UMBC for graduation?????

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There’s no solution that will make everyone happy, but most parents don’t have tons of children and can afford to take a half day or even a full day off work for this one-time special milestone event in each of their children’s lives. People were already driving a half hour from their house to graduation ceremony venues before; you’ll survive driving an extra 45 minutes. There will be traffic, but there was traffic to contend with when people drove to the previous venues as well. This is not the hardship you’re making it out to be.

You must be at a wealthy school. My spouse is a contractor. Paid by the hour, no leave.

My goodness! If you cannot take a day off for your kid graduation, you have bigger problems.
DP

Can we, yes, can others, some yes, some no. Not everyone has a job like you do.

When and where could MCPS hold all 25 graduation ceremonies for the 12,000 graduates and their 20,000+ parents that would not inconvenience anyone?

Montomery college.

That post went right over your head. Even if MC’s magic tent is available, has adequate staffing, is air conditioned, has decent acoustics, easy access to restrooms, is affordable, etc., SOMEONE will be inconvenienced by health problems or having to miss work or driving in traffic or having to arrive first thing in the morning or having to stay late into the evening or getting hustled out of the venue quickly because it has to be prepared for the next ceremony.

MCPS cannot possibly give the perfect graduation ceremony experience to the 50,000 - 60,000 people who would like to attend a graduation ceremony.

Of course they have all of that as its aready set up for MC graduation which is larger.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7yMQzD-l4I

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=co2udY8kMiM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sY0f84hISkk

Can they host 25 graduations over a 2 week period? And they’re not already booked?

There’s a reason why we have an agreement with UMBC and not MC. Take it up with Central Office since you can do a better job at this than they can.

There's no law or guideline that all high schools need to hold their graduations in the exact same place. Like people have said upthread--this is an issue of MoCo being too large of a district and the central office being too lazy to customize solutions that could work far better for at least half the County.

That's actually what they've been doing for years. This is a change to a uniform location for all to get a bulk rate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There’s no solution that will make everyone happy, but most parents don’t have tons of children and can afford to take a half day or even a full day off work for this one-time special milestone event in each of their children’s lives. People were already driving a half hour from their house to graduation ceremony venues before; you’ll survive driving an extra 45 minutes. There will be traffic, but there was traffic to contend with when people drove to the previous venues as well. This is not the hardship you’re making it out to be.

You must be at a wealthy school. My spouse is a contractor. Paid by the hour, no leave.

My goodness! If you cannot take a day off for your kid graduation, you have bigger problems.
DP

Can we, yes, can others, some yes, some no. Not everyone has a job like you do.

When and where could MCPS hold all 25 graduation ceremonies for the 12,000 graduates and their 20,000+ parents that would not inconvenience anyone?

Montomery college.

That post went right over your head. Even if MC’s magic tent is available, has adequate staffing, is air conditioned, has decent acoustics, easy access to restrooms, is affordable, etc., SOMEONE will be inconvenienced by health problems or having to miss work or driving in traffic or having to arrive first thing in the morning or having to stay late into the evening or getting hustled out of the venue quickly because it has to be prepared for the next ceremony.

MCPS cannot possibly give the perfect graduation ceremony experience to the 50,000 - 60,000 people who would like to attend a graduation ceremony.

Of course they have all of that as its aready set up for MC graduation which is larger.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7yMQzD-l4I

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=co2udY8kMiM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sY0f84hISkk

Can they host 25 graduations over a 2 week period? And they’re not already booked?

There’s a reason why we have an agreement with UMBC and not MC. Take it up with Central Office since you can do a better job at this than they can.

What’s the reason. They’d be out of session during graduation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There’s no solution that will make everyone happy, but most parents don’t have tons of children and can afford to take a half day or even a full day off work for this one-time special milestone event in each of their children’s lives. People were already driving a half hour from their house to graduation ceremony venues before; you’ll survive driving an extra 45 minutes. There will be traffic, but there was traffic to contend with when people drove to the previous venues as well. This is not the hardship you’re making it out to be.

You must be at a wealthy school. My spouse is a contractor. Paid by the hour, no leave.

My goodness! If you cannot take a day off for your kid graduation, you have bigger problems.
DP

Can we, yes, can others, some yes, some no. Not everyone has a job like you do.

When and where could MCPS hold all 25 graduation ceremonies for the 12,000 graduates and their 20,000+ parents that would not inconvenience anyone?

Montomery college.

That post went right over your head. Even if MC’s magic tent is available, has adequate staffing, is air conditioned, has decent acoustics, easy access to restrooms, is affordable, etc., SOMEONE will be inconvenienced by health problems or having to miss work or driving in traffic or having to arrive first thing in the morning or having to stay late into the evening or getting hustled out of the venue quickly because it has to be prepared for the next ceremony.

