Concerned about the size of elementary schools

[Anonymous]

Is anyone else very concerned about how big the elementary schools are in MoCo? And the trend seems to be that they are getting bigger. I realize that this area is growing but there used to be more schools with fewer students in each. It doesn't take a accountant to figure out that its cheaper to have bigger schools, but does that really justify the trade offs? I can't be the only one who feels this way. Does anyone know of a parent action group who, if not already, would be interested in lobbying the system to open more elementary schools to keep them small?

[Anonymous]

I am extremely concerned of course at the trend. However, the trend toward bigger schools is driven by growing population and budget cuts. I do not think that the money is available to build new schools when many teachers, teaching assistants, and other staff have been laid off or had their hours cut and everyone has been suffering through pay freezes. Any lobbying should be for more money to be budgeted for the schools, not just for building more schools. It's not as if the money is available and no one has thought of building more schools.

[Anonymous]

When one of the candidates running for state delegate or County Council comes by your house, ask them point blank why they have not done anything about this issue and then tell them, that is why you will not vote for them.

There needs to be a change and it starts with voting them out. This problem is not one that occurred overnight, it occurred while they were asleep at the wheel funding programs that are a waste of money.

Vote them out no matter what party they are with and make sure education is the #1 priority.

[Anonymous]

Education should be the #1 priority, but, I for one, don't believe that bricks and mortar should be the #1 solution. Have more classes with fewer students - regardless of whether that means a bigger school or not. Cut summer down so that we can have time for "extras" like art and music and foreign language during the school day. Have better playground equipment - have more extracurriculars - repair the schools we do have. So many more things that could be done with money besides building yet another school. Furthermore, MoCo has unused space that can be converted/used for schools without building another school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
When one of the candidates running for state delegate or County Council comes by your house, ask them point blank why they have not done anything about this issue and then tell them, that is why you will not vote for them.

There needs to be a change and it starts with voting them out. This problem is not one that occurred overnight, it occurred while they were asleep at the wheel funding programs that are a waste of money.

Vote them out no matter what party they are with and make sure education is the #1 priority.

This is incorrect. While the Council has appropriation authority over MCPS, it can only appropriate a large chunk of money. Jerry Weast and the Board ultimately decide what the funds are used for and what they are not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
When one of the candidates running for state delegate or County Council comes by your house, ask them point blank why they have not done anything about this issue and then tell them, that is why you will not vote for them.

There needs to be a change and it starts with voting them out. This problem is not one that occurred overnight, it occurred while they were asleep at the wheel funding programs that are a waste of money.

Vote them out no matter what party they are with and make sure education is the #1 priority.

This is incorrect. While the Council has appropriation authority over MCPS, it can only appropriate a large chunk of money. Jerry Weast and the Board ultimately decide what the funds are used for and what they are not.

Wrong- been through this on here before, it all comes form the same bucket and then it is split into smaller buckets. If you want education to have a bigger bucket, vote for a new council.

If it is a law, I am sure they can change it just like they change all the other laws

[Anonymous]

It's state law, not county. If you really want to fix the problem, you need to focus on the board. Fortunately, Jerry Weast will be gone soon, so there's some hope.