Emergency Legal Filing Seeks to Halt MCPS Plan to Close Wootton High School

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Way to go Wooton families. Make MCPs spend a ton of money on legal fees so now all school have less resources, and less staffing and less money to spend on OUR kids. Do you have any idea what long term mold issues look like?? Oh but wait… your property values will MAYBE remain the same so who gives an f about the long term health ramifications.

Legal challenges aren’t about “taking money from kids”—they’re about making sure big decisions are made correctly and transparently, and if the process was sound it should hold up. No one is saying building issues or things like mold should be ignored; the question is whether relocating an entire school is the right fix or whether those problems should be addressed directly. And reducing everything to property values just sidesteps the reality that people can care about building conditions, good planning, and community impact all at the same time.

Based on your logic, no legal challenges to ANY government decisions should ever be made because the government would have to spend tax dollars to defend itself. I guess the indigent shouldn’t get public defenders for criminal cases because those cost tax dollars too.

Of course there should be the option of legal recourse when someone is at risk of losing their freedom or a basic human right. No such thing is occurring in this issue-your right to public education is being upheld.

So the government can break the law as it pleases if you agree with the outcome? MCPS must follow the law. You might believe that it has, but that’s not up to you.

Just because the Parkway parents didn't like the process or the outcome also doesn't mean MCPS didn't follow the law.

The two claims in the emergency filing are weak, but maybe they're saving up the actual good arguments for the lawsuit when this filing is denied?

So let the process play out. Btw, this situation likely wouldn’t exist if MCPS had done things in a more transparent way, so it only has itself to blame.

MCPS was going to be sued either way because the Wootton boundaries were changing and the Wootton parents are some of the most engaged parents in the county and they have the resources to hire lawyers. If it wasn't the Parkway parents, it'd be the DuFief dads. The only way to avoid a lawsuit was to keep the status quo, which wasn't possible because they built an entirely new school and need to fill it with kids.

I'm here mostly to see if someone can actually point to a process deficiency, because MCPS will be doing another boundary study immediately and maybe we can save the next angry school group some money on lawyer fees.

This is exactly why process matters. Option H may not affect you now but rest assured MCPS will be happy to do another sh*t of boundary process round 2 unless they are put in their place.

First they came for Wootton, and I did not speak out — for it was not my school, but a “W” with rich parents.

Then they deferred Magruder, and I did not speak out — for delay is quiet, and quiet is easy to ignore.

Then they moved the boundaries, and I did not speak out— for lines on paper are always redrawn somewhere else.

Then they closed my school, and there was no one left to speak for me.

so you're comparing the boe to ww2?

No. They are comparing the relocation of a high school two miles away to the systematic slaughter of roughly 9 million Jews, Roma, Sinti, homosexuals, political dissidents, and disabled people.

It really tells you where these folks' heads are at.

You do realize how nutty they are being. They have established the school isn't safe and these people probably don't work or attend Wotton but want it there for their perceived property values despite the health consequences it has on students and staff.

[Anonymous]

Wootton whiners don’t disappoint when it comes to their crazy analogies. Cringe

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seems like some are legitimately concerned about the process (is it closing Wootton or just moving everyone and combining them with others to form a new school - Crown), especially as we look ahead to the ES boundary study. Seems likely that will have school closures and we should all hope that will be done following the proper process.

If it weren’t for the ES boundary study coming up, I might agree that the parkway parents are just being over the top. But I think we need to sort out the process now, or MCPS could take shortcuts with ES school closures countywide.

Is this an area where the BOE could step in and adopt new policies that make process clear?

Yup, MCPS BoE is the final authority and the ones who approve any changes to Policy FAA. As written, it's pretty vague.

They could also adjust timelines, require the superintendent do another round of feedback etc without having to change the policy at all.

https://ww2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/policy/pdf/faa.pdf

That would be the smart move to head off a lawsuit. It would mean the plaintiffs will not have exhausted their administrative remedies under BOE regulations.

No, because plaintiffs are always allowed to submit an appeal to the BoE even if MCPS follows all their procedures correctly, which as far as I can tell they did, and nobody has posted a clear-cut violation of policy FAA.

I've yet to see a ruling against a local board because the state board always defers to the local board unless the decision is arbitrary, illegal, or unreasonable.

Taylor has burned some credibility with the MD BOE over his EV bus contract.

