What is happening to SSIMS with Taylor's boundaries announcement?

[Anonymous]

I see that there are some articulation changes, but what is the consequence for SSIMS? Will it have enough students to stay open?

[Anonymous]

It's only at 56% capacity. I wonder if that's a relatively easy solution to the infamous stairs bottleneck--they could close that third floor section altogether and maybe even part of the second and that would reduce the stair usage by a lot.

[Anonymous]

Isn't there going to be a Purple Line stop right at their front door? Can they close that side and use the other end of the building only?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Isn't there going to be a Purple Line stop right at their front door? Can they close that side and use the other end of the building only?

No, because that side has the entrance, office, gym, band room, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I see that there are some articulation changes, but what is the consequence for SSIMS? Will it have enough students to stay open?

That was the whole part of the presentation on the next boundary study. The first stage of the countywide elementary boundary study will be looking for elementary and middle schools to "consolidate" (i.e. close) and those will be announced and decided by next spring. Then they will reassess boundaries for all elementary schools as well as any middle schools affected by the closures/consolidation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I see that there are some articulation changes, but what is the consequence for SSIMS? Will it have enough students to stay open?

That was the whole part of the presentation on the next boundary study. The first stage of the countywide elementary boundary study will be looking for elementary and middle schools to "consolidate" (i.e. close) and those will be announced and decided by next spring. Then they will reassess boundaries for all elementary schools as well as any middle schools affected by the closures/consolidation.

You can read the presentation on this here: https://go.boarddocs.com/mabe/mcpsmd/Board.nsf/files/DQZQD568B9FD/$file/FY2027-2032%20CIP%20Spring%20Amendments%20260205%20PPT.pdf

[Anonymous]

I think these proposed timelines just apply to elementary right? Not middle?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Isn't there going to be a Purple Line stop right at their front door? Can they close that side and use the other end of the building only?

Have you noticed Taylor has stopped citing this as a reason? It’s because it was called out as completely irrelevant gaslighting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think these proposed timelines just apply to elementary right? Not middle?

Nope, see slide 7.

Consider Possible
School
Consolidations
Schools in the Scope:
All Elementary and
Middle Schools

Consider
New Boundaries
Schools in the Scope:
All Elementary Schools and any
Middle School consolidations

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's only at 56% capacity. I wonder if that's a relatively easy solution to the infamous stairs bottleneck--they could close that third floor section altogether and maybe even part of the second and that would reduce the stair usage by a lot.

There is absolutely no way that school is at 56% capacity. If that’s a stat from the county, the county is lying.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think these proposed timelines just apply to elementary right? Not middle?

Nope, see slide 7.

Consider Possible
School
Consolidations
Schools in the Scope:
All Elementary and
Middle Schools

Consider
New Boundaries
Schools in the Scope:
All Elementary Schools and any
Middle School consolidations

It’s confusing because on later slides laying out the timeline options, they all say elementary boundary study. Probably just sloppy editing by mcps. Just another sign this is all thrown together in a rush

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think these proposed timelines just apply to elementary right? Not middle?

Nope, see slide 7.

Consider Possible
School
Consolidations
Schools in the Scope:
All Elementary and
Middle Schools

Consider
New Boundaries
Schools in the Scope:
All Elementary Schools and any
Middle School consolidations

It’s confusing because on later slides laying out the timeline options, they all say elementary boundary study. Probably just sloppy editing by mcps. Just another sign this is all thrown together in a rush

It's been named the "countywide elementary boundary study" for awhile, since they will be reviewing all elementary school boundaries. Then the Board of Ed asked them to incorporate the SSIMS closure decision into that process (don't know if they will be seriously considering closing any other middle schools-- are there any folks can think of that are in bad shape physically and a good fit to consolidate into other nearby schools?) Regardless it's definitely primarily about elementary boundaries, with SSIMS and possibly other MS closings as a secondary issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's only at 56% capacity. I wonder if that's a relatively easy solution to the infamous stairs bottleneck--they could close that third floor section altogether and maybe even part of the second and that would reduce the stair usage by a lot.

There is absolutely no way that school is at 56% capacity. If that’s a stat from the county, the county is lying.

That 56% is after the proposed boundary changes take effect.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think these proposed timelines just apply to elementary right? Not middle?

Nope, see slide 7.

Consider Possible
School
Consolidations
Schools in the Scope:
All Elementary and
Middle Schools

Consider
New Boundaries
Schools in the Scope:
All Elementary Schools and any
Middle School consolidations

It’s confusing because on later slides laying out the timeline options, they all say elementary boundary study. Probably just sloppy editing by mcps. Just another sign this is all thrown together in a rush

It's been named the "countywide elementary boundary study" for awhile, since they will be reviewing all elementary school boundaries. Then the Board of Ed asked them to incorporate the SSIMS closure decision into that process (don't know if they will be seriously considering closing any other middle schools-- are there any folks can think of that are in bad shape physically and a good fit to consolidate into other nearby schools?) Regardless it's definitely primarily about elementary boundaries, with SSIMS and possibly other MS closings as a secondary issue.

The presentation said they're expecting to have 12K empty seats countywide. I'd say they'll definitely be consolidating several schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think these proposed timelines just apply to elementary right? Not middle?

Nope, see slide 7.

Consider Possible
School
Consolidations
Schools in the Scope:
All Elementary and
Middle Schools

Consider
New Boundaries
Schools in the Scope:
All Elementary Schools and any
Middle School consolidations

It’s confusing because on later slides laying out the timeline options, they all say elementary boundary study. Probably just sloppy editing by mcps. Just another sign this is all thrown together in a rush

It's been named the "countywide elementary boundary study" for awhile, since they will be reviewing all elementary school boundaries. Then the Board of Ed asked them to incorporate the SSIMS closure decision into that process (don't know if they will be seriously considering closing any other middle schools-- are there any folks can think of that are in bad shape physically and a good fit to consolidate into other nearby schools?) Regardless it's definitely primarily about elementary boundaries, with SSIMS and possibly other MS closings as a secondary issue.

The presentation said they're expecting to have 12K empty seats countywide. I'd say they'll definitely be consolidating several schools.

Sorry, I should have said 12K empty elementary seats. There are an additional 6K empty middle school seats.