Woodward HS boundary study - BCC, Blair, Einstein, WJ, Kennedy, Northwood, Wheaton, Whitman impacts

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Looking at Policy FAA and Policy FAA-RA, I don't see any prohibition against reassigning students in the walk zone of one school to be bussed to another school. I often see posters saying as long as you are a walker you will not be reassigned. Is that really true? I can see how it's unlikely they'd reassign someone who lives very close to a school, but the walk zones for high schools are up to 2 miles away. I can't imagine all those neighborhoods will be excluded from consideration from reassignment.

That's not accurate. The maximum walking distance for high schools is 2.0 miles, but that doesn't mean everyone within 2.0 miles of their assigned high school is in the walk zone for that high school. For example, for B-CC, there are a lot of areas east of Connecticut Avenue that are within 2.0 miles walking distance of BCC, but they're in the bus zone, not the walk zone.

There is no prohibition against reassigning students from School #1, where they are in the walk zone, to School #2, where they will be bused. It's just that, in all of the recent boundary studies, MCPS/BOE have chosen not to do that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Looking at Policy FAA and Policy FAA-RA, I don't see any prohibition against reassigning students in the walk zone of one school to be bussed to another school. I often see posters saying as long as you are a walker you will not be reassigned. Is that really true? I can see how it's unlikely they'd reassign someone who lives very close to a school, but the walk zones for high schools are up to 2 miles away. I can't imagine all those neighborhoods will be excluded from consideration from reassignment.

Correct, it is not an official prohibition, but it is what they have been saying and practicing consistently for the past several years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Looking at Policy FAA and Policy FAA-RA, I don't see any prohibition against reassigning students in the walk zone of one school to be bussed to another school. I often see posters saying as long as you are a walker you will not be reassigned. Is that really true? I can see how it's unlikely they'd reassign someone who lives very close to a school, but the walk zones for high schools are up to 2 miles away. I can't imagine all those neighborhoods will be excluded from consideration from reassignment.

That's not accurate. The maximum walking distance for high schools is 2.0 miles, but that doesn't mean everyone within 2.0 miles of their assigned high school is in the walk zone for that high school. For example, for B-CC, there are a lot of areas east of Connecticut Avenue that are within 2.0 miles walking distance of BCC, but they're in the bus zone, not the walk zone.

There is no prohibition against reassigning students from School #1, where they are in the walk zone, to School #2, where they will be bused. It's just that, in all of the recent boundary studies, MCPS/BOE have chosen not to do that.

Thanks. FTR, it is accurate that "the walk zones for high schools are up to 2 miles away.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Looking at Policy FAA and Policy FAA-RA, I don't see any prohibition against reassigning students in the walk zone of one school to be bussed to another school. I often see posters saying as long as you are a walker you will not be reassigned. Is that really true? I can see how it's unlikely they'd reassign someone who lives very close to a school, but the walk zones for high schools are up to 2 miles away. I can't imagine all those neighborhoods will be excluded from consideration from reassignment.

Correct, it is not an official prohibition, but it is what they have been saying and practicing consistently for the past several years.

Fortunately, the rhetoric from the BOE on this study is much different than those previous ones. I’ve been happy to hear them finally talking about using this study and resulting boundary changes to make the kind of transformational change that MCPS needs in terms of equity and diversity among schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Looking at Policy FAA and Policy FAA-RA, I don't see any prohibition against reassigning students in the walk zone of one school to be bussed to another school. I often see posters saying as long as you are a walker you will not be reassigned. Is that really true? I can see how it's unlikely they'd reassign someone who lives very close to a school, but the walk zones for high schools are up to 2 miles away. I can't imagine all those neighborhoods will be excluded from consideration from reassignment.

Correct, it is not an official prohibition, but it is what they have been saying and practicing consistently for the past several years.

Fortunately, the rhetoric from the BOE on this study is much different than those previous ones. I’ve been happy to hear them finally talking about using this study and resulting boundary changes to make the kind of transformational change that MCPS needs in terms of equity and diversity among schools.

