BOE members ask to add elementary schools to Woodward, Crown, Damascus boundary studies

[Anonymous]

We need to build more low-income housing in Bethesda and Potomac so the illegal and non-English speaking families are zoned for these schools. The equity-loving, diversity-loving progressive MoCo parents are screaming for this to happen. What is the hold-up?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I hope they use Woodward and crown as a means too create greater diversity and all MCPS schools. This is the only path too improvement.

The Troll is strong in this one!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We need to build more low-income housing in Bethesda and Potomac so the illegal and non-English speaking families are zoned for these schools. The equity-loving, diversity-loving progressive MoCo parents are screaming for this to happen. What is the hold-up?

MCPS doesn't control zoning rules or building permits.

I'm all for diversity in schools, but MCPS doesn't control housing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We need to build more low-income housing in Bethesda and Potomac so the illegal and non-English speaking families are zoned for these schools. The equity-loving, diversity-loving progressive MoCo parents are screaming for this to happen. What is the hold-up?

15% of all new developments in MoCo - even in Bethesda and Potomac - are low-income housing - aka "Moderately Priced Dwelling Units" (MPDUs).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We need to build more low-income housing in Bethesda and Potomac so the illegal and non-English speaking families are zoned for these schools. The equity-loving, diversity-loving progressive MoCo parents are screaming for this to happen. What is the hold-up?

15% of all new developments in MoCo - even in Bethesda and Potomac - are low-income housing - aka "Moderately Priced Dwelling Units" (MPDUs).

Strictly speaking, MPDUs are moderate-income housing. If you're a household with four people, you qualify for the MPDU program (based on income limits) with a household income of up to $106,500. 70% of the Area Median Income (AMI).

https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/DHCA/Resources/Files/housing/affordable/publications/mpdu/income_limits_worksheet.pdf?0.8603272557709396

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:For anyone to suggest that Rosemont or College Gardens or Washington Grove should move to Crown is seriously crazy. Those boundaries need to shift east where there is existing capacity, not west. If space is such an issue at RM, then Magruder HS can take 194 students. Rosemont and Washington Grove are under Gaithersburg HS, which can shift students north to Watkins Mill HS which has 169 capacity.

Similarly, Richie Park ES (also West MS / RM HS, but on the same side of 270 along Wootton Parkway within walking distance of Wootton) should rightfully be moved to Wootton HS. That also frees up slots for students closer to Crown on the same side of 270. That makes way more sense than moving College Gardens ES (on the other side of 270) to Crown HS.

? If you look the map, CGES neighborhood is closer to where Crown HS will be than Macgruder or GHS. They'd have to cross 370 to get to GHS, or 270 to get to Crown.

Six of one, half a dozen of the other, but Crown is closer. And since Crown is being built, they aren't going to shit CGES to Macgruder.

Looks like someone working at 850 Hungerford is licking their chops?

? I live in the RPES cluster. CGES is closer to Crown than GHS. That's just fact.

And children might be tempted to cross a very dangerous road known as Interstate 270. The first time a kid tries walking home I hope the person who approved it is arrested for negligence. Part of the reason why parents want proximity is for it to be safe for their children. Something that apparently MCPS has forgotten about?

There are plenty of schools which have 270 running through their attendance areas.

+1 Fallsgrove and Horizon Hill has to cross 270 to get to JW and RM.

I think the point is QO and NW have the greatest needs that can't be addressed by means other than Crown. MCPS doesn't even need to utilize Crown to deal with Gaithersburg and RM High Schools to fix the problem - it's a make-believe "crisis" by leaving out schools with capacity from the boundary changes. If MCPS wants to reduce the commute times of kids traveling an hour to school, versus providing benefits for Carver, they could do that too. Also, if MCPS is planning to perpetuate the boundary issue with CJMS, that's yet another artificial "crisis" that could be resolved using existing capacity at other schools as well.

I hope every parent fully understands the impact of taking slots away just to give candy to friends and family? Shame on you all.

That's an odd thing to say about a $180 million capital project for a new high school.

All I want is these new boundaries to maximize REAL diversity.

You're in luck because the boundary policy encourages busing and there are a good number of pro-busers on the BOE. And the rest of them won't object because they don't want to be called racists for not supporting busing...I mean diversity...which will require busing.

So does that mean even more EQUITY! We can't get enough of honors for all and imagine others want more of this too.

Of course. Busing is one of the ways MCPS will show how committed it is to equity.

Diversity is a factor. As are the 3 others. The current, duly elected Board gets to decide how they should each be emphasized.

Diversity is more important than the other 3 factors. It's been that way ever since some unscrupulous BOE members altered the boundary policy without notifying the public first. And yes, the BOE members get to decide the boundaries but they must follow that policy. There are also several pro-busing BOE members like Lynn Harris who can't wait to usher in busing.

