Upcoming in-person boundary study & regional model "engagement session": how to engage?

[Anonymous]

Additional info out regarding the session tomorrow night at Kennedy-- anyone planning on going?

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Important Notice / Boundary Studies & Programs Analysis Community Engagement
(in proposed Region 3)
John F. Kennedy High School | Walter Johnson High School | Wheaton High School | (Future) Woodward High School

Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) invites families to join us for a series of in-person community engagement sessions focused on upcoming boundary studies and the secondary programs analysis. These conversations will help shape how students across the county access academic programs and schools in the years ahead.

Why this matters to you:
Families with students in Grades 6 and 7 will be among the first to experience the full impact of these changes. This is an important opportunity to learn, ask questions, and share your voice as we plan for the future together. The proposed model would allow MCPS students to pursue major academic pathways—whether in science, math and technology, humanities, medical science, world languages, leadership and public service, or visual and performing arts—at their home school or one of the high schools in their region, without spending hours on the bus every day.

Families and students at all grade levels can attend and learn about this important work.

Region 3 Engagement Session
John F. Kennedy High School Cafeteria
1901 Randolph Road, Silver Spring
Wednesday, October 30 | 7–8 p.m.

Language Access and Inclusion:

All are welcome at this event—families from every part of the region and beyond.


There will be two simultaneous sessions at Kennedy:



One in English with interpretation available.


One held entirely in Spanish, ensuring an equally full and engaging experience for Spanish-speaking families.


Program analysis information will target families of Grade 6 and 7 students, yet informative for all.



Bilingual Family Engagement Specialists will be on hand to help with conversational interpretation during discussion sessions

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just saw the in-person "engagement session" information being released today. As expected, MCPS strives to bundle them together and just give you 1-hour so you won't have any opportunity for "engagement". Wondering if we could start brainstorming ways to make louder noise? Holding signs? Inviting news writers?

"In the next few weeks, MCPS is inviting the community to participate in a series of Q&A engagement sessions on the boundary studies and academic programs analysis efforts. They are scheduled to be in-person sessions from 7-8 p.m. on:

Oct. 30, John F. Kennedy High School, 1901 Randolph Road, Silver Spring
Nov. 6, Watkins Mill High School, 10301 Apple Ridge Road, Gaithersburg
Nov. 10, Montgomery Blair High School, 51 University Blvd. East, Silver Spring
Nov. 12, Rockville High School, 2100 Baltimore Road, Rockville
Nov. 13, Winston Churchill High School, 11300 Gainsborough Road, Potomac
Nov. 17, Paint Branch High School, 14121 Old Columbia Pike, Burtonsville"

How about a letter to Thomas Taylor and the BOE that states: we reject this process? Show up at the sessions and leave copies of this correspondence on the table and have a group that stands up at the beginning and leaves, with signs that say, we reject the process.

[Anonymous]

Did anyone go to the session at Kennedy tonight and have a report back?

[Anonymous]

If you want to voice your concerns, at the minimum please consider signing this petition I got from tonight’s Kennedy session https://form.jotform.com/onestepatatime/fairboundaries

[Anonymous]

It was quite a scene at Kennedy tonight. At first, MCPS team tried to shut down general Q&A after their presentation by attempting to break parents to small groups. That didn’t go well… After a lot of loud complains from parents, they reluctantly allowed Q&A. I hope MCPS has the courage to keep that protest scene in their recording. The general sentiment of the Q&A was frustration, to say mildly. One community member of the design team said that the regional model was developed not thanks to their inputs but despite their inputs. What a shame to MCPS. Time to organize seriously against this madness.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It was quite a scene at Kennedy tonight. At first, MCPS team tried to shut down general Q&A after their presentation by attempting to break parents to small groups. That didn’t go well… After a lot of loud complains from parents, they reluctantly allowed Q&A. I hope MCPS has the courage to keep that protest scene in their recording. The general sentiment of the Q&A was frustration, to say mildly. One community member of the design team said that the regional model was developed not thanks to their inputs but despite their inputs. What a shame to MCPS. Time to organize seriously against this madness.

Folks have to go to the press. The Banner has a new Montgomery County section.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It was quite a scene at Kennedy tonight. At first, MCPS team tried to shut down general Q&A after their presentation by attempting to break parents to small groups. That didn’t go well… After a lot of loud complains from parents, they reluctantly allowed Q&A. I hope MCPS has the courage to keep that protest scene in their recording. The general sentiment of the Q&A was frustration, to say mildly. One community member of the design team said that the regional model was developed not thanks to their inputs but despite their inputs. What a shame to MCPS. Time to organize seriously against this madness.

