Initial boundary options for Crown/Damascus study

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Who are these people:

https://flo-analytics.com/about/our-people

None of the area codes listed on the website appear to be from the area and looking at the map of their locations, their closest is Tennessee?

At least as much as Howard County might reanalyze boundaries, I'm fairly certain that it's all done in house.

Local people would know some of the ins and outs of the communities. Such as natural dividing lines, what roadways and routes are realistically walkable, transit options, school programs at different schools, the price range of homes in specific areas, etc

You know how in some negotiation tactics, the first offer is just ridiculous so the next one won't look as bad. Or they're just trying to come up with something to justify their worth? This is what this first round of options looks like.

Not to mention at the places that I've seen, you'd be in a lot of trouble, most likely dismissed if you put out anything public facing that had the mistakes they did. Such as copying and pasting a map for one option under another area, have their tables not correspond with the maps, etc.

Hopefully their second round of options and work will be better than this first round.

It’s really shocking MCPS paid 1.3 millions for this crap full of mistakes. Total lack of competency.

[Anonymous]

I found this article about the contract with Flo Analytics:

https://bethesdamagazine.com/2024/12/05/school-board-approves-boundary-study-contract/

Apparently they were the only vendor to submit a proposal.

And there was a decision to purposely exclude programs analysis on their side of things and that part would be done by MCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I thought the recently approved budget did fund the Woodward and Crown auditoriums.

That’s for later. Not the first year.

The Woodward auditorium is scheduled for completion in summer 2027, before Woodward opens as its own school.

Comment was about Northwood students who will spend 3 years. They don't have that.

Crown isn't opening as a holding school, though. Not the same situation.

Woodward was built for 3 years with another 3 years to add auditorium. Crown will be the same. MCPS already announced funding for crown auditorium for later addition after opening. It’s a done deal. There is nothing to argue about.

That was announced last year, but your information is out of date. Last month, the funding for the auditorium was restored.

"The Council funded nearly all of MCPS’ amendment requests, including: $20 million added to the new Crown High School Project to complete the interior of the auditorium and build the stadium as originally designed"

https://mocoshow.com/2025/05/22/montgomery-county-council-approves-7-6b-fy26-budget-and-6b-capital-plan/

I don’t think you know how to read. The CIP is for 2025-2030. Funding for phase 2 doesn’t mean phase 2 will be completed by 2027.

The Crown project's anticipated completion date is 04/15/27 according to the construction report at last week's board meeting. Have you seen anything showing a later date?

[Anonymous]

I take it that you've never worked in a field involving large construction projects?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Who are these people:

https://flo-analytics.com/about/our-people

None of the area codes listed on the website appear to be from the area and looking at the map of their locations, their closest is Tennessee?

At least as much as Howard County might reanalyze boundaries, I'm fairly certain that it's all done in house.

Local people would know some of the ins and outs of the communities. Such as natural dividing lines, what roadways and routes are realistically walkable, transit options, school programs at different schools, the price range of homes in specific areas, etc

You know how in some negotiation tactics, the first offer is just ridiculous so the next one won't look as bad. Or they're just trying to come up with something to justify their worth? This is what this first round of options looks like.

Not to mention at the places that I've seen, you'd be in a lot of trouble, most likely dismissed if you put out anything public facing that had the mistakes they did. Such as copying and pasting a map for one option under another area, have their tables not correspond with the maps, etc.

Hopefully their second round of options and work will be better than this first round.

It’s really shocking MCPS paid 1.3 millions for this crap full of mistakes. Total lack of competency.

I think it might be worse for the Woodward study.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I thought the recently approved budget did fund the Woodward and Crown auditoriums.

That’s for later. Not the first year.

The Woodward auditorium is scheduled for completion in summer 2027, before Woodward opens as its own school.

Comment was about Northwood students who will spend 3 years. They don't have that.

Crown isn't opening as a holding school, though. Not the same situation.

