RFP for county-wide boundary analysis

[Anonymous]

Looks like the award of contract for the consultant originally anticipated by Aug. 1st is now scheduled for Aug. 29th. Status report being presented at Monday's BOE meeting:

https://go.boarddocs.com/mabe/mcpsmd/Board.nsf/files/BEBT24753217/$file/Update%20Boundary%20Analysis%20190729.pdf

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This needs to stop until MoCo gets back on its economic feet. Doing anything that spooks away potential buyers and makes Montgomery County even less attractive is just suicide right now. Doing a study and then being cagey that they may or may not do anything is even worse for the real estate market and property tax revenue stream.

The County is not "on its economic feet" exactly because it has been increasing taxes on fewer and fewer workers to pay for ever higher welfare programs for years. I don't see it turning around.

[Anonymous]

They're recommending hiring 'WXY architecture + urban design' as a consultant:

https://go.boarddocs.com/mabe/mcpsmd/Board.nsf/files/BFFLST57FFD9/$file/Award%20%20Cont%20Districtwide%20Boundary%20Analysis.pdf

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This needs to stop until MoCo gets back on its economic feet. Doing anything that spooks away potential buyers and makes Montgomery County even less attractive is just suicide right now. Doing a study and then being cagey that they may or may not do anything is even worse for the real estate market and property tax revenue stream.

The County is not "on its economic feet" exactly because it has been increasing taxes on fewer and fewer workers to pay for ever higher welfare programs for years. I don't see it turning around.

+1000

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They're recommending hiring 'WXY architecture + urban design' as a consultant:

https://go.boarddocs.com/mabe/mcpsmd/Board.nsf/files/BFFLST57FFD9/$file/Award%20%20Cont%20Districtwide%20Boundary%20Analysis.pdf

More from the Bethesda Beat article:

The firm conducted a review of Boston Public Schools school assignment practices in 2013, the website says.

The Boston school system has long struggled with “a legacy of” racial segregation, which was a key focus of WXY’s review. The firm helped create a new school assignment policy by evaluating school capacity, English as a Second Language programs, projected demographic mix, access to quality schools and transportation costs.

Preparation began by ensuring homes of all school children were “geocoded,” or placed on a map with precise geographical coordinates.

WXY evaluated several potential policies based on social equity, school capacity and anticipated transportation costs, according to the website, and it provided enrollment projections based on “fine-grained, location-based” projections.

https://bethesdamagazine.com/bethesda-beat/schools/cost-of-mcps-school-boundary-analysis-capped-at-475000/

[Anonymous]

Weird choice in architects. Their are much better options who actually have done business in the DMV or at least have an office near here and/or have a high profile in education urban design..

Maybe low bid?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They're recommending hiring 'WXY architecture + urban design' as a consultant:

https://go.boarddocs.com/mabe/mcpsmd/Board.nsf/files/BFFLST57FFD9/$file/Award%20%20Cont%20Districtwide%20Boundary%20Analysis.pdf

More from the Bethesda Beat article:

The firm conducted a review of Boston Public Schools school assignment practices in 2013, the website says.

The Boston school system has long struggled with “a legacy of” racial segregation, which was a key focus of WXY’s review. The firm helped create a new school assignment policy by evaluating school capacity, English as a Second Language programs, projected demographic mix, access to quality schools and transportation costs.

Preparation began by ensuring homes of all school children were “geocoded,” or placed on a map with precise geographical coordinates.

WXY evaluated several potential policies based on social equity, school capacity and anticipated transportation costs, according to the website, and it provided enrollment projections based on “fine-grained, location-based” projections.


https://bethesdamagazine.com/bethesda-beat/schools/cost-of-mcps-school-boundary-analysis-capped-at-475000/

We all know what this means. The award and the quote about "Boston's legacy" show that the primary intent of the revised boundaries will not be strengthening local neighborhood communities, or school excellence: it will be addressing the persistent "achievement gap." What I don't understand is why we're paying half a million dollars to do this; with this clear objective, it seems that a few staffers could redraw the lines in Google maps in a few days. Well, at least we know what's coming.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They're recommending hiring 'WXY architecture + urban design' as a consultant:

https://go.boarddocs.com/mabe/mcpsmd/Board.nsf/files/BFFLST57FFD9/$file/Award%20%20Cont%20Districtwide%20Boundary%20Analysis.pdf

More from the Bethesda Beat article:

The firm conducted a review of Boston Public Schools school assignment practices in 2013, the website says.

