The Facts About the Districtwide Boundary Analysis

[Anonymous]

Here is the article from BB:
Schools To Conduct Countywide Boundary Study
Study proposed to address overcrowding, ‘heavily segregated’ schools

BY CAITLYNN PEETZ FOLLOW @CAITLYNNPEETZ14 | Published: 2019-01-09 12:00

https://bethesdamagazine.com/bethesda-beat/schools/school-district-to-conduct-countywide-boundary-study/
“The resolution for an outside review was introduced by student board member Ananya Tadikonda, who said a study to address overcrowding and increase diversity among schools was overdue.”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:From the stuff posted on DCUM, a person would easily conclude that Neelsville MS is across the county from Cabin Branch.

Rocky Hill MS and Neelsville MS are 3 miles apart.

It's 3.2 miles from the elementary school site in Cabin Branch to Rocky Hill MS.

It's 4.9 miles from the elementary school site in Cabin Branch to Neelsville MS.

But that doesn't take into account traffic. By the BOE's one slides it will increase commute 30 minutes a day and I think they are underestimating this. 1 mile on my country road is no time at all. 1.7 miles on 355 in rush hour is a completely different story.

That commute will equal an extra 30 mins a day on screen time. Because that is what most those students will be CONTENT doing on their bus ride in. The overachievers will likely be doing homework. Buses may be stuck in some AM traffic but they will likely beat traffic in the PM. The children will likely beat their parents home, giving them time to finish homework before "family time".

[Anonymous]

From the superintendent (first page of the thread)

No Recommendations for Boundary Changes: The final report WILL NOT include recommendations for boundary changes/student reassignments. MCPS will use data and research from the report to inform future boundary studies.

What I don't get is why MCPS is paying for an external expert to conduct a districtwide analysis of school boundaries if they are not going to make any recommendations? Presumably MCPS already has data on relevant factors to determine school boundaries, such as current school capacities, student demographics, and planned housing developments. I find it much easier to find information on what the boundary analysis is not going to do, than on what it is going to do. What will the final product look like? What are we paying for?

(I admittedly haven't able to attend any of the meetings so far.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:From the superintendent (first page of the thread)

No Recommendations for Boundary Changes: The final report WILL NOT include recommendations for boundary changes/student reassignments. MCPS will use data and research from the report to inform future boundary studies.

What I don't get is why MCPS is paying for an external expert to conduct a districtwide analysis of school boundaries if they are not going to make any recommendations? Presumably MCPS already has data on relevant factors to determine school boundaries, such as current school capacities, student demographics, and planned housing developments. I find it much easier to find information on what the boundary analysis is not going to do, than on what it is going to do. What will the final product look like? What are we paying for?

(I admittedly haven't able to attend any of the meetings so far.)

I went to Blair and this was probably the most-asked question during the breakout sessions. WXY is collecting data and presenting it in a report with no recommendations made. No one was satisfied with that answer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:From the superintendent (first page of the thread)

No Recommendations for Boundary Changes: The final report WILL NOT include recommendations for boundary changes/student reassignments. MCPS will use data and research from the report to inform future boundary studies.

What I don't get is why MCPS is paying for an external expert to conduct a districtwide analysis of school boundaries if they are not going to make any recommendations? Presumably MCPS already has data on relevant factors to determine school boundaries, such as current school capacities, student demographics, and planned housing developments. I find it much easier to find information on what the boundary analysis is not going to do, than on what it is going to do. What will the final product look like? What are we paying for?

(I admittedly haven't able to attend any of the meetings so far.)

I went to Blair and this was probably the most-asked question during the breakout sessions. WXY is collecting data and presenting it in a report with no recommendations made. No one was satisfied with that answer.

I went to the Northwest meeting, and the most-asked question was basically: Why are you lying to us about everything, including your plans to force our kids into long-distance buses?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:From the superintendent (first page of the thread)

No Recommendations for Boundary Changes: The final report WILL NOT include recommendations for boundary changes/student reassignments. MCPS will use data and research from the report to inform future boundary studies.

What I don't get is why MCPS is paying for an external expert to conduct a districtwide analysis of school boundaries if they are not going to make any recommendations? Presumably MCPS already has data on relevant factors to determine school boundaries, such as current school capacities, student demographics, and planned housing developments. I find it much easier to find information on what the boundary analysis is not going to do, than on what it is going to do. What will the final product look like? What are we paying for?

(I admittedly haven't able to attend any of the meetings so far.)

I went to Blair and this was probably the most-asked question during the breakout sessions. WXY is collecting data and presenting it in a report with no recommendations made. No one was satisfied with that answer.

I went to the Northwest meeting, and the most-asked question was basically: Why are you lying to us about everything, including your plans to force our kids into long-distance buses?

You realize that’s a question for the BOE and not the data collectors, I hope.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:From the superintendent (first page of the thread)

No Recommendations for Boundary Changes: The final report WILL NOT include recommendations for boundary changes/student reassignments. MCPS will use data and research from the report to inform future boundary studies.

