently at a deficit in relation to others -- not aimed simply to spread facility improvement activity across the county. Unfortunately, MCPS hasn't lived up to that.

They were already going to build Woodward regardless, as a new high school. The idea of using it as a holding school was not the original purpose. These costs would have been in addition to the Woodward costs, not instead of.

But I agree with your other suggestions that should have been considered.

They didn't move forward to approve Woodward until they had dispensed with the idea of a HS serving the lower DCC area, then justifying Woodward with the idea that it amd the Northwood expansion would do the job.

The language they used was nebulous, failing to provide any of the specifics that they floated as ideas offline to ensure support. Totally unsurprising that they'd been walking back the commitment bit by bit ever since, but I doubt they will be able to dispense with it entirely. Then again, if past behaviors tell us anything...

It would have been nice if they added a new DCC school but they had this land and property. They need to redraw all the lines but a DCC school makes no sense.

Um, it makes sense to place services where they are needed.

Then they need to add another school DCC not in Bethesda/Rockville for DCC kids.

There's a shortage of affordable real estate down county. Woodward works - barely - but it's small.

Housing is more affordable DCC. Woodward is no where near DCC. They need another hs dcc but that’s not happening. Multiple other schools also need replaced.

Walter Johnson and the DCC border each other. Woodward is within the current Walter Johnson boundaries. Saying "Woodward is nowhere near DCC" is like saying "the USA is nowhere near Canada".

It's a haul from most of DCC. WJ is right there, schools like Einstein and Wheaton are much further and we'd pass our home school to have to get to Woodward so it would make no sense.

I'm starting to think that Rock Creek is mostly a huge psychological barrier. Einstein is just not that far from Woodward (or Walter Johnson).

Let me guess, you are not down county. It is far and not easy to get to. It would be a huge issue for families without cars if kids have to return to school for later sports or band that does not happen immediately after school. We do basically that drive to Rockville multiple for sports and it’s a haul. Getting home in traffic is a nightmare in rush hour. And there are not easy buses in our neighborhood so public transportation is out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Extending Northwood's use of the holding school for three years is really a terrible thing. The community wanted a holding school in the DCC but MCPS forced Woodward, which families were at least ok with because it would be new.

But how long are the kids not going to have athletic facilities or performing arts spaces...for a school that has a performing arts academy?

Plus Northwood is one of the poorer schools and transportation is an issue. They are flat out going to be eliminating many parents from being able to engage at all with their child's school for up to 75% of their high school career.

What other options were there that were less bad than Woodward?

There was an option discussed of an urban campus in DTSS or utilizing space on the Adventist campus in TkPk. Both would have required MCPS to spend more money, though, so Woodward was the best option.

A lot more money, I'm guessing.

Yes.

https://go.boarddocs.com/mabe/mcpsmd/Board.nsf/files/BAEVW7736805/$file/Northwood%20HS%20Holding%20Ctr%20Eval%20MGT%20Consulting%20Grp%20190314%20PPT.pdf

?

It appears the costs were fractional of that required to build Woodward. There was also a failure of vision.

Why didn't they sue to void the ridiculous contract that rules the old Montgomery Hills JHS property and combine that with the Woodlin property (which ended up being demolished anyway) to make a HS-sized holding school, needing, then, only to find space for an ES? How about refurbish the old Blair as a holding school and find smaller spaces for SSIMS and SCES? Perhaps the complete old Parkside property, asking the private-use Acorn Hill Waldorf to move? Perhaps one of the other options rejected for a HS but suitable for a MS? Perhaps one of the other options for an area elementary school rejected a decade ago over vocal objection from community members participating in the review because MCPS presented jaded views of the options and wouldn't evaluate independent ideas? Too many sacred cows and not enough dedication to the area, in comparison to that given others (though not exactly great, there, either).

Sure, they don't want to spend $. But their mandate should be to provide reasonably equivalent educational services, including facilities, to each community in the county, not to provide similar funding to each. The "it's their turn" approach only works when the turns result in that equivalence and are jiggered to address, for the most part, whatever facilities are most presently at a deficit in relation to others -- not aimed simply to spread facility improvement activity across the county. Unfortunately, MCPS hasn't lived up to that.

They were already going to build Woodward regardless, as a new high school. The idea of using it as a holding school was not the original purpose. These costs would have been in addition to the Woodward costs, not instead of.

But I agree with your other suggestions that should have been considered.

They didn't move forward to approve Woodward until they had dispensed with the idea of a HS serving the lower DCC area, then justifying Woodward with the idea that it amd the Northwood expansion would do the job.

