How was the Einstein meeting tonight?

[Anonymous]

How was the Einstein meeting today? Format? Turnout? Tone?

[Anonymous]

It was pointless. Someone gave a presentation that will be replicated online today, just going through the slides. They stated at the outset that they would not be taking Q&A. Then there were maps around the room with reps from I think FLO? You could ask questions in a vacuum about each of the new options to that rep. Turnout was pretty good. Tone was fine given that there was no group Q&A and people were milling around not exactly sure what to ask or who to talk to.

I asked whether the consultants were taking into account projections regarding how FARMs rates would change at each school once the regional model is implemented, noting that we've been told time and time again that the two are "inextricably linked." The consultant confirmed that the boundary study reps are not in contact with the regional program model designers. She also confirmed that the boundary consultants are constrained by the region boundaries (1-6) when making their proposals.

I also asked how it was that FARMS rates for Sligo Middle School and Einstein increase in each of the three new proposals (E-G) when one of the stated pillars of that study is demographics. She did not have a good answer except to say that there were some marginal increases at other schools with traditionally lower FARMS rates too.

[Anonymous]

so how are they "inextricably linked" if there is no crossover in the planning for the two major changes?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It was pointless. Someone gave a presentation that will be replicated online today, just going through the slides. They stated at the outset that they would not be taking Q&A. Then there were maps around the room with reps from I think FLO? You could ask questions in a vacuum about each of the new options to that rep. Turnout was pretty good. Tone was fine given that there was no group Q&A and people were milling around not exactly sure what to ask or who to talk to.

I asked whether the consultants were taking into account projections regarding how FARMs rates would change at each school once the regional model is implemented, noting that we've been told time and time again that the two are "inextricably linked." The consultant confirmed that the boundary study reps are not in contact with the regional program model designers. She also confirmed that the boundary consultants are constrained by the region boundaries (1-6) when making their proposals.

I also asked how it was that FARMS rates for Sligo Middle School and Einstein increase in each of the three new proposals (E-G) when one of the stated pillars of that study is demographics. She did not have a good answer except to say that there were some marginal increases at other schools with traditionally lower FARMS rates too.

The options for Crown/Damascus increase the FARMS and EML for all the Germantown schools since they are getting rid of the islands they created in order to decrease the FARMS and EML rates at those schools…

Clearly the socioeconomic balance isn’t high on FLO’s to do list.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It was pointless. Someone gave a presentation that will be replicated online today, just going through the slides. They stated at the outset that they would not be taking Q&A. Then there were maps around the room with reps from I think FLO? You could ask questions in a vacuum about each of the new options to that rep. Turnout was pretty good. Tone was fine given that there was no group Q&A and people were milling around not exactly sure what to ask or who to talk to.

I asked whether the consultants were taking into account projections regarding how FARMs rates would change at each school once the regional model is implemented, noting that we've been told time and time again that the two are "inextricably linked." The consultant confirmed that the boundary study reps are not in contact with the regional program model designers. She also confirmed that the boundary consultants are constrained by the region boundaries (1-6) when making their proposals.

I also asked how it was that FARMS rates for Sligo Middle School and Einstein increase in each of the three new proposals (E-G) when one of the stated pillars of that study is demographics. She did not have a good answer except to say that there were some marginal increases at other schools with traditionally lower FARMS rates too.

The options for Crown/Damascus increase the FARMS and EML for all the Germantown schools since they are getting rid of the islands they created in order to decrease the FARMS and EML rates at those schools…

Clearly the socioeconomic balance isn’t high on FLO’s to do list.

My guess is this is based on direction from Taylor based on "community input" from the wealthy communities they trolled in the first round.

[Anonymous]

It was uneventful and the same thing as the virtual version. The best thing was being able to see the maps printed out and ask MCPS or Flo specific questions. But honestly, you only really would have cared about these options if your kid is zoned for Region 1, as the main thing shown in Options E-G is how boundaries would shift if SSIMS was closed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:so how are they "inextricably linked" if there is no crossover in the planning for the two major changes?