The rhetoric can be whatever it is; what will matter in the end are the options that are proposed and recommended, and whether they can portray them as reasonable. But I really think there is no clear way for them to achieve "transformational change in terms of equity and diversity" while at the same time improving utilization of and proximity to schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Looking at Policy FAA and Policy FAA-RA, I don't see any prohibition against reassigning students in the walk zone of one school to be bussed to another school. I often see posters saying as long as you are a walker you will not be reassigned. Is that really true? I can see how it's unlikely they'd reassign someone who lives very close to a school, but the walk zones for high schools are up to 2 miles away. I can't imagine all those neighborhoods will be excluded from consideration from reassignment.

That's not accurate. The maximum walking distance for high schools is 2.0 miles, but that doesn't mean everyone within 2.0 miles of their assigned high school is in the walk zone for that high school. For example, for B-CC, there are a lot of areas east of Connecticut Avenue that are within 2.0 miles walking distance of BCC, but they're in the bus zone, not the walk zone.

There is no prohibition against reassigning students from School #1, where they are in the walk zone, to School #2, where they will be bused. It's just that, in all of the recent boundary studies, MCPS/BOE have chosen not to do that.

Thanks. FTR, it is accurate that "the walk zones for high schools are up to 2 miles away.

It is also worth nothing that there are several high schools that are 2 miles or less from each other, so there are neighborhoods that MCPS could mark as walkable to more than one school. If that's the case, students from School #1, where they are in the walk zone, could be reassigned to School #2, where they would also be in the walk zone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Looking at Policy FAA and Policy FAA-RA, I don't see any prohibition against reassigning students in the walk zone of one school to be bussed to another school. I often see posters saying as long as you are a walker you will not be reassigned. Is that really true? I can see how it's unlikely they'd reassign someone who lives very close to a school, but the walk zones for high schools are up to 2 miles away. I can't imagine all those neighborhoods will be excluded from consideration from reassignment.

That's not accurate. The maximum walking distance for high schools is 2.0 miles, but that doesn't mean everyone within 2.0 miles of their assigned high school is in the walk zone for that high school. For example, for B-CC, there are a lot of areas east of Connecticut Avenue that are within 2.0 miles walking distance of BCC, but they're in the bus zone, not the walk zone.

There is no prohibition against reassigning students from School #1, where they are in the walk zone, to School #2, where they will be bused. It's just that, in all of the recent boundary studies, MCPS/BOE have chosen not to do that.

Thanks. FTR, it is accurate that "the walk zones for high schools are up to 2 miles away.

It is also worth nothing that there are several high schools that are 2 miles or less from each other, so there are neighborhoods that MCPS could mark as walkable to more than one school. If that's the case, students from School #1, where they are in the walk zone, could be reassigned to School #2, where they would also be in the walk zone.

Or maybe give those students who live in more than one walk zone the option to attend either school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Looking at Policy FAA and Policy FAA-RA, I don't see any prohibition against reassigning students in the walk zone of one school to be bussed to another school. I often see posters saying as long as you are a walker you will not be reassigned. Is that really true? I can see how it's unlikely they'd reassign someone who lives very close to a school, but the walk zones for high schools are up to 2 miles away. I can't imagine all those neighborhoods will be excluded from consideration from reassignment.

That's not accurate. The maximum walking distance for high schools is 2.0 miles, but that doesn't mean everyone within 2.0 miles of their assigned high school is in the walk zone for that high school. For example, for B-CC, there are a lot of areas east of Connecticut Avenue that are within 2.0 miles walking distance of BCC, but they're in the bus zone, not the walk zone.

There is no prohibition against reassigning students from School #1, where they are in the walk zone, to School #2, where they will be bused. It's just that, in all of the recent boundary studies, MCPS/BOE have chosen not to do that.

Unnecessary busing shows contempt for taxpayers, especially with Elrich's tax hikes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Looking at Policy FAA and Policy FAA-RA, I don't see any prohibition against reassigning students in the walk zone of one school to be bussed to another school. I often see posters saying as long as you are a walker you will not be reassigned. Is that really true? I can see how it's unlikely they'd reassign someone who lives very close to a school, but the walk zones for high schools are up to 2 miles away. I can't imagine all those neighborhoods will be excluded from consideration from reassignment.