The language they used was nebulous, failing to provide any of the specifics that they floated as ideas offline to ensure support. Totally unsurprising that they'd been walking back the commitment bit by bit ever since, but I doubt they will be able to dispense with it entirely. Then again, if past behaviors tell us anything...

It would have been nice if they added a new DCC school but they had this land and property. They need to redraw all the lines but a DCC school makes no sense.

Um, it makes sense to place services where they are needed.

Then they need to add another school DCC not in Bethesda/Rockville for DCC kids.

There's a shortage of affordable real estate down county. Woodward works - barely - but it's small.

Housing is more affordable DCC. Woodward is no where near DCC. They need another hs dcc but that’s not happening. Multiple other schools also need replaced.

Walter Johnson and the DCC border each other. Woodward is within the current Walter Johnson boundaries. Saying "Woodward is nowhere near DCC" is like saying "the USA is nowhere near Canada".

It's a haul from most of DCC. WJ is right there, schools like Einstein and Wheaton are much further and we'd pass our home school to have to get to Woodward so it would make no sense.

I'm starting to think that Rock Creek is mostly a huge psychological barrier. Einstein is just not that far from Woodward (or Walter Johnson).

Let me guess, you are not down county. It is far and not easy to get to. It would be a huge issue for families without cars if kids have to return to school for later sports or band that does not happen immediately after school. We do basically that drive to Rockville multiple for sports and it’s a haul. Getting home in traffic is a nightmare in rush hour. And there are not easy buses in our neighborhood so public transportation is out.

DP I do that drive (actually coming from further west but pass by Woodward on my way) frequently at rush hour and honestly I think you are exaggerating a little. It's 20 minutes in traffic from Woodward to Wheaton Metro. It's fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Extending Northwood's use of the holding school for three years is really a terrible thing. The community wanted a holding school in the DCC but MCPS forced Woodward, which families were at least ok with because it would be new.

But how long are the kids not going to have athletic facilities or performing arts spaces...for a school that has a performing arts academy?

Plus Northwood is one of the poorer schools and transportation is an issue. They are flat out going to be eliminating many parents from being able to engage at all with their child's school for up to 75% of their high school career.

What other options were there that were less bad than Woodward?

There was an option discussed of an urban campus in DTSS or utilizing space on the Adventist campus in TkPk. Both would have required MCPS to spend more money, though, so Woodward was the best option.

A lot more money, I'm guessing.

Yes.

https://go.boarddocs.com/mabe/mcpsmd/Board.nsf/files/BAEVW7736805/$file/Northwood%20HS%20Holding%20Ctr%20Eval%20MGT%20Consulting%20Grp%20190314%20PPT.pdf

?

It appears the costs were fractional of that required to build Woodward. There was also a failure of vision.

Why didn't they sue to void the ridiculous contract that rules the old Montgomery Hills JHS property and combine that with the Woodlin property (which ended up being demolished anyway) to make a HS-sized holding school, needing, then, only to find space for an ES? How about refurbish the old Blair as a holding school and find smaller spaces for SSIMS and SCES? Perhaps the complete old Parkside property, asking the private-use Acorn Hill Waldorf to move? Perhaps one of the other options rejected for a HS but suitable for a MS? Perhaps one of the other options for an area elementary school rejected a decade ago over vocal objection from community members participating in the review because MCPS presented jaded views of the options and wouldn't evaluate independent ideas? Too many sacred cows and not enough dedication to the area, in comparison to that given others (though not exactly great, there, either).

Sure, they don't want to spend $. But their mandate should be to provide reasonably equivalent educational services, including facilities, to each community in the county, not to provide similar funding to each. The "it's their turn" approach only works when the turns result in that equivalence and are jiggered to address, for the most part, whatever facilities are most presently at a deficit in relation to others -- not aimed simply to spread facility improvement activity across the county. Unfortunately, MCPS hasn't lived up to that.

They were already going to build Woodward regardless, as a new high school. The idea of using it as a holding school was not the original purpose. These costs would have been in addition to the Woodward costs, not instead of.

But I agree with your other suggestions that should have been considered.

They didn't move forward to approve Woodward until they had dispensed with the idea of a HS serving the lower DCC area, then justifying Woodward with the idea that it amd the Northwood expansion would do the job.

The language they used was nebulous, failing to provide any of the specifics that they floated as ideas offline to ensure support. Totally unsurprising that they'd been walking back the commitment bit by bit ever since, but I doubt they will be able to dispense with it entirely. Then again, if past behaviors tell us anything...