What I don't get is why MCPS is paying for an external expert to conduct a districtwide analysis of school boundaries if they are not going to make any recommendations? Presumably MCPS already has data on relevant factors to determine school boundaries, such as current school capacities, student demographics, and planned housing developments. I find it much easier to find information on what the boundary analysis is not going to do, than on what it is going to do. What will the final product look like? What are we paying for?

(I admittedly haven't able to attend any of the meetings so far.)

I went to Blair and this was probably the most-asked question during the breakout sessions. WXY is collecting data and presenting it in a report with no recommendations made. No one was satisfied with that answer.

I went to the Northwest meeting, and the most-asked question was basically: Why are you lying to us about everything, including your plans to force our kids into long-distance buses?

You realize that’s a question for the BOE and not the data collectors, I hope.

Tell that to the parents from Bethesda and Potomac who dominated the Northwest meeting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:From the superintendent (first page of the thread)

No Recommendations for Boundary Changes: The final report WILL NOT include recommendations for boundary changes/student reassignments. MCPS will use data and research from the report to inform future boundary studies.

What I don't get is why MCPS is paying for an external expert to conduct a districtwide analysis of school boundaries if they are not going to make any recommendations? Presumably MCPS already has data on relevant factors to determine school boundaries, such as current school capacities, student demographics, and planned housing developments. I find it much easier to find information on what the boundary analysis is not going to do, than on what it is going to do. What will the final product look like? What are we paying for?

(I admittedly haven't able to attend any of the meetings so far.)

I went to Blair and this was probably the most-asked question during the breakout sessions. WXY is collecting data and presenting it in a report with no recommendations made. No one was satisfied with that answer.

I went to the Northwest meeting, and the most-asked question was basically: Why are you lying to us about everything, including your plans to force our kids into long-distance buses?

I think this is an overreaction but I do have a suspicion that we are being set up for a bait and switch. We are given being much time and multiple public hearing for the benign data collection by WXY. When new boundaries are announced, there will not be much time and few public hearings because "everyone already had the opportunity for public input during the WXY boundary analysis." I hope I am mistaken.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:From the superintendent (first page of the thread)

No Recommendations for Boundary Changes: The final report WILL NOT include recommendations for boundary changes/student reassignments. MCPS will use data and research from the report to inform future boundary studies.

What I don't get is why MCPS is paying for an external expert to conduct a districtwide analysis of school boundaries if they are not going to make any recommendations? Presumably MCPS already has data on relevant factors to determine school boundaries, such as current school capacities, student demographics, and planned housing developments. I find it much easier to find information on what the boundary analysis is not going to do, than on what it is going to do. What will the final product look like? What are we paying for?

(I admittedly haven't able to attend any of the meetings so far.)

Here's the thing. Both the RFP and the proposal from WXY indicated a deliverable of giving potential modifications. WXY bid on the project based on the RFP, which asked for "potential modifications." After all of the pushback from the community, BOE backpedaled and stated that there would be no boundary adjustment options presented. So you are right, we are paying for more than we are being delivered, because we essentially told them, "Never mind, we don't need that, but we'll still pay you $500K."

From the RFP (potential modifications that would positively impact the four factors and align student assignment patterns with Board policy and analysis of any potential modifications that are identified and presented):



From the WXY Proposal (Task 3.3 Deliverable: Summary presentation outlining three (3) initial cluster boundary plan options with associated KPI scorecards):

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:From the superintendent (first page of the thread)

No Recommendations for Boundary Changes: The final report WILL NOT include recommendations for boundary changes/student reassignments. MCPS will use data and research from the report to inform future boundary studies.

What I don't get is why MCPS is paying for an external expert to conduct a districtwide analysis of school boundaries if they are not going to make any recommendations? Presumably MCPS already has data on relevant factors to determine school boundaries, such as current school capacities, student demographics, and planned housing developments. I find it much easier to find information on what the boundary analysis is not going to do, than on what it is going to do. What will the final product look like? What are we paying for?

(I admittedly haven't able to attend any of the meetings so far.)

I went to Blair and this was probably the most-asked question during the breakout sessions. WXY is collecting data and presenting it in a report with no recommendations made. No one was satisfied with that answer.

I went to the Northwest meeting, and the most-asked question was basically: Why are you lying to us about everything, including your plans to force our kids into long-distance buses?

I think this is an overreaction but I do have a suspicion that we are being set up for a bait and switch. We are given being much time and multiple public hearing for the benign data collection by WXY. When new boundaries are announced, there will not be much time and few public hearings because "everyone already had the opportunity for public input during the WXY boundary analysis." I hope I am mistaken.

MCPS has a boundary study process. Have you ever looked at it? I suggest you do so.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:From the superintendent (first page of the thread)

No Recommendations for Boundary Changes: The final report WILL NOT include recommendations for boundary changes/student reassignments. MCPS will use data and research from the report to inform future boundary studies.