MCPS cannot possibly give the perfect graduation ceremony experience to the 50,000 - 60,000 people who would like to attend a graduation ceremony.

Of course they have all of that as its aready set up for MC graduation which is larger.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7yMQzD-l4I

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=co2udY8kMiM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sY0f84hISkk

Can they host 25 graduations over a 2 week period? And they’re not already booked?

There’s a reason why we have an agreement with UMBC and not MC. Take it up with Central Office since you can do a better job at this than they can.

There's no law or guideline that all high schools need to hold their graduations in the exact same place. Like people have said upthread--this is an issue of MoCo being too large of a district and the central office being too lazy to customize solutions that could work far better for at least half the County.

That's actually what they've been doing for years. This is a change to a uniform location for all to get a bulk rate.

I can't imagine it's that much cheaper, if they have to provide buses for people all of the county to get to Baltimore. But I'm sure it's easier for the Central Office to manage just one contract rather than many.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There’s no solution that will make everyone happy, but most parents don’t have tons of children and can afford to take a half day or even a full day off work for this one-time special milestone event in each of their children’s lives. People were already driving a half hour from their house to graduation ceremony venues before; you’ll survive driving an extra 45 minutes. There will be traffic, but there was traffic to contend with when people drove to the previous venues as well. This is not the hardship you’re making it out to be.

You must be at a wealthy school. My spouse is a contractor. Paid by the hour, no leave.

My goodness! If you cannot take a day off for your kid graduation, you have bigger problems.
DP

Can we, yes, can others, some yes, some no. Not everyone has a job like you do.

When and where could MCPS hold all 25 graduation ceremonies for the 12,000 graduates and their 20,000+ parents that would not inconvenience anyone?

Montomery college.

That post went right over your head. Even if MC’s magic tent is available, has adequate staffing, is air conditioned, has decent acoustics, easy access to restrooms, is affordable, etc., SOMEONE will be inconvenienced by health problems or having to miss work or driving in traffic or having to arrive first thing in the morning or having to stay late into the evening or getting hustled out of the venue quickly because it has to be prepared for the next ceremony.

MCPS cannot possibly give the perfect graduation ceremony experience to the 50,000 - 60,000 people who would like to attend a graduation ceremony.

Of course they have all of that as its aready set up for MC graduation which is larger.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7yMQzD-l4I

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=co2udY8kMiM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sY0f84hISkk

Can they host 25 graduations over a 2 week period? And they’re not already booked?

There’s a reason why we have an agreement with UMBC and not MC. Take it up with Central Office since you can do a better job at this than they can.

What’s the reason. They’d be out of session during graduation.

Maybe they’re already booked. Maybe they can’t staff that many hours. Maybe they have other events going on that require them to take the tent down. You and I don’t know why MC isn’t an option, but apparently, it’s not an option for this year.

Regardless, someone would complain if that’s where all the graduations were being held, even if their complaints are really due to personal circumstances and have nothing to do with MCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There’s no solution that will make everyone happy, but most parents don’t have tons of children and can afford to take a half day or even a full day off work for this one-time special milestone event in each of their children’s lives. People were already driving a half hour from their house to graduation ceremony venues before; you’ll survive driving an extra 45 minutes. There will be traffic, but there was traffic to contend with when people drove to the previous venues as well. This is not the hardship you’re making it out to be.

You must be at a wealthy school. My spouse is a contractor. Paid by the hour, no leave.

My goodness! If you cannot take a day off for your kid graduation, you have bigger problems.
DP

Can we, yes, can others, some yes, some no. Not everyone has a job like you do.

When and where could MCPS hold all 25 graduation ceremonies for the 12,000 graduates and their 20,000+ parents that would not inconvenience anyone?

Montomery college.

That post went right over your head. Even if MC’s magic tent is available, has adequate staffing, is air conditioned, has decent acoustics, easy access to restrooms, is affordable, etc., SOMEONE will be inconvenienced by health problems or having to miss work or driving in traffic or having to arrive first thing in the morning or having to stay late into the evening or getting hustled out of the venue quickly because it has to be prepared for the next ceremony.

MCPS cannot possibly give the perfect graduation ceremony experience to the 50,000 - 60,000 people who would like to attend a graduation ceremony.

Of course they have all of that as its aready set up for MC graduation which is larger.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7yMQzD-l4I

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=co2udY8kMiM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sY0f84hISkk

Can they host 25 graduations over a 2 week period? And they’re not already booked?

There’s a reason why we have an agreement with UMBC and not MC. Take it up with Central Office since you can do a better job at this than they can.

What’s the reason. They’d be out of session during graduation.

Maybe they’re already booked. Maybe they can’t staff that many hours. Maybe they have other events going on that require them to take the tent down. You and I don’t know why MC isn’t an option, but apparently, it’s not an option for this year.