It would have been nice if they added a new DCC school but they had this land and property. They need to redraw all the lines but a DCC school makes no sense.

Um, it makes sense to place services where they are needed.

Then they need to add another school DCC not in Bethesda/Rockville for DCC kids.

There's a shortage of affordable real estate down county. Woodward works - barely - but it's small.

Housing is more affordable DCC. Woodward is no where near DCC. They need another hs dcc but that’s not happening. Multiple other schools also need replaced.

Walter Johnson and the DCC border each other. Woodward is within the current Walter Johnson boundaries. Saying "Woodward is nowhere near DCC" is like saying "the USA is nowhere near Canada".

It's a haul from most of DCC. WJ is right there, schools like Einstein and Wheaton are much further and we'd pass our home school to have to get to Woodward so it would make no sense.

I'm starting to think that Rock Creek is mostly a huge psychological barrier. Einstein is just not that far from Woodward (or Walter Johnson).

Let me guess, you are not down county. It is far and not easy to get to. It would be a huge issue for families without cars if kids have to return to school for later sports or band that does not happen immediately after school. We do basically that drive to Rockville multiple for sports and it’s a haul. Getting home in traffic is a nightmare in rush hour. And there are not easy buses in our neighborhood so public transportation is out.

DP I do that drive (actually coming from further west but pass by Woodward on my way) frequently at rush hour and honestly I think you are exaggerating a little. It's 20 minutes in traffic from Woodward to Wheaton Metro. It's fine.

It’s not. 20 minutes with traffic. Be real. And, what about Wheaton families without cars who have to get their kids to school after hours for sports and activities?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Adventist hospital site would have worked but it seems like the DCC just isn't a priority.

I agree the hospital is the largest potential site inside the beltway. But even that is only 14 acres. BCC is the smallest current HS site, and it's 16.36 acres.

Maybe not ideal but would work if they built up and didn't bother with nonsense like a sports arena which doesn't seem all that necessary anyway.

It may not seem all that necessary to you, but the discussion about Woodward showed that most people disagree with you and believe a high school needs a sports stadium.

Sports aren't a necessary part of public education.

Actually, sports and team play is what keeps a lot of kids motivated to go to school and keep their grades up at all. Absent sports, you will have a lower graduation rate.

Also, kids who exercise learn better. Absent sports, you will have more behavior hyperactivity, aggression and mental health issues among students.

Sports are a necessary part of school (and the arts, I would argue).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Extending Northwood's use of the holding school for three years is really a terrible thing. The community wanted a holding school in the DCC but MCPS forced Woodward, which families were at least ok with because it would be new.

But how long are the kids not going to have athletic facilities or performing arts spaces...for a school that has a performing arts academy?

Plus Northwood is one of the poorer schools and transportation is an issue. They are flat out going to be eliminating many parents from being able to engage at all with their child's school for up to 75% of their high school career.

What other options were there that were less bad than Woodward?

There was an option discussed of an urban campus in DTSS or utilizing space on the Adventist campus in TkPk. Both would have required MCPS to spend more money, though, so Woodward was the best option.

A lot more money, I'm guessing.

Yes.

https://go.boarddocs.com/mabe/mcpsmd/Board.nsf/files/BAEVW7736805/$file/Northwood%20HS%20Holding%20Ctr%20Eval%20MGT%20Consulting%20Grp%20190314%20PPT.pdf

?

It appears the costs were fractional of that required to build Woodward. There was also a failure of vision.

Why didn't they sue to void the ridiculous contract that rules the old Montgomery Hills JHS property and combine that with the Woodlin property (which ended up being demolished anyway) to make a HS-sized holding school, needing, then, only to find space for an ES? How about refurbish the old Blair as a holding school and find smaller spaces for SSIMS and SCES? Perhaps the complete old Parkside property, asking the private-use Acorn Hill Waldorf to move? Perhaps one of the other options rejected for a HS but suitable for a MS? Perhaps one of the other options for an area elementary school rejected a decade ago over vocal objection from community members participating in the review because MCPS presented jaded views of the options and wouldn't evaluate independent ideas? Too many sacred cows and not enough dedication to the area, in comparison to that given others (though not exactly great, there, either).

