Initial boundary options for Woodward study area are up

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Woodward is/was ideally suited to take new density in North Bethesda. There’s a lot of new building going on, even if White Flint is sitting vacant. And when they do start building there … lots of kids. Who under option 3 will be bused across county to the East. Y’all are about to get more overcrowding over there. Welcome to our world.

Why plan all the density to bus all the kids some place else? That is nonsensical thinking and terrible urban planning.

And the idea originally was that Woodward would take half of WJ plus 1-2 DCC elementary schools. And have a performing arts magnet. Audition only.

You are wildly incorrect if you think there are not jobs in the performing arts and that it does not help kids get into colleges, open doors they would not otherwise have. Entertainment is actually a huge industry here in America - we export it around the world. Plus keeps the kids engaged in school.

People are apparently lying and cheating their way into Duke Ellington, why not have something similar here?

They do need to leave a lot of space open in Woodward for all the new construction.

A real preforming arts program would be nice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Woodward is/was ideally suited to take new density in North Bethesda. There’s a lot of new building going on, even if White Flint is sitting vacant. And when they do start building there … lots of kids. Who under option 3 will be bused across county to the East. Y’all are about to get more overcrowding over there. Welcome to our world.

Why plan all the density to bus all the kids some place else? That is nonsensical thinking and terrible urban planning.

And the idea originally was that Woodward would take half of WJ plus 1-2 DCC elementary schools. And have a performing arts magnet. Audition only.

You are wildly incorrect if you think there are not jobs in the performing arts and that it does not help kids get into colleges, open doors they would not otherwise have. Entertainment is actually a huge industry here in America - we export it around the world. Plus keeps the kids engaged in school.

People are apparently lying and cheating their way into Duke Ellington, why not have something similar here?

They do need to leave a lot of space open in Woodward for all the new construction.

A real preforming arts program would be nice.

It would be amazing. Something new and different for the county. Maybe 100 seats allocated to that from Woodward.

[Anonymous]

As best I can tell, the whole white flint area would get bused to Wheaton under option 3.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Many wealthy school PTSA’s have foundations as well, funded by family contributions. Schools with less wealth certainly don’t have those and barely have PTSA’s. Some high schools have long-standing booster clubs with a lot of support. Others do not.

Yes the PTA variability is wild to me and I'm sure I don't even know the half of it. We were at a Title I elementary school and the PTA was very small, very low budget. We moved and are at a nearby ES (still downcounty) and the PTA is huge with a lot of participation and great fundraising. Relatedly, I'm still sorry this boundary study did not include elementary schools.

Most PTAs in West County do not raise that much money. Yes, volunteerism is high. It’s easy to walk down the street to school and meet your neighbors. Is that what you want to take away? That is evil.

My kid attended the magnet program at Blair. I did not volunteer as it was too far away. At my childrens’ elementary school I was on the board of the PTA for 10 years. It was convenient to go to school events.

It is the volunteering that makes the difference, not just the money. And volunteers raise the money of course. We wouldn’t be able to drive 45 minutes to volunteer. That would all stop.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Many wealthy school PTSA’s have foundations as well, funded by family contributions. Schools with less wealth certainly don’t have those and barely have PTSA’s. Some high schools have long-standing booster clubs with a lot of support. Others do not.

Yes the PTA variability is wild to me and I'm sure I don't even know the half of it. We were at a Title I elementary school and the PTA was very small, very low budget. We moved and are at a nearby ES (still downcounty) and the PTA is huge with a lot of participation and great fundraising. Relatedly, I'm still sorry this boundary study did not include elementary schools.

Most PTAs in West County do not raise that much money. Yes, volunteerism is high. It’s easy to walk down the street to school and meet your neighbors. Is that what you want to take away? That is evil.

My kid attended the magnet program at Blair. I did not volunteer as it was too far away. At my childrens’ elementary school I was on the board of the PTA for 10 years. It was convenient to go to school events.

It is the volunteering that makes the difference, not just the money. And volunteers raise the money of course. We wouldn’t be able to drive 45 minutes to volunteer. That would all stop.

And we are back to why we need neighborhood schools again. Life is hard enough, please don’t make it worse MCPS!

[Anonymous]

Cue the performing arts haters ….

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Many wealthy school PTSA’s have foundations as well, funded by family contributions. Schools with less wealth certainly don’t have those and barely have PTSA’s. Some high schools have long-standing booster clubs with a lot of support. Others do not.

Yes the PTA variability is wild to me and I'm sure I don't even know the half of it. We were at a Title I elementary school and the PTA was very small, very low budget. We moved and are at a nearby ES (still downcounty) and the PTA is huge with a lot of participation and great fundraising. Relatedly, I'm still sorry this boundary study did not include elementary schools.

Most PTAs in West County do not raise that much money. Yes, volunteerism is high. It’s easy to walk down the street to school and meet your neighbors. Is that what you want to take away? That is evil.