Taylor wasn't superintendent when that contract was made.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seems like some are legitimately concerned about the process (is it closing Wootton or just moving everyone and combining them with others to form a new school - Crown), especially as we look ahead to the ES boundary study. Seems likely that will have school closures and we should all hope that will be done following the proper process.

If it weren’t for the ES boundary study coming up, I might agree that the parkway parents are just being over the top. But I think we need to sort out the process now, or MCPS could take shortcuts with ES school closures countywide.

Is this an area where the BOE could step in and adopt new policies that make process clear?

Yup, MCPS BoE is the final authority and the ones who approve any changes to Policy FAA. As written, it's pretty vague.

They could also adjust timelines, require the superintendent do another round of feedback etc without having to change the policy at all.

https://ww2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/policy/pdf/faa.pdf

That would be the smart move to head off a lawsuit. It would mean the plaintiffs will not have exhausted their administrative remedies under BOE regulations.

No, because plaintiffs are always allowed to submit an appeal to the BoE even if MCPS follows all their procedures correctly, which as far as I can tell they did, and nobody has posted a clear-cut violation of policy FAA.

I've yet to see a ruling against a local board because the state board always defers to the local board unless the decision is arbitrary, illegal, or unreasonable.

Taylor has burned some credibility with the MD BOE over his EV bus contract.

Taylor wasn't superintendent when that contract was made.

That's no excuse. Did he do anything to stop the previous superintendents? Did he even try to build a time machine?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Way to go Wooton families. Make MCPs spend a ton of money on legal fees so now all school have less resources, and less staffing and less money to spend on OUR kids. Do you have any idea what long term mold issues look like?? Oh but wait… your property values will MAYBE remain the same so who gives an f about the long term health ramifications.

Legal challenges aren’t about “taking money from kids”—they’re about making sure big decisions are made correctly and transparently, and if the process was sound it should hold up. No one is saying building issues or things like mold should be ignored; the question is whether relocating an entire school is the right fix or whether those problems should be addressed directly. And reducing everything to property values just sidesteps the reality that people can care about building conditions, good planning, and community impact all at the same time.

Based on your logic, no legal challenges to ANY government decisions should ever be made because the government would have to spend tax dollars to defend itself. I guess the indigent shouldn’t get public defenders for criminal cases because those cost tax dollars too.

Of course there should be the option of legal recourse when someone is at risk of losing their freedom or a basic human right. No such thing is occurring in this issue-your right to public education is being upheld.

So the government can break the law as it pleases if you agree with the outcome? MCPS must follow the law. You might believe that it has, but that’s not up to you.

Just because the Parkway parents didn't like the process or the outcome also doesn't mean MCPS didn't follow the law.

The two claims in the emergency filing are weak, but maybe they're saving up the actual good arguments for the lawsuit when this filing is denied?

So let the process play out. Btw, this situation likely wouldn’t exist if MCPS had done things in a more transparent way, so it only has itself to blame.

Of course it would still exist because fundamentally Parkway families are upset about the outcome, not the process.

No I’m genuinely upset about the process. I’m not thrilled with the outcome but if MCPS had done it the right way, I wouldn’t be this pissed. Instead, they chose to lie and gaslit the whole community

They got to the decision through an extended public process that includes an analysis of available data and consideration of several options. If they started with the proposal to relocate Wootton, then you would have complained it was a predetermined outcome.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Seems like some are legitimately concerned about the process (is it closing Wootton or just moving everyone and combining them with others to form a new school - Crown), especially as we look ahead to the ES boundary study. Seems likely that will have school closures and we should all hope that will be done following the proper process.

If it weren’t for the ES boundary study coming up, I might agree that the parkway parents are just being over the top. But I think we need to sort out the process now, or MCPS could take shortcuts with ES school closures countywide.

I think this is clearly a relocation, not a closure. But, suppose we ignore the meaning of words and consider it a closure. What procedural violation was there? The only thing I can see was a likely failure to put the proper notices in two newspapers. I say likely because I have no idea if they did-- I certainly don't read public notices and I doubt you do, either.

Procedural violations alone aren't enough to reverse a decision. You need to demonstrate that violatation prejudiced a substantial right. I don't think I've heard anyone claim they didn't know this was going on because it wasn't advertised in public notices in two newspapers.

[Anonymous]

The attorneys representing the Wootton parents are a joke. They’re representing families in Anne Arundel county in a similar case and have bungled every aspect of the litigation. They failed to adequately establish standing in their initial filing and their case got kicked on that basis. A total clown show.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The attorneys representing the Wootton parents are a joke. They’re representing families in Anne Arundel county in a similar case and have bungled every aspect of the litigation. They failed to adequately establish standing in their initial filing and their case got kicked on that basis. A total clown show.

