Woodward Auditorium Construction Advocacy Ahead of Monday County Council Meeting

[Anonymous]

MoCo Council’s Joint Operating Committee for Government Opportunities and Economic Development will be meeting at 9am Monday morning (4/29). Several councilmembers have put forward bills and are requesting to fund them using the County’s reserves. The merits of these bills notwithstanding, they should be funded through the regular budget as operating expenses. Reserves are intended for special, one-time cases like the auditorium at Woodward High School. The Northwood community is asking for parents to contact the County Council prior to the meeting tomorrow (4/29) to express concern and ask that these funds be used for the auditorium.

In the case of many Northwood families, please email: [e-mail]

Here's a sample letter that you can use:
***
Dear [Councilmember Stewart],

My name is ___________ and I live in ____________. I/my child(ren) attend/graduated Northwood High School and they will attend Northwood@Woodward, also known as NorthWoodward.

After decades of fighting for a new high school and being promised that our holding facility would provide the full range of academic and programmatic infrastructure, it is egregious that construction of the auditorium at Woodward is being delayed to Phase III. I am requesting that the County Council allocate $20 million from its reserves for this one-time, non-recurring expense to keep the auditorium’s construction on schedule and part of Phase II.

I am disappointed that there are several bills currently under consideration that would tap into the reserves. Those proposals should be funded through the budget as operating expenses. I urge you and your colleagues to instead use reserve funds to ensure students in the Down County Consortium have equitable access to high school programming.

Sincerely,

Your Name
Street Address
City State
Email

[Anonymous]

Thanks for posting!

[Anonymous]

Aren't there other capital projects that have been delayed for over a decade? Is the auditorium more important?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Aren't there other capital projects that have been delayed for over a decade? Is the auditorium more important?

If you don't want to advocate for the auditorium, that's ok, you don't have to.

And other people, who do want to advocate for the auditorium, can do so.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Aren't there other capital projects that have been delayed for over a decade? Is the auditorium more important?

Do you have HS students? Ones who perform in school plays or musicals? Ones who play an instrument in the band or orchestra? Ones who sing in a chorus? Do you participate in grade-level meetings for parents? All of these and more take place in the auditorium that every other HS in the county has. This is about access and equity, and yes, it's more important than other capital projects, because you don't build 97% of a new HS, you build 100%

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Aren't there other capital projects that have been delayed for over a decade? Is the auditorium more important?

Do you have HS students? Ones who perform in school plays or musicals? Ones who play an instrument in the band or orchestra? Ones who sing in a chorus? Do you participate in grade-level meetings for parents? All of these and more take place in the auditorium that every other HS in the county has. This is about access and equity, and yes, it's more important than other capital projects, because you don't build 97% of a new HS, you build 100%

Not if the remaining 3% matters to only 1% of the student population

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Aren't there other capital projects that have been delayed for over a decade? Is the auditorium more important?

Do you have HS students? Ones who perform in school plays or musicals? Ones who play an instrument in the band or orchestra? Ones who sing in a chorus? Do you participate in grade-level meetings for parents? All of these and more take place in the auditorium that every other HS in the county has. This is about access and equity, and yes, it's more important than other capital projects, because you don't build 97% of a new HS, you build 100%

Woodward, rebuilt ahead of multiple other capital projects that were on the list for rebuilding first. Take your 97% of a school and be grateful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Aren't there other capital projects that have been delayed for over a decade? Is the auditorium more important?

Do you have HS students? Ones who perform in school plays or musicals? Ones who play an instrument in the band or orchestra? Ones who sing in a chorus? Do you participate in grade-level meetings for parents? All of these and more take place in the auditorium that every other HS in the county has. This is about access and equity, and yes, it's more important than other capital projects, because you don't build 97% of a new HS, you build 100%

Woodward, rebuilt ahead of multiple other capital projects that were on the list for rebuilding first. Take your 97% of a school and be grateful.

What's stopping you from advocating FOR the projects you support, just like the Northwood families are advocating FOR projects they support?

I'm in the upcounty, but I support the Northwood advocacy efforts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Aren't there other capital projects that have been delayed for over a decade? Is the auditorium more important?