Regardless, someone would complain if that’s where all the graduations were being held, even if their complaints are really due to personal circumstances and have nothing to do with MCPS.

Again, MCPS chooses to hold all its graduations in the same place because it's easier for MCPS. That does not mean that the only option available or the best option available from the perspective of parents and loved ones who want to attend their kids' graduation was to hold them all in UMBC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There’s no solution that will make everyone happy, but most parents don’t have tons of children and can afford to take a half day or even a full day off work for this one-time special milestone event in each of their children’s lives. People were already driving a half hour from their house to graduation ceremony venues before; you’ll survive driving an extra 45 minutes. There will be traffic, but there was traffic to contend with when people drove to the previous venues as well. This is not the hardship you’re making it out to be.

You must be at a wealthy school. My spouse is a contractor. Paid by the hour, no leave.

My goodness! If you cannot take a day off for your kid graduation, you have bigger problems.
DP

Can we, yes, can others, some yes, some no. Not everyone has a job like you do.

When and where could MCPS hold all 25 graduation ceremonies for the 12,000 graduates and their 20,000+ parents that would not inconvenience anyone?

Montomery college.

That post went right over your head. Even if MC’s magic tent is available, has adequate staffing, is air conditioned, has decent acoustics, easy access to restrooms, is affordable, etc., SOMEONE will be inconvenienced by health problems or having to miss work or driving in traffic or having to arrive first thing in the morning or having to stay late into the evening or getting hustled out of the venue quickly because it has to be prepared for the next ceremony.

MCPS cannot possibly give the perfect graduation ceremony experience to the 50,000 - 60,000 people who would like to attend a graduation ceremony.

Of course they have all of that as its aready set up for MC graduation which is larger.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7yMQzD-l4I

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=co2udY8kMiM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sY0f84hISkk

Can they host 25 graduations over a 2 week period? And they’re not already booked?

There’s a reason why we have an agreement with UMBC and not MC. Take it up with Central Office since you can do a better job at this than they can.

What’s the reason. They’d be out of session during graduation.

Maybe they’re already booked. Maybe they can’t staff that many hours. Maybe they have other events going on that require them to take the tent down. You and I don’t know why MC isn’t an option, but apparently, it’s not an option for this year.

Regardless, someone would complain if that’s where all the graduations were being held, even if their complaints are really due to personal circumstances and have nothing to do with MCPS.

Again, MCPS chooses to hold all its graduations in the same place because it's easier for MCPS. That does not mean that the only option available or the best option available from the perspective of parents and loved ones who want to attend their kids' graduation was to hold them all in UMBC.

This they never asked. The cost savings and uniformity is good but having to drive an hour or more and not keeping it in the county or nearby is not ok.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There’s no solution that will make everyone happy, but most parents don’t have tons of children and can afford to take a half day or even a full day off work for this one-time special milestone event in each of their children’s lives. People were already driving a half hour from their house to graduation ceremony venues before; you’ll survive driving an extra 45 minutes. There will be traffic, but there was traffic to contend with when people drove to the previous venues as well. This is not the hardship you’re making it out to be.

You must be at a wealthy school. My spouse is a contractor. Paid by the hour, no leave.

My goodness! If you cannot take a day off for your kid graduation, you have bigger problems.
DP

Can we, yes, can others, some yes, some no. Not everyone has a job like you do.

When and where could MCPS hold all 25 graduation ceremonies for the 12,000 graduates and their 20,000+ parents that would not inconvenience anyone?

Montomery college.

That post went right over your head. Even if MC’s magic tent is available, has adequate staffing, is air conditioned, has decent acoustics, easy access to restrooms, is affordable, etc., SOMEONE will be inconvenienced by health problems or having to miss work or driving in traffic or having to arrive first thing in the morning or having to stay late into the evening or getting hustled out of the venue quickly because it has to be prepared for the next ceremony.

MCPS cannot possibly give the perfect graduation ceremony experience to the 50,000 - 60,000 people who would like to attend a graduation ceremony.

Of course they have all of that as its aready set up for MC graduation which is larger.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7yMQzD-l4I

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=co2udY8kMiM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sY0f84hISkk

Can they host 25 graduations over a 2 week period? And they’re not already booked?

There’s a reason why we have an agreement with UMBC and not MC. Take it up with Central Office since you can do a better job at this than they can.

What’s the reason. They’d be out of session during graduation.

Maybe they’re already booked. Maybe they can’t staff that many hours. Maybe they have other events going on that require them to take the tent down. You and I don’t know why MC isn’t an option, but apparently, it’s not an option for this year.

Regardless, someone would complain if that’s where all the graduations were being held, even if their complaints are really due to personal circumstances and have nothing to do with MCPS.