The way the BoE is going, I think that vouchers and Charters will eventually be on the table again. MCPS is more political than academic.

Once a Public School system goes on the decline, I can't think of a case where it bounced back and became really excellent? It's a vicious cycle. As fewer parents send their kids into Public School or a school system plays games with resourcing kids' education; there's less taxpayers / voters willing to fund it. Once a county gets a 'bad school' rep, it starts losing educated parents (and the tax dollars that go with it). The Public School becomes a dumping ground for kids who's parents can't afford private school.

I suggested an extremely similar sentiment in another thread and got a lot of snide comments back.

I see this redistricting effort as a crossroads. I agree that our public schools have seen some decline, but I think our top public schools are still doing very well. They have excellent performance, and they are still attracting people who value their kids getting a strong public education.

What I really hope happens is that BOE uses Woodward and Crown as opportunities to create new clusters of high performing school without disrupting top performers. I think if you leave the proven communities be and build new facilities, you will naturally attract good staff and families from diverse racial and socioeconomic backgrounds who value a strong public education. This is a recipe for creating another top school and adding it to the list.

If BOE instead chooses to make sweeping changes to its top schools for political reasons, and the ratings start to tank, I think they will send their best schools into a tailspin like you described and our net performance will drop significantly.

We'll see how it plays out. I'm choosing to stay optimistic.

Those are top schools because they exclude the influx of undocumented immigrants that have otherwise changed the county. When I look a little deeper, it seems schools are as good as ever; just demographics have changed. I object to classifying schools as top schools because they have segregated boundaries. Diversity won't make them any less. You just need to accept that this is happening.

"Exclusion" implies that these schools or their staff are actively choosing not to allow in immigrants. That is not true. The home values that are zoned to these schools are higher because parents who value education compete for them. Undocumented immigrants have fewer resources, so fewer of them can afford to live in these school districts.

In our school system, a middle class family of any race or background can buy a townhouse or condo zoned to a top tier school and their kids will join a peer group of high performers. If you break those communities, and break that system, everybody loses.

BOE has a choice of whether or not they want to allow those schools to flourish. If they don't, and their performance tanks, I'm not going to "accept that it is happening", I'm going to pull my kids out and put them in a classroom with focused peers who want to succeed.

DCUM's gonna DCUM.

What do you disagree with there?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I hope they use Woodward and crown as a means too create greater diversity and all MCPS schools. This is the only path too improvement.

Improvement? How exactly? I'm not against diversity, I'm against anyone who stands in the way of academics. Has nothing to do with skin color. It has to do whether or not the children's parents educate themselves, then instill that love of learning into their children. If you, yourself, as a parent, can't be bothered to learn - why would your child, and how is that the school's issue to solve at your house?

The purpose of a Public school system is to educate students in preparation for life in a global environment, not to be a personal pet project of someone's political agenda.

If you want to move, move. No one is stopping you. Just don't force your own personal agenda on others.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:For anyone to suggest that Rosemont or College Gardens or Washington Grove should move to Crown is seriously crazy. Those boundaries need to shift east where there is existing capacity, not west. If space is such an issue at RM, then Magruder HS can take 194 students. Rosemont and Washington Grove are under Gaithersburg HS, which can shift students north to Watkins Mill HS which has 169 capacity.

Similarly, Richie Park ES (also West MS / RM HS, but on the same side of 270 along Wootton Parkway within walking distance of Wootton) should rightfully be moved to Wootton HS. That also frees up slots for students closer to Crown on the same side of 270. That makes way more sense than moving College Gardens ES (on the other side of 270) to Crown HS.

? If you look the map, CGES neighborhood is closer to where Crown HS will be than Macgruder or GHS. They'd have to cross 370 to get to GHS, or 270 to get to Crown.

Six of one, half a dozen of the other, but Crown is closer. And since Crown is being built, they aren't going to shit CGES to Macgruder.

Looks like someone working at 850 Hungerford is licking their chops?

? I live in the RPES cluster. CGES is closer to Crown than GHS. That's just fact.

And children might be tempted to cross a very dangerous road known as Interstate 270. The first time a kid tries walking home I hope the person who approved it is arrested for negligence. Part of the reason why parents want proximity is for it to be safe for their children. Something that apparently MCPS has forgotten about?

Ummm... we have overpasses to cross I-270. What do you think, kids are going to run across the highway?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For anyone to suggest that Rosemont or College Gardens or Washington Grove should move to Crown is seriously crazy. Those boundaries need to shift east where there is existing capacity, not west. If space is such an issue at RM, then Magruder HS can take 194 students. Rosemont and Washington Grove are under Gaithersburg HS, which can shift students north to Watkins Mill HS which has 169 capacity.