Do you have HS students? Ones who perform in school plays or musicals? Ones who play an instrument in the band or orchestra? Ones who sing in a chorus? Do you participate in grade-level meetings for parents? All of these and more take place in the auditorium that every other HS in the county has. This is about access and equity, and yes, it's more important than other capital projects, because you don't build 97% of a new HS, you build 100%

Woodward, rebuilt ahead of multiple other capital projects that were on the list for rebuilding first. Take your 97% of a school and be grateful.

What's stopping you from advocating FOR the projects you support, just like the Northwood families are advocating FOR projects they support?

I'm in the upcounty, but I support the Northwood advocacy efforts.

I am sure you have advocated for Northwood, as Woodward serving as a temporary holding school for Northwood was the one condition placed before you for green lighting Woodward ahead of more deserving projects. Self-interest is self-interest.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Aren't there other capital projects that have been delayed for over a decade? Is the auditorium more important?

Do you have HS students? Ones who perform in school plays or musicals? Ones who play an instrument in the band or orchestra? Ones who sing in a chorus? Do you participate in grade-level meetings for parents? All of these and more take place in the auditorium that every other HS in the county has. This is about access and equity, and yes, it's more important than other capital projects, because you don't build 97% of a new HS, you build 100%

Woodward, rebuilt ahead of multiple other capital projects that were on the list for rebuilding first. Take your 97% of a school and be grateful.

What's stopping you from advocating FOR the projects you support, just like the Northwood families are advocating FOR projects they support?

I'm in the upcounty, but I support the Northwood advocacy efforts.

I am sure you have advocated for Northwood, as Woodward serving as a temporary holding school for Northwood was the one condition placed before you for green lighting Woodward ahead of more deserving projects. Self-interest is self-interest.

...do what now?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
MoCo Council’s Joint Operating Committee for Government Opportunities and Economic Development will be meeting at 9am Monday morning (4/29). Several councilmembers have put forward bills and are requesting to fund them using the County’s reserves. The merits of these bills notwithstanding, they should be funded through the regular budget as operating expenses. Reserves are intended for special, one-time cases like the auditorium at Woodward High School. The Northwood community is asking for parents to contact the County Council prior to the meeting tomorrow (4/29) to express concern and ask that these funds be used for the auditorium.

In the case of many Northwood families, please email: [e-mail]

Here's a sample letter that you can use:
***
Dear [Councilmember Stewart],

My name is ___________ and I live in ____________. I/my child(ren) attend/graduated Northwood High School and they will attend Northwood@Woodward, also known as NorthWoodward.

After decades of fighting for a new high school and being promised that our holding facility would provide the full range of academic and programmatic infrastructure, it is egregious that construction of the auditorium at Woodward is being delayed to Phase III. I am requesting that the County Council allocate $20 million from its reserves for this one-time, non-recurring expense to keep the auditorium’s construction on schedule and part of Phase II.

I am disappointed that there are several bills currently under consideration that would tap into the reserves. Those proposals should be funded through the budget as operating expenses. I urge you and your colleagues to instead use reserve funds to ensure students in the Down County Consortium have equitable access to high school programming.

Sincerely,

Your Name
Street Address
City State
Email

If this is meant for Northwood stakeholders, it'd better say "to ensure the auditorium is completed by this summer" instead of "part of Phase II." Phase II is whst helps the WJ folks -- construction while Northwood temporarily occupies Phase I.

It's not that I don't think the students/community that ultimately occupies a completed Woodward shouldn't have an auditorium, but let's not co-opt Northwood folks to advocate for anything less than having access to an on-campus auditorium themselves.

[Anonymous]

^^ s/b "It's not that I think..." rather than "It's not that I don't think..."

One too many negatives used, there

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
MoCo Council’s Joint Operating Committee for Government Opportunities and Economic Development will be meeting at 9am Monday morning (4/29). Several councilmembers have put forward bills and are requesting to fund them using the County’s reserves. The merits of these bills notwithstanding, they should be funded through the regular budget as operating expenses. Reserves are intended for special, one-time cases like the auditorium at Woodward High School. The Northwood community is asking for parents to contact the County Council prior to the meeting tomorrow (4/29) to express concern and ask that these funds be used for the auditorium.