So, you are just making excuses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There’s no solution that will make everyone happy, but most parents don’t have tons of children and can afford to take a half day or even a full day off work for this one-time special milestone event in each of their children’s lives. People were already driving a half hour from their house to graduation ceremony venues before; you’ll survive driving an extra 45 minutes. There will be traffic, but there was traffic to contend with when people drove to the previous venues as well. This is not the hardship you’re making it out to be.

You must be at a wealthy school. My spouse is a contractor. Paid by the hour, no leave.

My goodness! If you cannot take a day off for your kid graduation, you have bigger problems.
DP

Can we, yes, can others, some yes, some no. Not everyone has a job like you do.

When and where could MCPS hold all 25 graduation ceremonies for the 12,000 graduates and their 20,000+ parents that would not inconvenience anyone?

Montomery college.

That post went right over your head. Even if MC’s magic tent is available, has adequate staffing, is air conditioned, has decent acoustics, easy access to restrooms, is affordable, etc., SOMEONE will be inconvenienced by health problems or having to miss work or driving in traffic or having to arrive first thing in the morning or having to stay late into the evening or getting hustled out of the venue quickly because it has to be prepared for the next ceremony.

MCPS cannot possibly give the perfect graduation ceremony experience to the 50,000 - 60,000 people who would like to attend a graduation ceremony.

Of course they have all of that as its aready set up for MC graduation which is larger.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7yMQzD-l4I

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=co2udY8kMiM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sY0f84hISkk

Can they host 25 graduations over a 2 week period? And they’re not already booked?

There’s a reason why we have an agreement with UMBC and not MC. Take it up with Central Office since you can do a better job at this than they can.

What’s the reason. They’d be out of session during graduation.

Maybe they’re already booked. Maybe they can’t staff that many hours. Maybe they have other events going on that require them to take the tent down. You and I don’t know why MC isn’t an option, but apparently, it’s not an option for this year.

Regardless, someone would complain if that’s where all the graduations were being held, even if their complaints are really due to personal circumstances and have nothing to do with MCPS.

Again, MCPS chooses to hold all its graduations in the same place because it's easier for MCPS. That does not mean that the only option available or the best option available from the perspective of parents and loved ones who want to attend their kids' graduation was to hold them all in UMBC.

So, what's the best option? Obviously MC is not, so tell us what's the best option.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There’s no solution that will make everyone happy, but most parents don’t have tons of children and can afford to take a half day or even a full day off work for this one-time special milestone event in each of their children’s lives. People were already driving a half hour from their house to graduation ceremony venues before; you’ll survive driving an extra 45 minutes. There will be traffic, but there was traffic to contend with when people drove to the previous venues as well. This is not the hardship you’re making it out to be.

You must be at a wealthy school. My spouse is a contractor. Paid by the hour, no leave.

My goodness! If you cannot take a day off for your kid graduation, you have bigger problems.
DP

Can we, yes, can others, some yes, some no. Not everyone has a job like you do.

When and where could MCPS hold all 25 graduation ceremonies for the 12,000 graduates and their 20,000+ parents that would not inconvenience anyone?

Montomery college.

That post went right over your head. Even if MC’s magic tent is available, has adequate staffing, is air conditioned, has decent acoustics, easy access to restrooms, is affordable, etc., SOMEONE will be inconvenienced by health problems or having to miss work or driving in traffic or having to arrive first thing in the morning or having to stay late into the evening or getting hustled out of the venue quickly because it has to be prepared for the next ceremony.

MCPS cannot possibly give the perfect graduation ceremony experience to the 50,000 - 60,000 people who would like to attend a graduation ceremony.

Of course they have all of that as its aready set up for MC graduation which is larger.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7yMQzD-l4I

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=co2udY8kMiM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sY0f84hISkk

Can they host 25 graduations over a 2 week period? And they’re not already booked?

There’s a reason why we have an agreement with UMBC and not MC. Take it up with Central Office since you can do a better job at this than they can.

What’s the reason. They’d be out of session during graduation.

Maybe they’re already booked. Maybe they can’t staff that many hours. Maybe they have other events going on that require them to take the tent down. You and I don’t know why MC isn’t an option, but apparently, it’s not an option for this year.

Regardless, someone would complain if that’s where all the graduations were being held, even if their complaints are really due to personal circumstances and have nothing to do with MCPS.

So, you are just making excuses.

Yes, we’re all making up excuses since we don’t coordinate these events for MCPS or MC, and MCPS cannot reasonably be expected to control traffic congestion nor accommodate every individual’s health and parents’ work schedules when more than 10,000 families are involved.

