RFP for county-wide boundary analysis

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This needs to stop until MoCo gets back on its economic feet. Doing anything that spooks away potential buyers and makes Montgomery County even less attractive is just suicide right now. Doing a study and then being cagey that they may or may not do anything is even worse for the real estate market and property tax revenue stream.

Houses in MoCo are not selling the last 9 months. RE agents are freaking out at how slow it is, things are going back up as rentals. Including homes less than 10 yrs old and tear down new builds.

NoVA and NW DC are hading MoCo and MCPS their regurgitated lunch.

Oh my God. You're either a drama queen or a liar. By the way, Fairfax is experiencing potential boundary changes too. Get a grip and educate yourself on facts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love how everyone is whining about what they think will happen from a study that a) hasn't yet been awarded, or even started and b) no one has suggested ANY actual changes. Just hypotheticals of what they either want, or don't want, to happen, which sends everyone into a tizzy. So typical....

Can we be honest about the fact that the report will influence recommended changes, even if it won't directly create them? The constant barrage of posters saying "this won't change any boundaries, calm down" are a bit ridiculous. Of course THIS study won't directly change boundaries, but if you are BOE and you want justification to change them in the future, setting up this study is an important/essential first step.

Can we be honest about the fact that nobody knows what BoE will or won't do, given that (as the PP said) no one has suggested anything, the study hasn't even been started, the contract hasn't been awarded, and the RFP says not to make recommendations?

If you want to panic, then panic. But don't say that it's a fact-based panic, because it's not.

75% utilization at Cold Spring? That is generous. Actually, Cold Spring ES has a capacity of 458 and enrollment of 327, which is 71%. Then also remember that about 100 of those students are nonlocal students being bussed in for the CES. Actual local enrollment is more like 227, for a utilization of under 50%

Cold Spring is a huge issue of what the council and board are blind to. There were two easy options.

1. Close the school and move the kids into Beverly Farms and Wayside. Both under capacity. Move the CES into another school that is under capacity or needs a different SES/FARMS level.

2. Move Horizon Hill out of Rtichie Park and into Cold Spring. It would have alleviated buses since Horizon Hill is in walking distance to Cold Spring, but currently gets bused to Ritchie Park. And it would have alleviated how overcrowded Ritchie Park is with 6 portables while Cold Spring has 1-2 empty classrooms open PER GRADE!

This is a very common sense move. It doesn't require much thought at all into it. It could have been done years ago.

And don't get started on Rachel Carson. That is a train wreck. Almost 1200 kids in one elementary school. You move all the other neighborhoods BUT Kentlands and Lakelands out to Dufief which is also at about 70% capacity and a ghost town.

Why these schools, both with sister schools right up the street weren't easily adjusted years ago is embarrassing. But let's pay someone millions to look into it. How about we demand more of our sh*tty board who does NOTHING

There's nothing easy about boundary changes. Have you ever been through a boundary study? It was the recent change in policy FAA which now allows looking at adjacent clusters. This will help in the situations you mention, and is exactly the kind of thing the boundary analysis will figure out.

Yes, in other districts this is not an issue. Boundary changes are done every 2-3 years. They keep up with it. Keep the schools even. MCPS has not. They have ignored it. Just passing the one policy to look at adjacent clusters isn't good enough. It hasn't changed anything yet. And they won't make any boundary changes for at least 3 more years due to this survey.

Agree!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Yes, in other districts this is not an issue. Boundary changes are done every 2-3 years. They keep up with it. Keep the schools even. MCPS has not. They have ignored it. Just passing the one policy to look at adjacent clusters isn't good enough. It hasn't changed anything yet. And they won't make any boundary changes for at least 3 more years due to this survey.

MCPS doing it wrong, whatever they do. Not adjusting boundaries: wrong! Adjusting boundaries: wrong!

That is what you take away from that post? The board isn't proactive and then delegates their own job which costs us money. That is how I see it.

The board is doing its job by paying a consultant to do a boundary analysis.

No other district needs to do this and turn it into a 2-3 year process

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Yes, in other districts this is not an issue. Boundary changes are done every 2-3 years. They keep up with it. Keep the schools even. MCPS has not. They have ignored it. Just passing the one policy to look at adjacent clusters isn't good enough. It hasn't changed anything yet. And they won't make any boundary changes for at least 3 more years due to this survey.

MCPS doing it wrong, whatever they do. Not adjusting boundaries: wrong! Adjusting boundaries: wrong!

That is what you take away from that post? The board isn't proactive and then delegates their own job which costs us money. That is how I see it.

The board is doing its job by paying a consultant to do a boundary analysis.

No other district needs to do this and turn it into a 2-3 year process

Of course they do. And this is a huge district with over 200 schools, unlike most.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This needs to stop until MoCo gets back on its economic feet. Doing anything that spooks away potential buyers and makes Montgomery County even less attractive is just suicide right now. Doing a study and then being cagey that they may or may not do anything is even worse for the real estate market and property tax revenue stream.

Houses in MoCo are not selling the last 9 months. RE agents are freaking out at how slow it is, things are going back up as rentals. Including homes less than 10 yrs old and tear down new builds.

NoVA and NW DC are hading MoCo and MCPS their regurgitated lunch.

Oh my God. You're either a drama queen or a liar. By the way, Fairfax is experiencing potential boundary changes too. Get a grip and educate yourself on facts.

We didn’t catch that. What are Days on Market in Fairfax or Arlington versus Mont County? Prices per square foot? Income tax rates?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love how everyone is whining about what they think will happen from a study that a) hasn't yet been awarded, or even started and b) no one has suggested ANY actual changes. Just hypotheticals of what they either want, or don't want, to happen, which sends everyone into a tizzy. So typical....

