MCPS is an unmanageable behemoth - It's time to break the wheel

[Anonymous]

With all the boundary line posts and discussions, it is clear that there is a better option: Divide MCPS into smaller school districts and give more independent control to the districts.

Montgomery County has over 1,000,000 residents. Public education is generally organized by municipalities (more common in New England) or by counties (more common in the mid-atlantic and southern states).

While the county-administered schools are logical in areas with more disperse or rural populations, Montgomery County has become too big for a single administered school system. Let the people of Silver Spring, Gaithersburg, Takoma Park, etc, administer their own school districts and elect their own school board members.

[Anonymous]

I would support that. MCPS is just some behemoth Central Office with a billion dollar budget and no accountability. And it doesn't manage its huge portfolio of schools well.

Split up the district, and we don't need to have snow days when there's an inch that falls 2 hours away out east in the county. And maybe we could have graduations without driving to Baltimore.

[Anonymous]

I wish it could happen. Supposedly it is blocked by state legislature. All Maryland counties have one school system or something like that. MCPS is way too large.

[Anonymous]

Not possible in Maryland, unless you want to break Montgomery County into smaller counties. Easier to just move to NJ.

[Anonymous]

I was looking into moving to Buffalo recently because my kid might be going to school up there. Was shocked to discover the city of Buffalo and it's suburbs are like 9 separate school districts with each cluster essentially operating as it's own district.

[Anonymous]

That would cost a lot more with multiple central offices and how do you divide the funds?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was looking into moving to Buffalo recently because my kid might be going to school up there. Was shocked to discover the city of Buffalo and it's suburbs are like 9 separate school districts with each cluster essentially operating as it's own district.

Yes, virtually all the states north of us have most government services performed by cities/ towns/ boroughs/ townships etc. In Maryland it is by county. As someone who owns multiple homes in each, both have downsides.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wish it could happen. Supposedly it is blocked by state legislature. All Maryland counties have one school system or something like that. MCPS is way too large.

State law dictates a Board of Education for each county in MD. In many other states, school districts are independent government bodies that are not tied to county governments, and each school district has its own BOE.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was looking into moving to Buffalo recently because my kid might be going to school up there. Was shocked to discover the city of Buffalo and it's suburbs are like 9 separate school districts with each cluster essentially operating as it's own district.

Yes, virtually all the states north of us have most government services performed by cities/ towns/ boroughs/ townships etc. In Maryland it is by county. As someone who owns multiple homes in each, both have downsides.

+1

[Anonymous]

MD has 24 school districts, one for each county, plus Baltimore City because it’s not part of any county. My home state of Ohio has 600-700 school districts. My small hometown has one high school.

[Anonymous]

How would that work with so many unincorporated areas? It works in other states because they actually have town/city government and taxes.

[Anonymous]

I wish it were possible. The interests and needs of different parts of the county are glaringly different and this superintendent can’t seem to address them as others in the past could not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wish it could happen. Supposedly it is blocked by state legislature. All Maryland counties have one school system or something like that. MCPS is way too large.

State law dictates a Board of Education for each county in MD. In many other states, school districts are independent government bodies that are not tied to county governments, and each school district has its own BOE.

+1 if you want to change this, start at the level of state legislature.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How would that work with so many unincorporated areas? It works in other states because they actually have town/city government and taxes.

Easy. Make those areas incorporated and let them represent themselves instead of the county council member who "reps" them into giving developers everything they want.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:With all the boundary line posts and discussions, it is clear that there is a better option: Divide MCPS into smaller school districts and give more independent control to the districts.

Montgomery County has over 1,000,000 residents. Public education is generally organized by municipalities (more common in New England) or by counties (more common in the mid-atlantic and southern states).

While the county-administered schools are logical in areas with more disperse or rural populations, Montgomery County has become too big for a single administered school system. Let the people of Silver Spring, Gaithersburg, Takoma Park, etc, administer their own school districts and elect their own school board members.

+1 I've been on this soap box for years now. Need to twist the State rules or change them. If folks get together it could happen. Let's do it!