That's not accurate. The maximum walking distance for high schools is 2.0 miles, but that doesn't mean everyone within 2.0 miles of their assigned high school is in the walk zone for that high school. For example, for B-CC, there are a lot of areas east of Connecticut Avenue that are within 2.0 miles walking distance of BCC, but they're in the bus zone, not the walk zone.

There is no prohibition against reassigning students from School #1, where they are in the walk zone, to School #2, where they will be bused. It's just that, in all of the recent boundary studies, MCPS/BOE have chosen not to do that.

Unnecessary busing shows contempt for taxpayers, especially with Elrich's tax hikes.

But what about necessary busing?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Looking at Policy FAA and Policy FAA-RA, I don't see any prohibition against reassigning students in the walk zone of one school to be bussed to another school. I often see posters saying as long as you are a walker you will not be reassigned. Is that really true? I can see how it's unlikely they'd reassign someone who lives very close to a school, but the walk zones for high schools are up to 2 miles away. I can't imagine all those neighborhoods will be excluded from consideration from reassignment.

That's not accurate. The maximum walking distance for high schools is 2.0 miles, but that doesn't mean everyone within 2.0 miles of their assigned high school is in the walk zone for that high school. For example, for B-CC, there are a lot of areas east of Connecticut Avenue that are within 2.0 miles walking distance of BCC, but they're in the bus zone, not the walk zone.

There is no prohibition against reassigning students from School #1, where they are in the walk zone, to School #2, where they will be bused. It's just that, in all of the recent boundary studies, MCPS/BOE have chosen not to do that.

Unnecessary busing shows contempt for taxpayers, especially with Elrich's tax hikes.

But what about necessary busing?

Doesn't seem all that necessary for kids who can walk to their neighborhood school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Looking at Policy FAA and Policy FAA-RA, I don't see any prohibition against reassigning students in the walk zone of one school to be bussed to another school. I often see posters saying as long as you are a walker you will not be reassigned. Is that really true? I can see how it's unlikely they'd reassign someone who lives very close to a school, but the walk zones for high schools are up to 2 miles away. I can't imagine all those neighborhoods will be excluded from consideration from reassignment.

That's not accurate. The maximum walking distance for high schools is 2.0 miles, but that doesn't mean everyone within 2.0 miles of their assigned high school is in the walk zone for that high school. For example, for B-CC, there are a lot of areas east of Connecticut Avenue that are within 2.0 miles walking distance of BCC, but they're in the bus zone, not the walk zone.

There is no prohibition against reassigning students from School #1, where they are in the walk zone, to School #2, where they will be bused. It's just that, in all of the recent boundary studies, MCPS/BOE have chosen not to do that.

Unnecessary busing shows contempt for taxpayers, especially with Elrich's tax hikes.

If you're interested in reducing unnecessary busing, you should work on getting the county to add sidewalks and safe crossings, so that students who live within 1/1.5/2 miles of their assigned school can safely walk, instead of getting bused. For example, why don't students in Somerset walk to their "neighborhood school", B-CC?

That does cost money, though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Looking at Policy FAA and Policy FAA-RA, I don't see any prohibition against reassigning students in the walk zone of one school to be bussed to another school. I often see posters saying as long as you are a walker you will not be reassigned. Is that really true? I can see how it's unlikely they'd reassign someone who lives very close to a school, but the walk zones for high schools are up to 2 miles away. I can't imagine all those neighborhoods will be excluded from consideration from reassignment.

That's not accurate. The maximum walking distance for high schools is 2.0 miles, but that doesn't mean everyone within 2.0 miles of their assigned high school is in the walk zone for that high school. For example, for B-CC, there are a lot of areas east of Connecticut Avenue that are within 2.0 miles walking distance of BCC, but they're in the bus zone, not the walk zone.