Can we be honest about the fact that the report will influence recommended changes, even if it won't directly create them? The constant barrage of posters saying "this won't change any boundaries, calm down" are a bit ridiculous. Of course THIS study won't directly change boundaries, but if you are BOE and you want justification to change them in the future, setting up this study is an important/essential first step.

Can we be honest about the fact that nobody knows what BoE will or won't do, given that (as the PP said) no one has suggested anything, the study hasn't even been started, the contract hasn't been awarded, and the RFP says not to make recommendations?

If you want to panic, then panic. But don't say that it's a fact-based panic, because it's not.

75% utilization at Cold Spring? That is generous. Actually, Cold Spring ES has a capacity of 458 and enrollment of 327, which is 71%. Then also remember that about 100 of those students are nonlocal students being bussed in for the CES. Actual local enrollment is more like 227, for a utilization of under 50%

Cold Spring is a huge issue of what the council and board are blind to. There were two easy options.

1. Close the school and move the kids into Beverly Farms and Wayside. Both under capacity. Move the CES into another school that is under capacity or needs a different SES/FARMS level.

2. Move Horizon Hill out of Rtichie Park and into Cold Spring. It would have alleviated buses since Horizon Hill is in walking distance to Cold Spring, but currently gets bused to Ritchie Park. And it would have alleviated how overcrowded Ritchie Park is with 6 portables while Cold Spring has 1-2 empty classrooms open PER GRADE!

This is a very common sense move. It doesn't require much thought at all into it. It could have been done years ago.

And don't get started on Rachel Carson. That is a train wreck. Almost 1200 kids in one elementary school. You move all the other neighborhoods BUT Kentlands and Lakelands out to Dufief which is also at about 70% capacity and a ghost town.

Why these schools, both with sister schools right up the street weren't easily adjusted years ago is embarrassing. But let's pay someone millions to look into it. How about we demand more of our sh*tty board who does NOTHING

There's nothing easy about boundary changes. Have you ever been through a boundary study? It was the recent change in policy FAA which now allows looking at adjacent clusters. This will help in the situations you mention, and is exactly the kind of thing the boundary analysis will figure out.

Yes, in other districts this is not an issue. Boundary changes are done every 2-3 years. They keep up with it. Keep the schools even. MCPS has not. They have ignored it. Just passing the one policy to look at adjacent clusters isn't good enough. It hasn't changed anything yet. And they won't make any boundary changes for at least 3 more years due to this survey.

and 1-2 years after they update the boundaries Woodward will come online and make it all obsolete

[Anonymous]

One high school will re-open and make every possible boundary change in MCPS obsolete?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One high school will re-open and make every possible boundary change in MCPS obsolete?

Crown will also happen. I assume MCPS and the consultant will account for that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This needs to stop until MoCo gets back on its economic feet. Doing anything that spooks away potential buyers and makes Montgomery County even less attractive is just suicide right now. Doing a study and then being cagey that they may or may not do anything is even worse for the real estate market and property tax revenue stream.

Houses in MoCo are not selling the last 9 months. RE agents are freaking out at how slow it is, things are going back up as rentals. Including homes less than 10 yrs old and tear down new builds.

NoVA and NW DC are hading MoCo and MCPS their regurgitated lunch.

Oh my God. You're either a drama queen or a liar. By the way, Fairfax is experiencing potential boundary changes too. Get a grip and educate yourself on facts.

We didn’t catch that. What are Days on Market in Fairfax or Arlington versus Mont County? Prices per square foot? Income tax rates?

Really? Homes aren't selling in MoCo? That's the drama, which also happens to be a lie.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:One high school will re-open and make every possible boundary change in MCPS obsolete?

Crown will also happen. I assume MCPS and the consultant will account for that.

Yes, this is included in the RFP:
This project analysis must take into account not only the currently approved capital construction
and planning context, but also the recent years of construction and planning actions as well as the
CIP that will be developed for the FY2020-2026 capital planning cycle. This recent, current, and
upcoming capital construction and planning framework will serve as a foundation from which this
analysis can build, while changes to the approved CIP and Master Plan are outside the scope of the
project.

[Anonymous]

There are housing market updates - https://gcaar.com/docs/default-source/montgomery-county-market-reports/gcaar-mc-housing-market-update---january-2019.pdf?sfvrsn=7735fe93_2

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are housing market updates - https://gcaar.com/docs/default-source/montgomery-county-market-reports/gcaar-mc-housing-market-update---january-2019.pdf?sfvrsn=7735fe93_2

L&F as of May - https://marketminute.longandfoster.com/Market-Minute/MD/Montgomery-County.htm

Median Sale Price
Last May, the median sale price for Montgomery County Homes was $479,000. This May, the median sale price was $467,750, a decrease of 2% or $11,250 compared to last year. The current median sold price is 2% higher than in April.

[Anonymous]

I hate class warfare. It sucks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I hate class warfare. It sucks!

Which class is warring with which class?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This needs to stop until MoCo gets back on its economic feet. Doing anything that spooks away potential buyers and makes Montgomery County even less attractive is just suicide right now. Doing a study and then being cagey that they may or may not do anything is even worse for the real estate market and property tax revenue stream.

Houses in MoCo are not selling the last 9 months. RE agents are freaking out at how slow it is, things are going back up as rentals. Including homes less than 10 yrs old and tear down new builds.

NoVA and NW DC are hading MoCo and MCPS their regurgitated lunch.

Oh my God. You're either a drama queen or a liar. By the way, Fairfax is experiencing potential boundary changes too. Get a grip and educate yourself on facts.

They're a drama queen AND a liar. This is fake news.