You and I don’t know what other venues were considered and what made MCPS settle on UMBC, but one thing we do know is that MCPS has not used MC historically, nor has MCPS been holding their ceremonies anywhere else in MoCo. They’ve used multiple other venues in different cities, most of which resulted in one complaint or another. Now they will have one main complaint about the venue: it’s a farther drive. However, several common problems are solved: people can have more tickets, there will be adequate parking, and ceremonies won’t overlap. Traffic is a potential issue with any venue. Being able to take time off work is a problem with any venue. Health issues are a problem with any venue. Having a venue farther away is an issue, and one that MCPS is attempting to address by providing transportation to those who need it. Apparently they have the budget for that, given whatever UMBC is charging them for its use.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There’s no solution that will make everyone happy, but most parents don’t have tons of children and can afford to take a half day or even a full day off work for this one-time special milestone event in each of their children’s lives. People were already driving a half hour from their house to graduation ceremony venues before; you’ll survive driving an extra 45 minutes. There will be traffic, but there was traffic to contend with when people drove to the previous venues as well. This is not the hardship you’re making it out to be.

You must be at a wealthy school. My spouse is a contractor. Paid by the hour, no leave.

My goodness! If you cannot take a day off for your kid graduation, you have bigger problems.
DP

Can we, yes, can others, some yes, some no. Not everyone has a job like you do.

When and where could MCPS hold all 25 graduation ceremonies for the 12,000 graduates and their 20,000+ parents that would not inconvenience anyone?

Montomery college.

That post went right over your head. Even if MC’s magic tent is available, has adequate staffing, is air conditioned, has decent acoustics, easy access to restrooms, is affordable, etc., SOMEONE will be inconvenienced by health problems or having to miss work or driving in traffic or having to arrive first thing in the morning or having to stay late into the evening or getting hustled out of the venue quickly because it has to be prepared for the next ceremony.

MCPS cannot possibly give the perfect graduation ceremony experience to the 50,000 - 60,000 people who would like to attend a graduation ceremony.

Of course they have all of that as its aready set up for MC graduation which is larger.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7yMQzD-l4I

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=co2udY8kMiM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sY0f84hISkk

Can they host 25 graduations over a 2 week period? And they’re not already booked?

There’s a reason why we have an agreement with UMBC and not MC. Take it up with Central Office since you can do a better job at this than they can.

What’s the reason. They’d be out of session during graduation.

Maybe they’re already booked. Maybe they can’t staff that many hours. Maybe they have other events going on that require them to take the tent down. You and I don’t know why MC isn’t an option, but apparently, it’s not an option for this year.

Regardless, someone would complain if that’s where all the graduations were being held, even if their complaints are really due to personal circumstances and have nothing to do with MCPS.

So, you are just making excuses.

Yes, we’re all making up excuses since we don’t coordinate these events for MCPS or MC, and MCPS cannot reasonably be expected to control traffic congestion nor accommodate every individual’s health and parents’ work schedules when more than 10,000 families are involved.

You and I don’t know what other venues were considered and what made MCPS settle on UMBC, but one thing we do know is that MCPS has not used MC historically, nor has MCPS been holding their ceremonies anywhere else in MoCo. They’ve used multiple other venues in different cities, most of which resulted in one complaint or another. Now they will have one main complaint about the venue: it’s a farther drive. However, several common problems are solved: people can have more tickets, there will be adequate parking, and ceremonies won’t overlap. Traffic is a potential issue with any venue. Being able to take time off work is a problem with any venue. Health issues are a problem with any venue. Having a venue farther away is an issue, and one that MCPS is attempting to address by providing transportation to those who need it. Apparently they have the budget for that, given whatever UMBC is charging them for its use.

Yeah, they hold them in moco on football fields.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There’s no solution that will make everyone happy, but most parents don’t have tons of children and can afford to take a half day or even a full day off work for this one-time special milestone event in each of their children’s lives. People were already driving a half hour from their house to graduation ceremony venues before; you’ll survive driving an extra 45 minutes. There will be traffic, but there was traffic to contend with when people drove to the previous venues as well. This is not the hardship you’re making it out to be.

You must be at a wealthy school. My spouse is a contractor. Paid by the hour, no leave.

My goodness! If you cannot take a day off for your kid graduation, you have bigger problems.
DP

Can we, yes, can others, some yes, some no. Not everyone has a job like you do.

When and where could MCPS hold all 25 graduation ceremonies for the 12,000 graduates and their 20,000+ parents that would not inconvenience anyone?

Montomery college.

That post went right over your head. Even if MC’s magic tent is available, has adequate staffing, is air conditioned, has decent acoustics, easy access to restrooms, is affordable, etc., SOMEONE will be inconvenienced by health problems or having to miss work or driving in traffic or having to arrive first thing in the morning or having to stay late into the evening or getting hustled out of the venue quickly because it has to be prepared for the next ceremony.

MCPS cannot possibly give the perfect graduation ceremony experience to the 50,000 - 60,000 people who would like to attend a graduation ceremony.