There is no prohibition against reassigning students from School #1, where they are in the walk zone, to School #2, where they will be bused. It's just that, in all of the recent boundary studies, MCPS/BOE have chosen not to do that.

Unnecessary busing shows contempt for taxpayers, especially with Elrich's tax hikes.

If you're interested in reducing unnecessary busing, you should work on getting the county to add sidewalks and safe crossings, so that students who live within 1/1.5/2 miles of their assigned school can safely walk, instead of getting bused. For example, why don't students in Somerset walk to their "neighborhood school", B-CC?

That does cost money, though.

The fact that there are multiple areas within 2 miles of BCC that are bused because of safety concerns while there are similarly situated students who attend Einstein and have to cross either Connecticut or University that don’t receive busing is ridiculous and really exemplifies how the students in the DCC have been treated by MCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Looking at Policy FAA and Policy FAA-RA, I don't see any prohibition against reassigning students in the walk zone of one school to be bussed to another school. I often see posters saying as long as you are a walker you will not be reassigned. Is that really true? I can see how it's unlikely they'd reassign someone who lives very close to a school, but the walk zones for high schools are up to 2 miles away. I can't imagine all those neighborhoods will be excluded from consideration from reassignment.

That's not accurate. The maximum walking distance for high schools is 2.0 miles, but that doesn't mean everyone within 2.0 miles of their assigned high school is in the walk zone for that high school. For example, for B-CC, there are a lot of areas east of Connecticut Avenue that are within 2.0 miles walking distance of BCC, but they're in the bus zone, not the walk zone.

There is no prohibition against reassigning students from School #1, where they are in the walk zone, to School #2, where they will be bused. It's just that, in all of the recent boundary studies, MCPS/BOE have chosen not to do that.

Unnecessary busing shows contempt for taxpayers, especially with Elrich's tax hikes.

Which is why they have been keeping walkers as walkers and not assigning them to be bus riders.

[Anonymous]

So I am a little over a mile to Whitman and currently zoned for there. And about 2.5 miles to WJ and 1.5 miles to BCC. I know we don’t have crystal balls but what are the odds I just get to stay zoned for Whitman and don’t get moved? We currently do have bus service to both Pyle and Whitman FWIW and aren’t in the “walk zone”.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Looking at Policy FAA and Policy FAA-RA, I don't see any prohibition against reassigning students in the walk zone of one school to be bussed to another school. I often see posters saying as long as you are a walker you will not be reassigned. Is that really true? I can see how it's unlikely they'd reassign someone who lives very close to a school, but the walk zones for high schools are up to 2 miles away. I can't imagine all those neighborhoods will be excluded from consideration from reassignment.

That's not accurate. The maximum walking distance for high schools is 2.0 miles, but that doesn't mean everyone within 2.0 miles of their assigned high school is in the walk zone for that high school. For example, for B-CC, there are a lot of areas east of Connecticut Avenue that are within 2.0 miles walking distance of BCC, but they're in the bus zone, not the walk zone.

There is no prohibition against reassigning students from School #1, where they are in the walk zone, to School #2, where they will be bused. It's just that, in all of the recent boundary studies, MCPS/BOE have chosen not to do that.

Unnecessary busing shows contempt for taxpayers, especially with Elrich's tax hikes.

If you're interested in reducing unnecessary busing, you should work on getting the county to add sidewalks and safe crossings, so that students who live within 1/1.5/2 miles of their assigned school can safely walk, instead of getting bused. For example, why don't students in Somerset walk to their "neighborhood school", B-CC?

That does cost money, though.

The fact that there are multiple areas within 2 miles of BCC that are bused because of safety concerns while there are similarly situated students who attend Einstein and have to cross either Connecticut or University that don’t receive busing is ridiculous and really exemplifies how the students in the DCC have been treated by MCPS.

Yes, at minimum it is inconsistent that MCPS doesn't expect B-CC students to cross Connecticut Avenue in Chevy Chase, where it's less dangerous, but does expect Einstein students to cross Connecticut Avenue in Wheaton, where it's more dangerous.