Similarly, Richie Park ES (also West MS / RM HS, but on the same side of 270 along Wootton Parkway within walking distance of Wootton) should rightfully be moved to Wootton HS. That also frees up slots for students closer to Crown on the same side of 270. That makes way more sense than moving College Gardens ES (on the other side of 270) to Crown HS.

? If you look the map, CGES neighborhood is closer to where Crown HS will be than Macgruder or GHS. They'd have to cross 370 to get to GHS, or 270 to get to Crown.

Six of one, half a dozen of the other, but Crown is closer. And since Crown is being built, they aren't going to shit CGES to Macgruder.

Looks like someone working at 850 Hungerford is licking their chops?

? I live in the RPES cluster. CGES is closer to Crown than GHS. That's just fact.

And children might be tempted to cross a very dangerous road known as Interstate 270. The first time a kid tries walking home I hope the person who approved it is arrested for negligence. Part of the reason why parents want proximity is for it to be safe for their children. Something that apparently MCPS has forgotten about?

Ummm... we have overpasses to cross I-270. What do you think, kids are going to run across the highway?

Not to mention that we already have kids who live west of 270 attending RMHS, and I don't think any have died crossing 270.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We need to build more low-income housing in Bethesda and Potomac so the illegal and non-English speaking families are zoned for these schools. The equity-loving, diversity-loving progressive MoCo parents are screaming for this to happen. What is the hold-up?

15% of all new developments in MoCo - even in Bethesda and Potomac - are low-income housing - aka "Moderately Priced Dwelling Units" (MPDUs).

Strictly speaking, MPDUs are moderate-income housing. If you're a household with four people, you qualify for the MPDU program (based on income limits) with a household income of up to $106,500. 70% of the Area Median Income (AMI).

https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/DHCA/Resources/Files/housing/affordable/publications/mpdu/income_limits_worksheet.pdf?0.8603272557709396

I live in King Farm and a bunch of the MDPUs were purchased by the HOC and I can tell you that there are many low income people living in the neighborhood, along with the moderate income folks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We need to build more low-income housing in Bethesda and Potomac so the illegal and non-English speaking families are zoned for these schools. The equity-loving, diversity-loving progressive MoCo parents are screaming for this to happen. What is the hold-up?

15% of all new developments in MoCo - even in Bethesda and Potomac - are low-income housing - aka "Moderately Priced Dwelling Units" (MPDUs).

Not when the development is smaller than 40 homes. Many new builds in these areas are done on individual lots and so no MPDUs

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For anyone to suggest that Rosemont or College Gardens or Washington Grove should move to Crown is seriously crazy. Those boundaries need to shift east where there is existing capacity, not west. If space is such an issue at RM, then Magruder HS can take 194 students. Rosemont and Washington Grove are under Gaithersburg HS, which can shift students north to Watkins Mill HS which has 169 capacity.


Similarly, Richie Park ES (also West MS / RM HS, but on the same side of 270 along Wootton Parkway within walking distance of Wootton) should rightfully be moved to Wootton HS. That also frees up slots for students closer to Crown on the same side of 270. That makes way more sense than moving College Gardens ES (on the other side of 270) to Crown HS.

? If you look the map, CGES neighborhood is closer to where Crown HS will be than Macgruder or GHS. They'd have to cross 370 to get to GHS, or 270 to get to Crown.

Six of one, half a dozen of the other, but Crown is closer. And since Crown is being built, they aren't going to shit CGES to Macgruder.

Looks like someone working at 850 Hungerford is licking their chops?

? I live in the RPES cluster. CGES is closer to Crown than GHS. That's just fact.

And children might be tempted to cross a very dangerous road known as Interstate 270. The first time a kid tries walking home I hope the person who approved it is arrested for negligence. Part of the reason why parents want proximity is for it to be safe for their children. Something that apparently MCPS has forgotten about?

Ummm... we have overpasses to cross I-270. What do you think, kids are going to run across the highway?

Not to mention that we already have kids who live west of 270 attending RMHS, and I don't think any have died crossing 270.

Exactly. We have a bus

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For anyone to suggest that Rosemont or College Gardens or Washington Grove should move to Crown is seriously crazy. Those boundaries need to shift east where there is existing capacity, not west. If space is such an issue at RM, then Magruder HS can take 194 students. Rosemont and Washington Grove are under Gaithersburg HS, which can shift students north to Watkins Mill HS which has 169 capacity.


Similarly, Richie Park ES (also West MS / RM HS, but on the same side of 270 along Wootton Parkway within walking distance of Wootton) should rightfully be moved to Wootton HS. That also frees up slots for students closer to Crown on the same side of 270. That makes way more sense than moving College Gardens ES (on the other side of 270) to Crown HS.

? If you look the map, CGES neighborhood is closer to where Crown HS will be than Macgruder or GHS. They'd have to cross 370 to get to GHS, or 270 to get to Crown.