Sure, they don't want to spend $. But their mandate should be to provide reasonably equivalent educational services, including facilities, to each community in the county, not to provide similar funding to each. The "it's their turn" approach only works when the turns result in that equivalence and are jiggered to address, for the most part, whatever facilities are most presently at a deficit in relation to others -- not aimed simply to spread facility improvement activity across the county. Unfortunately, MCPS hasn't lived up to that.

They were already going to build Woodward regardless, as a new high school. The idea of using it as a holding school was not the original purpose. These costs would have been in addition to the Woodward costs, not instead of.

But I agree with your other suggestions that should have been considered.

They didn't move forward to approve Woodward until they had dispensed with the idea of a HS serving the lower DCC area, then justifying Woodward with the idea that it amd the Northwood expansion would do the job.

The language they used was nebulous, failing to provide any of the specifics that they floated as ideas offline to ensure support. Totally unsurprising that they'd been walking back the commitment bit by bit ever since, but I doubt they will be able to dispense with it entirely. Then again, if past behaviors tell us anything...

It would have been nice if they added a new DCC school but they had this land and property. They need to redraw all the lines but a DCC school makes no sense.

Um, it makes sense to place services where they are needed.

Then they need to add another school DCC not in Bethesda/Rockville for DCC kids.

There's a shortage of affordable real estate down county. Woodward works - barely - but it's small.

Housing is more affordable DCC. Woodward is no where near DCC. They need another hs dcc but that’s not happening. Multiple other schools also need replaced.

Walter Johnson and the DCC border each other. Woodward is within the current Walter Johnson boundaries. Saying "Woodward is nowhere near DCC" is like saying "the USA is nowhere near Canada".

It's a haul from most of DCC. WJ is right there, schools like Einstein and Wheaton are much further and we'd pass our home school to have to get to Woodward so it would make no sense.

I'm starting to think that Rock Creek is mostly a huge psychological barrier. Einstein is just not that far from Woodward (or Walter Johnson).

Let me guess, you are not down county. It is far and not easy to get to. It would be a huge issue for families without cars if kids have to return to school for later sports or band that does not happen immediately after school. We do basically that drive to Rockville multiple for sports and it’s a haul. Getting home in traffic is a nightmare in rush hour. And there are not easy buses in our neighborhood so public transportation is out.

DP I do that drive (actually coming from further west but pass by Woodward on my way) frequently at rush hour and honestly I think you are exaggerating a little. It's 20 minutes in traffic from Woodward to Wheaton Metro. It's fine.

It’s not. 20 minutes with traffic. Be real. And, what about Wheaton families without cars who have to get their kids to school after hours for sports and activities?

How long does it take you? I'm genuinely curious. It literally takes me 30 minutes from Falls Rd in Potomac to Wheaton taking local roads during rush hour.

Yes, it is really hard to get around MoCo of you don't have a car. It stinks. It is currently difficult for many families who have to travel several miles to get to their high schools. There is not a universe where everyone gets to live in walking distance to their high school in Montgomery County. I personally feel our public transit system is an embarrassment.

[Anonymous]

During rush hour, I can go from my home near Northwood to an appointment near Woodward in about 25-30 minutes, but that doesn't count time in drop off lines, etc. They really need to make sure that this delay comes with money to support more activity buses and ways for parents to be connected with the school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:During rush hour, I can go from my home near Northwood to an appointment near Woodward in about 25-30 minutes, but that doesn't count time in drop off lines, etc. They really need to make sure that this delay comes with money to support more activity buses and ways for parents to be connected with the school.

I mean that is totally consistent with what I said since Northwood is 5-10 minutes east of Wheaton metro.

Northwood is on the eastern side of the DCC. There are many places in the DCC that are closer to Woodward.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Extending Northwood's use of the holding school for three years is really a terrible thing. The community wanted a holding school in the DCC but MCPS forced Woodward, which families were at least ok with because it would be new.

But how long are the kids not going to have athletic facilities or performing arts spaces...for a school that has a performing arts academy?

Plus Northwood is one of the poorer schools and transportation is an issue. They are flat out going to be eliminating many parents from being able to engage at all with their child's school for up to 75% of their high school career.

What other options were there that were less bad than Woodward?

There was an option discussed of an urban campus in DTSS or utilizing space on the Adventist campus in TkPk. Both would have required MCPS to spend more money, though, so Woodward was the best option.

A lot more money, I'm guessing.

Yes.

https://go.boarddocs.com/mabe/mcpsmd/Board.nsf/files/BAEVW7736805/$file/Northwood%20HS%20Holding%20Ctr%20Eval%20MGT%20Consulting%20Grp%20190314%20PPT.pdf

?