What I don't get is why MCPS is paying for an external expert to conduct a districtwide analysis of school boundaries if they are not going to make any recommendations? Presumably MCPS already has data on relevant factors to determine school boundaries, such as current school capacities, student demographics, and planned housing developments. I find it much easier to find information on what the boundary analysis is not going to do, than on what it is going to do. What will the final product look like? What are we paying for?

(I admittedly haven't able to attend any of the meetings so far.)

I went to Blair and this was probably the most-asked question during the breakout sessions. WXY is collecting data and presenting it in a report with no recommendations made. No one was satisfied with that answer.

I went to the Northwest meeting, and the most-asked question was basically: Why are you lying to us about everything, including your plans to force our kids into long-distance buses?

I think this is an overreaction but I do have a suspicion that we are being set up for a bait and switch. We are given being much time and multiple public hearing for the benign data collection by WXY. When new boundaries are announced, there will not be much time and few public hearings because "everyone already had the opportunity for public input during the WXY boundary analysis." I hope I am mistaken.

MCPS has a boundary study process. Have you ever looked at it? I suggest you do so.

Do you have a link, or a place where I could find it?

Anyway, the PP's post about how originally WXY was originally supposed to give potential boundary modifications explains a lot. We are having multiple public hearings because originally there were supposed to be proposed boundary changes. After BOE backpedaled and stated that there would be no boundary adjustment options presented, they still kept all the public meetings.

[Anonymous]

Google "MCPS boundary study"

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/planning/boundary.aspx

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:From the superintendent (first page of the thread)

No Recommendations for Boundary Changes: The final report WILL NOT include recommendations for boundary changes/student reassignments. MCPS will use data and research from the report to inform future boundary studies.

What I don't get is why MCPS is paying for an external expert to conduct a districtwide analysis of school boundaries if they are not going to make any recommendations? Presumably MCPS already has data on relevant factors to determine school boundaries, such as current school capacities, student demographics, and planned housing developments. I find it much easier to find information on what the boundary analysis is not going to do, than on what it is going to do. What will the final product look like? What are we paying for?

(I admittedly haven't able to attend any of the meetings so far.)

I went to Blair and this was probably the most-asked question during the breakout sessions. WXY is collecting data and presenting it in a report with no recommendations made. No one was satisfied with that answer.

I went to the Northwest meeting, and the most-asked question was basically: Why are you lying to us about everything, including your plans to force our kids into long-distance buses?

SIGH.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:From the superintendent (first page of the thread)

No Recommendations for Boundary Changes: The final report WILL NOT include recommendations for boundary changes/student reassignments. MCPS will use data and research from the report to inform future boundary studies.

What I don't get is why MCPS is paying for an external expert to conduct a districtwide analysis of school boundaries if they are not going to make any recommendations? Presumably MCPS already has data on relevant factors to determine school boundaries, such as current school capacities, student demographics, and planned housing developments. I find it much easier to find information on what the boundary analysis is not going to do, than on what it is going to do. What will the final product look like? What are we paying for?

(I admittedly haven't able to attend any of the meetings so far.)

I went to Blair and this was probably the most-asked question during the breakout sessions. WXY is collecting data and presenting it in a report with no recommendations made. No one was satisfied with that answer.

I went to the Northwest meeting, and the most-asked question was basically: Why are you lying to us about everything, including your plans to force our kids into long-distance buses?

I think this is an overreaction but I do have a suspicion that we are being set up for a bait and switch. We are given being much time and multiple public hearing for the benign data collection by WXY. When new boundaries are announced, there will not be much time and few public hearings because "everyone already had the opportunity for public input during the WXY boundary analysis." I hope I am mistaken.

MCPS has a boundary study process. Have you ever looked at it? I suggest you do so.

Do you have a link, or a place where I could find it?

Anyway, the PP's post about how originally WXY was originally supposed to give potential boundary modifications explains a lot. We are having multiple public hearings because originally there were supposed to be proposed boundary changes. After BOE backpedaled and stated that there would be no boundary adjustment options presented, they still kept all the public meetings.

I am the PP who posted the RFP and proposal documents. I agree that the community engagement sessions were set up with the thought that county wide boundary changes would come out of this plan quite quickly. Now the BOE has decided that this is just a Boundary Analysis to do "future" boundary studies. It doesn't matter though...they can still have the outcome they desire even though they are being less transparent now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I am the PP who posted the RFP and proposal documents. I agree that the community engagement sessions were set up with the thought that county wide boundary changes would come out of this plan quite quickly. Now the BOE has decided that this is just a Boundary Analysis to do "future" boundary studies. It doesn't matter though...they can still have the outcome they desire even though they are being less transparent now.

Yes, that's the conclusion a person will come to, when they start with the premise "MCPS/BoE are lying to us about everything and plan to force our kids into long-distance buses."

There's no evidence for that premise, of course. But why bother with evidence?