Six of one, half a dozen of the other, but Crown is closer. And since Crown is being built, they aren't going to shit CGES to Macgruder.

Looks like someone working at 850 Hungerford is licking their chops?

? I live in the RPES cluster. CGES is closer to Crown than GHS. That's just fact.

And children might be tempted to cross a very dangerous road known as Interstate 270. The first time a kid tries walking home I hope the person who approved it is arrested for negligence. Part of the reason why parents want proximity is for it to be safe for their children. Something that apparently MCPS has forgotten about?

Ummm... we have overpasses to cross I-270. What do you think, kids are going to run across the highway?

Not to mention that we already have kids who live west of 270 attending RMHS, and I don't think any have died crossing 270.

Exactly. We have a bus

And who knows where that bus will take your kids after MCPS rezones. My guess is Rockville or Gaithersburg high schools. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For anyone to suggest that Rosemont or College Gardens or Washington Grove should move to Crown is seriously crazy. Those boundaries need to shift east where there is existing capacity, not west. If space is such an issue at RM, then Magruder HS can take 194 students. Rosemont and Washington Grove are under Gaithersburg HS, which can shift students north to Watkins Mill HS which has 169 capacity.


Similarly, Richie Park ES (also West MS / RM HS, but on the same side of 270 along Wootton Parkway within walking distance of Wootton) should rightfully be moved to Wootton HS. That also frees up slots for students closer to Crown on the same side of 270. That makes way more sense than moving College Gardens ES (on the other side of 270) to Crown HS.

? If you look the map, CGES neighborhood is closer to where Crown HS will be than Macgruder or GHS. They'd have to cross 370 to get to GHS, or 270 to get to Crown.

Six of one, half a dozen of the other, but Crown is closer. And since Crown is being built, they aren't going to shit CGES to Macgruder.

Looks like someone working at 850 Hungerford is licking their chops?

? I live in the RPES cluster. CGES is closer to Crown than GHS. That's just fact.

And children might be tempted to cross a very dangerous road known as Interstate 270. The first time a kid tries walking home I hope the person who approved it is arrested for negligence. Part of the reason why parents want proximity is for it to be safe for their children. Something that apparently MCPS has forgotten about?

Ummm... we have overpasses to cross I-270. What do you think, kids are going to run across the highway?

Not to mention that we already have kids who live west of 270 attending RMHS, and I don't think any have died crossing 270.

Exactly. We have a bus

And who knows where that bus will take your kids after MCPS rezones. My guess is Rockville or Gaithersburg high schools. Good luck!

? you mean Rockville HS or RM? Rockville HS is not part of any of the boundary studies. Are parents afraid of their Wootton kids being shipped off aaalll the way over to RM? Or are you thinking the Damascus expansion will include parts of GHS? It can't include Rockville HS. It's way too far.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For anyone to suggest that Rosemont or College Gardens or Washington Grove should move to Crown is seriously crazy. Those boundaries need to shift east where there is existing capacity, not west. If space is such an issue at RM, then Magruder HS can take 194 students. Rosemont and Washington Grove are under Gaithersburg HS, which can shift students north to Watkins Mill HS which has 169 capacity.


Similarly, Richie Park ES (also West MS / RM HS, but on the same side of 270 along Wootton Parkway within walking distance of Wootton) should rightfully be moved to Wootton HS. That also frees up slots for students closer to Crown on the same side of 270. That makes way more sense than moving College Gardens ES (on the other side of 270) to Crown HS.

? If you look the map, CGES neighborhood is closer to where Crown HS will be than Macgruder or GHS. They'd have to cross 370 to get to GHS, or 270 to get to Crown.

Six of one, half a dozen of the other, but Crown is closer. And since Crown is being built, they aren't going to shit CGES to Macgruder.

Looks like someone working at 850 Hungerford is licking their chops?

? I live in the RPES cluster. CGES is closer to Crown than GHS. That's just fact.

And children might be tempted to cross a very dangerous road known as Interstate 270. The first time a kid tries walking home I hope the person who approved it is arrested for negligence. Part of the reason why parents want proximity is for it to be safe for their children. Something that apparently MCPS has forgotten about?

Ummm... we have overpasses to cross I-270. What do you think, kids are going to run across the highway?

Not to mention that we already have kids who live west of 270 attending RMHS, and I don't think any have died crossing 270.

Exactly. We have a bus

And who knows where that bus will take your kids after MCPS rezones. My guess is Rockville or Gaithersburg high schools. Good luck!

? you mean Rockville HS or RM? Rockville HS is not part of any of the boundary studies. Are parents afraid of their Wootton kids being shipped off aaalll the way over to RM? Or are you thinking the Damascus expansion will include parts of GHS? It can't include Rockville HS. It's way too far.

Tha Damascus expansion is intended for relieving Clarksburg HS overcrowding.