It appears the costs were fractional of that required to build Woodward. There was also a failure of vision.

Why didn't they sue to void the ridiculous contract that rules the old Montgomery Hills JHS property and combine that with the Woodlin property (which ended up being demolished anyway) to make a HS-sized holding school, needing, then, only to find space for an ES? How about refurbish the old Blair as a holding school and find smaller spaces for SSIMS and SCES? Perhaps the complete old Parkside property, asking the private-use Acorn Hill Waldorf to move? Perhaps one of the other options rejected for a HS but suitable for a MS? Perhaps one of the other options for an area elementary school rejected a decade ago over vocal objection from community members participating in the review because MCPS presented jaded views of the options and wouldn't evaluate independent ideas? Too many sacred cows and not enough dedication to the area, in comparison to that given others (though not exactly great, there, either).

Sure, they don't want to spend $. But their mandate should be to provide reasonably equivalent educational services, including facilities, to each community in the county, not to provide similar funding to each. The "it's their turn" approach only works when the turns result in that equivalence and are jiggered to address, for the most part, whatever facilities are most presently at a deficit in relation to others -- not aimed simply to spread facility improvement activity across the county. Unfortunately, MCPS hasn't lived up to that.

They were already going to build Woodward regardless, as a new high school. The idea of using it as a holding school was not the original purpose. These costs would have been in addition to the Woodward costs, not instead of.

But I agree with your other suggestions that should have been considered.

They didn't move forward to approve Woodward until they had dispensed with the idea of a HS serving the lower DCC area, then justifying Woodward with the idea that it amd the Northwood expansion would do the job.

The language they used was nebulous, failing to provide any of the specifics that they floated as ideas offline to ensure support. Totally unsurprising that they'd been walking back the commitment bit by bit ever since, but I doubt they will be able to dispense with it entirely. Then again, if past behaviors tell us anything...

It would have been nice if they added a new DCC school but they had this land and property. They need to redraw all the lines but a DCC school makes no sense.

Um, it makes sense to place services where they are needed.

Then they need to add another school DCC not in Bethesda/Rockville for DCC kids.

There's a shortage of affordable real estate down county. Woodward works - barely - but it's small.

Housing is more affordable DCC. Woodward is no where near DCC. They need another hs dcc but that’s not happening. Multiple other schools also need replaced.

Walter Johnson and the DCC border each other. Woodward is within the current Walter Johnson boundaries. Saying "Woodward is nowhere near DCC" is like saying "the USA is nowhere near Canada".

It's a haul from most of DCC. WJ is right there, schools like Einstein and Wheaton are much further and we'd pass our home school to have to get to Woodward so it would make no sense.

I'm starting to think that Rock Creek is mostly a huge psychological barrier. Einstein is just not that far from Woodward (or Walter Johnson).

Let me guess, you are not down county. It is far and not easy to get to. It would be a huge issue for families without cars if kids have to return to school for later sports or band that does not happen immediately after school. We do basically that drive to Rockville multiple for sports and it’s a haul. Getting home in traffic is a nightmare in rush hour. And there are not easy buses in our neighborhood so public transportation is out.

DP I do that drive (actually coming from further west but pass by Woodward on my way) frequently at rush hour and honestly I think you are exaggerating a little. It's 20 minutes in traffic from Woodward to Wheaton Metro. It's fine.

It’s not. 20 minutes with traffic. Be real. And, what about Wheaton families without cars who have to get their kids to school after hours for sports and activities?

How long does it take you? I'm genuinely curious. It literally takes me 30 minutes from Falls Rd in Potomac to Wheaton taking local roads during rush hour.

Yes, it is really hard to get around MoCo of you don't have a car. It stinks. It is currently difficult for many families who have to travel several miles to get to their high schools. There is not a universe where everyone gets to live in walking distance to their high school in Montgomery County. I personally feel our public transit system is an embarrassment.

Going it takes 20-25 minutes, home during rush hour it often takes about 45 minutes, with back roads and cut throughs if I am lucky 30 minutes. We don't have bus service to the school as its a two mile rule so we have to drive and spend a lot of time in the car. But, we'd drive past our home school to go to Woodward and it would make no sense. They should let it be a mid-county school, and either make some of the DCC bigger - Northwood, Einstein, etc. that they are remodeling or need to remodel or buy some land and add another school. It would be a huge issue with sports and other activities after school. We have a school activity that is at 5PM, so how would that work with the distance for some families if it is a 20-30 minute drive there, then you have to return for pick up or wait.