The "inextricable link" appears to be the addition of the regional program boundary lines on the maps as a solid, black, do-not-pass-go line.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It was pointless. Someone gave a presentation that will be replicated online today, just going through the slides. They stated at the outset that they would not be taking Q&A. Then there were maps around the room with reps from I think FLO? You could ask questions in a vacuum about each of the new options to that rep. Turnout was pretty good. Tone was fine given that there was no group Q&A and people were milling around not exactly sure what to ask or who to talk to.

I asked whether the consultants were taking into account projections regarding how FARMs rates would change at each school once the regional model is implemented, noting that we've been told time and time again that the two are "inextricably linked." The consultant confirmed that the boundary study reps are not in contact with the regional program model designers. She also confirmed that the boundary consultants are constrained by the region boundaries (1-6) when making their proposals.

I also asked how it was that FARMS rates for Sligo Middle School and Einstein increase in each of the three new proposals (E-G) when one of the stated pillars of that study is demographics. She did not have a good answer except to say that there were some marginal increases at other schools with traditionally lower FARMS rates too.

Why would they constrain the boundary study to the regions, and not the regions to the boundaries. The regions are optional, the boundaries are requirements for the district and have policy guidelines. If the boundary study team had to go back and re-evaluate based on new information like the possibility of closing and moving schools, then it would only make sense that Program Analysis team would need to re-evaluate potential regional impact once that is complete.

Just like the school is not conveyed with the purchase of the house, the regions are not constraints for the boundaries.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:so how are they "inextricably linked" if there is no crossover in the planning for the two major changes?

The "inextricable link" is the current talking point of the superintendent, and his staff. Clearly not being put into practice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:so how are they "inextricably linked" if there is no crossover in the planning for the two major changes?

The "inextricable link" appears to be the addition of the regional program boundary lines on the maps as a solid, black, do-not-pass-go line.

Yep, why is the community not asked about the regional boundary lines, only the high school boundaries within those regional boundaries.

[Anonymous]

Did they confirm whether the plan for E-G is for the current SSIMS area to stay at SSIMS 2027-2030 while everyone else switches to the new boundaries in 2027?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Did they confirm whether the plan for E-G is for the current SSIMS area to stay at SSIMS 2027-2030 while everyone else switches to the new boundaries in 2027?

Per data sheet shared at the meeting, SSIMS is proposed to close August 2030.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Did they confirm whether the plan for E-G is for the current SSIMS area to stay at SSIMS 2027-2030 while everyone else switches to the new boundaries in 2027?

I'm trying to understand this too. Under any plan option, my kid would be moving to Eastern in fall '27 (7th grade year). Are SSIMS kids just staying at SSIMS until the school closes now?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did they confirm whether the plan for E-G is for the current SSIMS area to stay at SSIMS 2027-2030 while everyone else switches to the new boundaries in 2027?

I'm trying to understand this too. Under any plan option, my kid would be moving to Eastern in fall '27 (7th grade year). Are SSIMS kids just staying at SSIMS until the school closes now?

I think so. But it seems irresponsible to keep kids in the building that long given the poor state of it.

Either it's an urgent situation and the school needs to be closed sooner rather than later or it doesn't.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Did they confirm whether the plan for E-G is for the current SSIMS area to stay at SSIMS 2027-2030 while everyone else switches to the new boundaries in 2027?

I'm trying to understand this too. Under any plan option, my kid would be moving to Eastern in fall '27 (7th grade year). Are SSIMS kids just staying at SSIMS until the school closes now?

I think so. But it seems irresponsible to keep kids in the building that long given the poor state of it.

Either it's an urgent situation and the school needs to be closed sooner rather than later or it doesn't.

PP here. Yeah, this has never passed the smell test for me. That's a prime piece of land, even though there are many legal hurdles to clear before it could be sold.