Woodward was built for 3 years with another 3 years to add auditorium. Crown will be the same. MCPS already announced funding for crown auditorium for later addition after opening. It’s a done deal. There is nothing to argue about.

That was announced last year, but your information is out of date. Last month, the funding for the auditorium was restored.

"The Council funded nearly all of MCPS’ amendment requests, including: $20 million added to the new Crown High School Project to complete the interior of the auditorium and build the stadium as originally designed"

https://mocoshow.com/2025/05/22/montgomery-county-council-approves-7-6b-fy26-budget-and-6b-capital-plan/

I don’t think you know how to read. The CIP is for 2025-2030. Funding for phase 2 doesn’t mean phase 2 will be completed by 2027.

The Crown project's anticipated completion date is 04/15/27 according to the construction report at last week's board meeting. Have you seen anything showing a later date?

Look at the recently approved CIP closely. 2027 is for phase 1 completion. The construction funding lasts beyond 2027 for phase 2.
This was discussed before.

[Anonymous]

What is the FARMS rate in Crown in all options?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What is the FARMS rate in Crown in all options?

It's listed in the effects tables:

Option 1: 35.1
Option 2: 38.7
Option 3: 41.6
Option 4: 45.6

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I found this article about the contract with Flo Analytics:

https://bethesdamagazine.com/2024/12/05/school-board-approves-boundary-study-contract/

Apparently they were the only vendor to submit a proposal.

And there was a decision to purposely exclude programs analysis on their side of things and that part would be done by MCPS.

It's interesting how their price went up another 300k even though they took out some items, the programs, out of their scope.

Maybe there weren't many vendors submitting proposals because they realize this kind of thing can't really be done by outside parties who don't know the full ins and outs of the school system and county.

MCPS is listed as the 14th largest school system in the US (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_the_largest_school_districts_in_the_United_States_by_enrollment )

So you would think vendors would jump at the opportunity to have it listed as one of their clients.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I found this article about the contract with Flo Analytics:

https://bethesdamagazine.com/2024/12/05/school-board-approves-boundary-study-contract/

Apparently they were the only vendor to submit a proposal.

And there was a decision to purposely exclude programs analysis on their side of things and that part would be done by MCPS.

It's interesting how their price went up another 300k even though they took out some items, the programs, out of their scope.

Maybe there weren't many vendors submitting proposals because they realize this kind of thing can't really be done by outside parties who don't know the full ins and outs of the school system and county.

MCPS is listed as the 14th largest school system in the US (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_the_largest_school_districts_in_the_United_States_by_enrollment )

So you would think vendors would jump at the opportunity to have it listed as one of their clients.

Also it's like a previous poster said, with having an outside party looking at just the numbers or something works okay in theory and might have some benefits to it.

But in reality doesn't really work in application.

It just makes MCPS a great case study, experiement or something in trying to apply some principles.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is the FARMS rate in Crown in all options?

It's listed in the effects tables:

Option 1: 35.1
Option 2: 38.7
Option 3: 41.6
Option 4: 45.6

Thank you!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is the FARMS rate in Crown in all options?

It's listed in the effects tables:

Option 1: 35.1
Option 2: 38.7
Option 3: 41.6
Option 4: 45.6

And here's the current FARMs rate for the other schools, which includes "in the past":

QO - 50%
GHS - 76.6%
RM - 39.6%
NWHS - 47.9%
Wootton - 18.8%
Churchill - 14%

[Anonymous]

I wish we could fast forward to September to see those "refined options"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wish we could fast forward to September to see those "refined options"

There may be a Wayside to Gaithersburg option to make the Wootton option look better.

- Flo

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wish we could fast forward to September to see those "refined options"

There may be a Wayside to Gaithersburg option to make the Wootton option look better.

- Flo

Looking forward to see those options. Maybe also Potomac ES to Crown. So the numbers looks even better.