The Boston school system has long struggled with “a legacy of” racial segregation, which was a key focus of WXY’s review. The firm helped create a new school assignment policy by evaluating school capacity, English as a Second Language programs, projected demographic mix, access to quality schools and transportation costs.

Preparation began by ensuring homes of all school children were “geocoded,” or placed on a map with precise geographical coordinates.

WXY evaluated several potential policies based on social equity, school capacity and anticipated transportation costs, according to the website, and it provided enrollment projections based on “fine-grained, location-based” projections.


https://bethesdamagazine.com/bethesda-beat/schools/cost-of-mcps-school-boundary-analysis-capped-at-475000/

We all know what this means. The award and the quote about "Boston's legacy" show that the primary intent of the revised boundaries will not be strengthening local neighborhood communities, or school excellence: it will be addressing the persistent "achievement gap." What I don't understand is why we're paying half a million dollars to do this; with this clear objective, it seems that a few staffers could redraw the lines in Google maps in a few days. Well, at least we know what's coming.

Yes, what's coming is a report that should evaluate "several potential policies based on social equity, school capacity and anticipated transportation costs" with "enrollment projections based on 'fine-grained, location-based' projections."

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the updates.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
We all know what this means. The award and the quote about "Boston's legacy" show that the primary intent of the revised boundaries will not be strengthening local neighborhood communities, or school excellence: it will be addressing the persistent "achievement gap." What I don't understand is why we're paying half a million dollars to do this; with this clear objective, it seems that a few staffers could redraw the lines in Google maps in a few days. Well, at least we know what's coming.

Yes, what's coming is a report that should evaluate "several potential policies based on social equity, school capacity and anticipated transportation costs" with "enrollment projections based on 'fine-grained, location-based' projections."

Yes, and that benchmarks MCPS with other school systems of similar size and analyzes the impact of current boundaries and potential boundary changes on student body demographics, facility use, transportation, the use of schools to offer nonprofit or after-school programs, articulation patterns, and the pros and cons of cyclic boundary reviews.

[Anonymous]

Yawn. Waste of $$. Ready to be done with this district already. Just a few more years....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They're recommending hiring 'WXY architecture + urban design' as a consultant:

https://go.boarddocs.com/mabe/mcpsmd/Board.nsf/files/BFFLST57FFD9/$file/Award%20%20Cont%20Districtwide%20Boundary%20Analysis.pdf

More from the Bethesda Beat article:

The firm conducted a review of Boston Public Schools school assignment practices in 2013, the website says.

The Boston school system has long struggled with “a legacy of” racial segregation, which was a key focus of WXY’s review. The firm helped create a new school assignment policy by evaluating school capacity, English as a Second Language programs, projected demographic mix, access to quality schools and transportation costs.

Preparation began by ensuring homes of all school children were “geocoded,” or placed on a map with precise geographical coordinates.

WXY evaluated several potential policies based on social equity, school capacity and anticipated transportation costs, according to the website, and it provided enrollment projections based on “fine-grained, location-based” projections.


https://bethesdamagazine.com/bethesda-beat/schools/cost-of-mcps-school-boundary-analysis-capped-at-475000/

We all know what this means. The award and the quote about "Boston's legacy" show that the primary intent of the revised boundaries will not be strengthening local neighborhood communities, or school excellence: it will be addressing the persistent "achievement gap." What I don't understand is why we're paying half a million dollars to do this; with this clear objective, it seems that a few staffers could redraw the lines in Google maps in a few days. Well, at least we know what's coming.

Ending decades of segregation and gerrymandering sounds like good news!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yawn. Waste of $$. Ready to be done with this district already. Just a few more years....

+1 million

MoCo is insane.

[Anonymous]

https://ny.curbed.com/2018/11/9/18076048/brooklyn-district-15-diversity-inclusion-plan-wxy

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:https://ny.curbed.com/2018/11/9/18076048/brooklyn-district-15-diversity-inclusion-plan-wxy

Interesting--thanks! It's a positive sign that this firm has expertise in community engagement.