Of course they have all of that as its aready set up for MC graduation which is larger.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7yMQzD-l4I

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=co2udY8kMiM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sY0f84hISkk

Can they host 25 graduations over a 2 week period? And they’re not already booked?

There’s a reason why we have an agreement with UMBC and not MC. Take it up with Central Office since you can do a better job at this than they can.

What’s the reason. They’d be out of session during graduation.

Maybe they’re already booked. Maybe they can’t staff that many hours. Maybe they have other events going on that require them to take the tent down. You and I don’t know why MC isn’t an option, but apparently, it’s not an option for this year.

Regardless, someone would complain if that’s where all the graduations were being held, even if their complaints are really due to personal circumstances and have nothing to do with MCPS.

So, you are just making excuses.

Yes, we’re all making up excuses since we don’t coordinate these events for MCPS or MC, and MCPS cannot reasonably be expected to control traffic congestion nor accommodate every individual’s health and parents’ work schedules when more than 10,000 families are involved.

You and I don’t know what other venues were considered and what made MCPS settle on UMBC, but one thing we do know is that MCPS has not used MC historically, nor has MCPS been holding their ceremonies anywhere else in MoCo. They’ve used multiple other venues in different cities, most of which resulted in one complaint or another. Now they will have one main complaint about the venue: it’s a farther drive. However, several common problems are solved: people can have more tickets, there will be adequate parking, and ceremonies won’t overlap. Traffic is a potential issue with any venue. Being able to take time off work is a problem with any venue. Health issues are a problem with any venue. Having a venue farther away is an issue, and one that MCPS is attempting to address by providing transportation to those who need it. Apparently they have the budget for that, given whatever UMBC is charging them for its use.

Yeah, they hold them in moco on football fields.

A couple of the smallest schools can use their own football fields, but the vast majority cannot and have to book venues off of MCPS’s own school properties…which is how MCPS came to book properties outside of MoCo in the first place, and which they have been doing for quite a while. The new twist is that every school now has to use the same facility.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There’s no solution that will make everyone happy, but most parents don’t have tons of children and can afford to take a half day or even a full day off work for this one-time special milestone event in each of their children’s lives. People were already driving a half hour from their house to graduation ceremony venues before; you’ll survive driving an extra 45 minutes. There will be traffic, but there was traffic to contend with when people drove to the previous venues as well. This is not the hardship you’re making it out to be.

You must be at a wealthy school. My spouse is a contractor. Paid by the hour, no leave.

My goodness! If you cannot take a day off for your kid graduation, you have bigger problems.
DP

Can we, yes, can others, some yes, some no. Not everyone has a job like you do.

When and where could MCPS hold all 25 graduation ceremonies for the 12,000 graduates and their 20,000+ parents that would not inconvenience anyone?

Montomery college.

That post went right over your head. Even if MC’s magic tent is available, has adequate staffing, is air conditioned, has decent acoustics, easy access to restrooms, is affordable, etc., SOMEONE will be inconvenienced by health problems or having to miss work or driving in traffic or having to arrive first thing in the morning or having to stay late into the evening or getting hustled out of the venue quickly because it has to be prepared for the next ceremony.

MCPS cannot possibly give the perfect graduation ceremony experience to the 50,000 - 60,000 people who would like to attend a graduation ceremony.

Of course they have all of that as its aready set up for MC graduation which is larger.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7yMQzD-l4I

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=co2udY8kMiM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sY0f84hISkk

Can they host 25 graduations over a 2 week period? And they’re not already booked?

There’s a reason why we have an agreement with UMBC and not MC. Take it up with Central Office since you can do a better job at this than they can.

There's no law or guideline that all high schools need to hold their graduations in the exact same place. Like people have said upthread--this is an issue of MoCo being too large of a district and the central office being too lazy to customize solutions that could work far better for at least half the County.

That's actually what they've been doing for years. This is a change to a uniform location for all to get a bulk rate.

I can't imagine it's that much cheaper, if they have to provide buses for people all of the county to get to Baltimore. But I'm sure it's easier for the Central Office to manage just one contract rather than many.

They don't have to do anything and can just provide a few school busses per school. It still would be cheaper.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There’s no solution that will make everyone happy, but most parents don’t have tons of children and can afford to take a half day or even a full day off work for this one-time special milestone event in each of their children’s lives. People were already driving a half hour from their house to graduation ceremony venues before; you’ll survive driving an extra 45 minutes. There will be traffic, but there was traffic to contend with when people drove to the previous venues as well. This is not the hardship you’re making it out to be.

You must be at a wealthy school. My spouse is a contractor. Paid by the hour, no leave.

My goodness! If you cannot take a day off for your kid graduation, you have bigger problems.
DP

Can we, yes, can others, some yes, some no. Not everyone has a job like you do.