I was there tonight. Parents made their voices loud and clear and they were VERY UNHAPPY with MCPS and its program analysis.

No one even talked about the boundary study. Almost all of the ire was about the program analysis. MCPS's attempts to contain and silence parents did not go over well and did not work.

Board members Laura Stewart and Karla Silvestre were in attendance. This should inform their votes on this program proposal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It was quite a scene at Kennedy tonight. At first, MCPS team tried to shut down general Q&A after their presentation by attempting to break parents to small groups. That didn’t go well… After a lot of loud complains from parents, they reluctantly allowed Q&A. I hope MCPS has the courage to keep that protest scene in their recording. The general sentiment of the Q&A was frustration, to say mildly. One community member of the design team said that the regional model was developed not thanks to their inputs but despite their inputs. What a shame to MCPS. Time to organize seriously against this madness.

I was there tonight. Parents made their voices loud and clear and they were VERY UNHAPPY with MCPS and its program analysis.

No one even talked about the boundary study. Almost all of the ire was about the program analysis. MCPS's attempts to contain and silence parents did not go over well and did not work.

Board members Laura Stewart and Karla Silvestre were in attendance. This should inform their votes on this program proposal.

Yawn
The BOE found $2.5M for artificial turf for Crown.
They "vote" as they are told by Taylor.

[Anonymous]

I wonder how MCPS leadership, in good conscience, can look in the mirror or have a good night of sleep. They are rushing and ramming through a flawed model with unprecedented community protests, and they know it. That’s why they were trying to suppress comments from parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It was quite a scene at Kennedy tonight. At first, MCPS team tried to shut down general Q&A after their presentation by attempting to break parents to small groups. That didn’t go well… After a lot of loud complains from parents, they reluctantly allowed Q&A. I hope MCPS has the courage to keep that protest scene in their recording. The general sentiment of the Q&A was frustration, to say mildly. One community member of the design team said that the regional model was developed not thanks to their inputs but despite their inputs. What a shame to MCPS. Time to organize seriously against this madness.

Folks have to go to the press. The Banner has a new Montgomery County section.

Does anyone have contacts at major news outlet? Might be a good idea to expose Taylor and MCPS leadership on their ridiculous regional model and fake community engagement

[Anonymous]

time to replace Dr. Taylor and team.

[Anonymous]

I've been thinking of writing my questions on signs and protesting outside the BoE meetings. The public should know what questions the BoE won't acknowledge or respond to. In my fantasy world, the news covers the protests and the questions are out there for all to think about. Then more people want answers and the reporters inquire why the BoE members won't address the publics concerns.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've been thinking of writing my questions on signs and protesting outside the BoE meetings. The public should know what questions the BoE won't acknowledge or respond to. In my fantasy world, the news covers the protests and the questions are out there for all to think about. Then more people want answers and the reporters inquire why the BoE members won't address the publics concerns.

Great idea! Let’s organize a protest outside a BOE meeting. If we can get a big crowd of angry and frustrated parents (trust me there are PLENTY), there will be press coverage. Time to expose MCPS leadership’ contempt towards community (who pay their salary at the end of the day).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It was quite a scene at Kennedy tonight. At first, MCPS team tried to shut down general Q&A after their presentation by attempting to break parents to small groups. That didn’t go well… After a lot of loud complains from parents, they reluctantly allowed Q&A. I hope MCPS has the courage to keep that protest scene in their recording. The general sentiment of the Q&A was frustration, to say mildly. One community member of the design team said that the regional model was developed not thanks to their inputs but despite their inputs. What a shame to MCPS. Time to organize seriously against this madness.

Which MCPS officials were giving the presentation?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It was quite a scene at Kennedy tonight. At first, MCPS team tried to shut down general Q&A after their presentation by attempting to break parents to small groups. That didn’t go well… After a lot of loud complains from parents, they reluctantly allowed Q&A. I hope MCPS has the courage to keep that protest scene in their recording. The general sentiment of the Q&A was frustration, to say mildly. One community member of the design team said that the regional model was developed not thanks to their inputs but despite their inputs. What a shame to MCPS. Time to organize seriously against this madness.

Glad to hear it. They have done everything humanly possible to suppress community input and feedback, but there's only so much you can do when you have people there physically in person. It's good people insisted on being heard.

Any notable statements on the substance from anyone at MCPS? Did anyone ask about transportation, criteria, staffing?