In the case of many Northwood families, please email: [e-mail]

Here's a sample letter that you can use:
***
Dear [Councilmember Stewart],

My name is ___________ and I live in ____________. I/my child(ren) attend/graduated Northwood High School and they will attend Northwood@Woodward, also known as NorthWoodward.

After decades of fighting for a new high school and being promised that our holding facility would provide the full range of academic and programmatic infrastructure, it is egregious that construction of the auditorium at Woodward is being delayed to Phase III. I am requesting that the County Council allocate $20 million from its reserves for this one-time, non-recurring expense to keep the auditorium’s construction on schedule and part of Phase II.

I am disappointed that there are several bills currently under consideration that would tap into the reserves. Those proposals should be funded through the budget as operating expenses. I urge you and your colleagues to instead use reserve funds to ensure students in the Down County Consortium have equitable access to high school programming.

Sincerely,

Your Name
Street Address
City State
Email

If this is meant for Northwood stakeholders, it'd better say "to ensure the auditorium is completed by this summer" instead of "part of Phase II." Phase II is whst helps the WJ folks -- construction while Northwood temporarily occupies Phase I.

It's not that I don't think the students/community that ultimately occupies a completed Woodward shouldn't have an auditorium, but let's not co-opt Northwood folks to advocate for anything less than having access to an on-campus auditorium themselves.

Completing the auditorium by this summer is not on the table. Northwood families knew their first year at Woodward would be without an auditorium. But they were expecting it to be available for the second (and now, third) year. That can still happen if funding is secured.

[Anonymous]

I thought the school district is providing a black box theater for the Woodward facility.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
MoCo Council’s Joint Operating Committee for Government Opportunities and Economic Development will be meeting at 9am Monday morning (4/29). Several councilmembers have put forward bills and are requesting to fund them using the County’s reserves. The merits of these bills notwithstanding, they should be funded through the regular budget as operating expenses. Reserves are intended for special, one-time cases like the auditorium at Woodward High School. The Northwood community is asking for parents to contact the County Council prior to the meeting tomorrow (4/29) to express concern and ask that these funds be used for the auditorium.

In the case of many Northwood families, please email: [e-mail]

Here's a sample letter that you can use:
***
Dear [Councilmember Stewart],

My name is ___________ and I live in ____________. I/my child(ren) attend/graduated Northwood High School and they will attend Northwood@Woodward, also known as NorthWoodward.

After decades of fighting for a new high school and being promised that our holding facility would provide the full range of academic and programmatic infrastructure, it is egregious that construction of the auditorium at Woodward is being delayed to Phase III. I am requesting that the County Council allocate $20 million from its reserves for this one-time, non-recurring expense to keep the auditorium’s construction on schedule and part of Phase II.

I am disappointed that there are several bills currently under consideration that would tap into the reserves. Those proposals should be funded through the budget as operating expenses. I urge you and your colleagues to instead use reserve funds to ensure students in the Down County Consortium have equitable access to high school programming.

Sincerely,

Your Name
Street Address
City State
Email

If this is meant for Northwood stakeholders, it'd better say "to ensure the auditorium is completed by this summer" instead of "part of Phase II." Phase II is whst helps the WJ folks -- construction while Northwood temporarily occupies Phase I.

It's not that I don't think the students/community that ultimately occupies a completed Woodward shouldn't have an auditorium, but let's not co-opt Northwood folks to advocate for anything less than having access to an on-campus auditorium themselves.

Completing the auditorium by this summer is not on the table. Northwood families knew their first year at Woodward would be without an auditorium. But they were expecting it to be available for the second (and now, third) year. That can still happen if funding is secured.

Then they should be getting Woodward families to advocate for its completion by next summer at the latest. Asking Northwood families to advocate for something that would only benefit them for a single year if it doesn't slip again (as many of these things do) is asking DCC to carry the W's water.

It's pretty bad, no matter how you look at it, but, without getting something more substantive, the political capital is better spent elsewhere.