My kid attended the magnet program at Blair. I did not volunteer as it was too far away. At my childrens’ elementary school I was on the board of the PTA for 10 years. It was convenient to go to school events.

It is the volunteering that makes the difference, not just the money. And volunteers raise the money of course. We wouldn’t be able to drive 45 minutes to volunteer. That would all stop.

Our fundraisers take literally hundreds of volunteers. That’s how it happens. Other schools can do the same.

[Anonymous]

Yes, we want everything walkable, except for kids and schools. Make them ride the bus and/or drive.

Then we’ll ask …

Why are they on the phone so much? Why aren’t they getting enough exercise?

[Anonymous]

does the county have some allotted money to devote to these effecuating these boundary changes (not just the study)? Or are they expecting to rezone everyone for free?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Many wealthy school PTSA’s have foundations as well, funded by family contributions. Schools with less wealth certainly don’t have those and barely have PTSA’s. Some high schools have long-standing booster clubs with a lot of support. Others do not.

Yes the PTA variability is wild to me and I'm sure I don't even know the half of it. We were at a Title I elementary school and the PTA was very small, very low budget. We moved and are at a nearby ES (still downcounty) and the PTA is huge with a lot of participation and great fundraising. Relatedly, I'm still sorry this boundary study did not include elementary schools.

Most PTAs in West County do not raise that much money. Yes, volunteerism is high. It’s easy to walk down the street to school and meet your neighbors. Is that what you want to take away? That is evil.

My kid attended the magnet program at Blair. I did not volunteer as it was too far away. At my childrens’ elementary school I was on the board of the PTA for 10 years. It was convenient to go to school events.

It is the volunteering that makes the difference, not just the money. And volunteers raise the money of course. We wouldn’t be able to drive 45 minutes to volunteer. That would all stop.

Our fundraisers take literally hundreds of volunteers. That’s how it happens. Other schools can do the same.

*other schools where parents have the time and flexibility to make that kind of volunteer commitment -- not all schools have hundreds of parents who have that option.

[Anonymous]

Busing overall decreases the availability of volunteers. It's a net negative.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Many wealthy school PTSA’s have foundations as well, funded by family contributions. Schools with less wealth certainly don’t have those and barely have PTSA’s. Some high schools have long-standing booster clubs with a lot of support. Others do not.

Yes the PTA variability is wild to me and I'm sure I don't even know the half of it. We were at a Title I elementary school and the PTA was very small, very low budget. We moved and are at a nearby ES (still downcounty) and the PTA is huge with a lot of participation and great fundraising. Relatedly, I'm still sorry this boundary study did not include elementary schools.

Most PTAs in West County do not raise that much money. Yes, volunteerism is high. It’s easy to walk down the street to school and meet your neighbors. Is that what you want to take away? That is evil.

My kid attended the magnet program at Blair. I did not volunteer as it was too far away. At my childrens’ elementary school I was on the board of the PTA for 10 years. It was convenient to go to school events.

It is the volunteering that makes the difference, not just the money. And volunteers raise the money of course. We wouldn’t be able to drive 45 minutes to volunteer. That would all stop.

Our fundraisers take literally hundreds of volunteers. That’s how it happens. Other schools can do the same.

*other schools where parents have the time and flexibility to make that kind of volunteer commitment -- not all schools have hundreds of parents who have that option.

People make time for the volunteering. High paid people also work a lot of hours.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As best I can tell, the whole white flint area would get bused to Wheaton under option 3.

Should that happen lots will probably go private. It’s stupid to put kids in one highly ranked school, to a low one in a snap.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Many wealthy school PTSA’s have foundations as well, funded by family contributions. Schools with less wealth certainly don’t have those and barely have PTSA’s. Some high schools have long-standing booster clubs with a lot of support. Others do not.

Yes the PTA variability is wild to me and I'm sure I don't even know the half of it. We were at a Title I elementary school and the PTA was very small, very low budget. We moved and are at a nearby ES (still downcounty) and the PTA is huge with a lot of participation and great fundraising. Relatedly, I'm still sorry this boundary study did not include elementary schools.

Most PTAs in West County do not raise that much money. Yes, volunteerism is high. It’s easy to walk down the street to school and meet your neighbors. Is that what you want to take away? That is evil.

My kid attended the magnet program at Blair. I did not volunteer as it was too far away. At my childrens’ elementary school I was on the board of the PTA for 10 years. It was convenient to go to school events.

It is the volunteering that makes the difference, not just the money. And volunteers raise the money of course. We wouldn’t be able to drive 45 minutes to volunteer. That would all stop.

Our fundraisers take literally hundreds of volunteers. That’s how it happens. Other schools can do the same.

Our main of took a handful of us but we put in many many hours.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As best I can tell, the whole white flint area would get bused to Wheaton under option 3.

Should that happen lots will probably go private. It’s stupid to put kids in one highly ranked school, to a low one in a snap.

Most cannot afford private and most privates are full.