When and where could MCPS hold all 25 graduation ceremonies for the 12,000 graduates and their 20,000+ parents that would not inconvenience anyone?

Montomery college.

That post went right over your head. Even if MC’s magic tent is available, has adequate staffing, is air conditioned, has decent acoustics, easy access to restrooms, is affordable, etc., SOMEONE will be inconvenienced by health problems or having to miss work or driving in traffic or having to arrive first thing in the morning or having to stay late into the evening or getting hustled out of the venue quickly because it has to be prepared for the next ceremony.

MCPS cannot possibly give the perfect graduation ceremony experience to the 50,000 - 60,000 people who would like to attend a graduation ceremony.

Of course they have all of that as its aready set up for MC graduation which is larger.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7yMQzD-l4I

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=co2udY8kMiM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sY0f84hISkk

Can they host 25 graduations over a 2 week period? And they’re not already booked?

There’s a reason why we have an agreement with UMBC and not MC. Take it up with Central Office since you can do a better job at this than they can.

What’s the reason. They’d be out of session during graduation.

Maybe they’re already booked. Maybe they can’t staff that many hours. Maybe they have other events going on that require them to take the tent down. You and I don’t know why MC isn’t an option, but apparently, it’s not an option for this year.

Regardless, someone would complain if that’s where all the graduations were being held, even if their complaints are really due to personal circumstances and have nothing to do with MCPS.

So, you are just making excuses.

Yes, we’re all making up excuses since we don’t coordinate these events for MCPS or MC, and MCPS cannot reasonably be expected to control traffic congestion nor accommodate every individual’s health and parents’ work schedules when more than 10,000 families are involved.

You and I don’t know what other venues were considered and what made MCPS settle on UMBC, but one thing we do know is that MCPS has not used MC historically, nor has MCPS been holding their ceremonies anywhere else in MoCo. They’ve used multiple other venues in different cities, most of which resulted in one complaint or another. Now they will have one main complaint about the venue: it’s a farther drive. However, several common problems are solved: people can have more tickets, there will be adequate parking, and ceremonies won’t overlap. Traffic is a potential issue with any venue. Being able to take time off work is a problem with any venue. Health issues are a problem with any venue. Having a venue farther away is an issue, and one that MCPS is attempting to address by providing transportation to those who need it. Apparently they have the budget for that, given whatever UMBC is charging them for its use.

Yeah, they hold them in moco on football fields.

A couple of the smallest schools can use their own football fields, but the vast majority cannot and have to book venues off of MCPS’s own school properties…which is how MCPS came to book properties outside of MoCo in the first place, and which they have been doing for quite a while. The new twist is that every school now has to use the same facility.

They all can if they bring in chairs, etc. but by the time the school rents everything it will cost around the same. Using one venue makes sense, but this one due to distance does not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There’s no solution that will make everyone happy, but most parents don’t have tons of children and can afford to take a half day or even a full day off work for this one-time special milestone event in each of their children’s lives. People were already driving a half hour from their house to graduation ceremony venues before; you’ll survive driving an extra 45 minutes. There will be traffic, but there was traffic to contend with when people drove to the previous venues as well. This is not the hardship you’re making it out to be.

You must be at a wealthy school. My spouse is a contractor. Paid by the hour, no leave.

My goodness! If you cannot take a day off for your kid graduation, you have bigger problems.
DP

Can we, yes, can others, some yes, some no. Not everyone has a job like you do.

When and where could MCPS hold all 25 graduation ceremonies for the 12,000 graduates and their 20,000+ parents that would not inconvenience anyone?

Montomery college.

That post went right over your head. Even if MC’s magic tent is available, has adequate staffing, is air conditioned, has decent acoustics, easy access to restrooms, is affordable, etc., SOMEONE will be inconvenienced by health problems or having to miss work or driving in traffic or having to arrive first thing in the morning or having to stay late into the evening or getting hustled out of the venue quickly because it has to be prepared for the next ceremony.

MCPS cannot possibly give the perfect graduation ceremony experience to the 50,000 - 60,000 people who would like to attend a graduation ceremony.

Of course they have all of that as its aready set up for MC graduation which is larger.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7yMQzD-l4I

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=co2udY8kMiM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sY0f84hISkk

Can they host 25 graduations over a 2 week period? And they’re not already booked?

There’s a reason why we have an agreement with UMBC and not MC. Take it up with Central Office since you can do a better job at this than they can.

What’s the reason. They’d be out of session during graduation.

Maybe they’re already booked. Maybe they can’t staff that many hours. Maybe they have other events going on that require them to take the tent down. You and I don’t know why MC isn’t an option, but apparently, it’s not an option for this year.

Regardless, someone would complain if that’s where all the graduations were being held, even if their complaints are really due to personal circumstances and have nothing to do with MCPS.

So, you are just making excuses.

Yes, we’re all making up excuses since we don’t coordinate these events for MCPS or MC, and MCPS cannot reasonably be expected to control traffic congestion nor accommodate every individual’s health and parents’ work schedules when more than 10,000 families are involved.

You and I don’t know what other venues were considered and what made MCPS settle on UMBC, but one thing we do know is that MCPS has not used MC historically, nor has MCPS been holding their ceremonies anywhere else in MoCo. They’ve used multiple other venues in different cities, most of which resulted in one complaint or another. Now they will have one main complaint about the venue: it’s a farther drive. However, several common problems are solved: people can have more tickets, there will be adequate parking, and ceremonies won’t overlap. Traffic is a potential issue with any venue. Being able to take time off work is a problem with any venue. Health issues are a problem with any venue. Having a venue farther away is an issue, and one that MCPS is attempting to address by providing transportation to those who need it. Apparently they have the budget for that, given whatever UMBC is charging them for its use.

Check your privilege. It is absurd to make that many families drive that far and not hold it in our own county. With health issues, if its local, I can drive myself and leave right after my kid walks. If its far, I cannot do that as I cannot drive that far safely.

And, not a chance I'd take an MCPS bus as I shouldn't be around any crowds even masking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There’s no solution that will make everyone happy, but most parents don’t have tons of children and can afford to take a half day or even a full day off work for this one-time special milestone event in each of their children’s lives. People were already driving a half hour from their house to graduation ceremony venues before; you’ll survive driving an extra 45 minutes. There will be traffic, but there was traffic to contend with when people drove to the previous venues as well. This is not the hardship you’re making it out to be.

You must be at a wealthy school. My spouse is a contractor. Paid by the hour, no leave.

My goodness! If you cannot take a day off for your kid graduation, you have bigger problems.
DP

Can we, yes, can others, some yes, some no. Not everyone has a job like you do.

When and where could MCPS hold all 25 graduation ceremonies for the 12,000 graduates and their 20,000+ parents that would not inconvenience anyone?

Montomery college.

That post went right over your head. Even if MC’s magic tent is available, has adequate staffing, is air conditioned, has decent acoustics, easy access to restrooms, is affordable, etc., SOMEONE will be inconvenienced by health problems or having to miss work or driving in traffic or having to arrive first thing in the morning or having to stay late into the evening or getting hustled out of the venue quickly because it has to be prepared for the next ceremony.

MCPS cannot possibly give the perfect graduation ceremony experience to the 50,000 - 60,000 people who would like to attend a graduation ceremony.

Of course they have all of that as its aready set up for MC graduation which is larger.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7yMQzD-l4I

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=co2udY8kMiM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sY0f84hISkk

Can they host 25 graduations over a 2 week period? And they’re not already booked?

There’s a reason why we have an agreement with UMBC and not MC. Take it up with Central Office since you can do a better job at this than they can.

What’s the reason. They’d be out of session during graduation.

Maybe they’re already booked. Maybe they can’t staff that many hours. Maybe they have other events going on that require them to take the tent down. You and I don’t know why MC isn’t an option, but apparently, it’s not an option for this year.

Regardless, someone would complain if that’s where all the graduations were being held, even if their complaints are really due to personal circumstances and have nothing to do with MCPS.

So, you are just making excuses.

Yes, we’re all making up excuses since we don’t coordinate these events for MCPS or MC, and MCPS cannot reasonably be expected to control traffic congestion nor accommodate every individual’s health and parents’ work schedules when more than 10,000 families are involved.

You and I don’t know what other venues were considered and what made MCPS settle on UMBC, but one thing we do know is that MCPS has not used MC historically, nor has MCPS been holding their ceremonies anywhere else in MoCo. They’ve used multiple other venues in different cities, most of which resulted in one complaint or another. Now they will have one main complaint about the venue: it’s a farther drive. However, several common problems are solved: people can have more tickets, there will be adequate parking, and ceremonies won’t overlap. Traffic is a potential issue with any venue. Being able to take time off work is a problem with any venue. Health issues are a problem with any venue. Having a venue farther away is an issue, and one that MCPS is attempting to address by providing transportation to those who need it. Apparently they have the budget for that, given whatever UMBC is charging them for its use.

Check your privilege. It is absurd to make that many families drive that far and not hold it in our own county. With health issues, if its local, I can drive myself and leave right after my kid walks. If its far, I cannot do that as I cannot drive that far safely.

And, not a chance I'd take an MCPS bus as I shouldn't be around any crowds even masking.

Ok, then how do you propose having the county government or a private entity build a venue that's comparable to the Xfinity Center in College Park or UMBC's here in Montgomery County? Because that's the criteria we'd need to meet to do all of our graduations in county.