Posting from the other thread:
Oh, I didn't realize that was the same law firm; here's a link to the denial. Apparently, the State BoE won't "just trust us, bro" on the organization representing actual parents of students.

https://marylandpublicschools.org/stateboard/documents/orders/2026board/02/onecrofton.or26-07-a.pdf

P.S. The fact that the law firm didn't know based on precedent that they'd have to actually name parents who want to sue does not bode well for their understanding of how to overturn boundary studies.

As a not-lawyer, I haven't figured out how to read their filings, but I've figured out how to find orders / rulings from the State BoE.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seems like some are legitimately concerned about the process (is it closing Wootton or just moving everyone and combining them with others to form a new school - Crown), especially as we look ahead to the ES boundary study. Seems likely that will have school closures and we should all hope that will be done following the proper process.

If it weren’t for the ES boundary study coming up, I might agree that the parkway parents are just being over the top. But I think we need to sort out the process now, or MCPS could take shortcuts with ES school closures countywide.

Is this an area where the BOE could step in and adopt new policies that make process clear?

Yup, MCPS BoE is the final authority and the ones who approve any changes to Policy FAA. As written, it's pretty vague.

They could also adjust timelines, require the superintendent do another round of feedback etc without having to change the policy at all.

https://ww2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/policy/pdf/faa.pdf

That would be the smart move to head off a lawsuit. It would mean the plaintiffs will not have exhausted their administrative remedies under BOE regulations.

No, because plaintiffs are always allowed to submit an appeal to the BoE even if MCPS follows all their procedures correctly, which as far as I can tell they did, and nobody has posted a clear-cut violation of policy FAA.

I've yet to see a ruling against a local board because the state board always defers to the local board unless the decision is arbitrary, illegal, or unreasonable.

Taylor has burned some credibility with the MD BOE over his EV bus contract.

Taylor wasn't superintendent when that contract was made.

That's no excuse. Did he do anything to stop the previous superintendents? Did he even try to build a time machine?

Better than that. He renewed the EV contract and paid MCPS lawyers to defend the EV contract.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The attorneys representing the Wootton parents are a joke. They’re representing families in Anne Arundel county in a similar case and have bungled every aspect of the litigation. They failed to adequately establish standing in their initial filing and their case got kicked on that basis. A total clown show.

They probably couldn’t find any other attorney.

[Anonymous]

This is a relocation and one section of Wootton parents are upset because it adds in Gaithersburg schools and they are afraid that will bring down the school as a whole while also decreasing property values. That is the whole scuttlebutt, nothing more to it!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seems like some are legitimately concerned about the process (is it closing Wootton or just moving everyone and combining them with others to form a new school - Crown), especially as we look ahead to the ES boundary study. Seems likely that will have school closures and we should all hope that will be done following the proper process.

If it weren’t for the ES boundary study coming up, I might agree that the parkway parents are just being over the top. But I think we need to sort out the process now, or MCPS could take shortcuts with ES school closures countywide.

Is this an area where the BOE could step in and adopt new policies that make process clear?

Yup, MCPS BoE is the final authority and the ones who approve any changes to Policy FAA. As written, it's pretty vague.

They could also adjust timelines, require the superintendent do another round of feedback etc without having to change the policy at all.

https://ww2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/policy/pdf/faa.pdf

That would be the smart move to head off a lawsuit. It would mean the plaintiffs will not have exhausted their administrative remedies under BOE regulations.

No, because plaintiffs are always allowed to submit an appeal to the BoE even if MCPS follows all their procedures correctly, which as far as I can tell they did, and nobody has posted a clear-cut violation of policy FAA.

I've yet to see a ruling against a local board because the state board always defers to the local board unless the decision is arbitrary, illegal, or unreasonable.

Taylor has burned some credibility with the MD BOE over his EV bus contract.

Taylor wasn't superintendent when that contract was made.

The issues with that contract extend far beyond just when it was drafted. Several failures related to that contract happened on Taylor's watch. Such as this: https://parentscoalitionmc.blogspot.com/2026/01/breaking-md-state-board-of-education.html

His hands are not clean.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The attorneys representing the Wootton parents are a joke. They’re representing families in Anne Arundel county in a similar case and have bungled every aspect of the litigation. They failed to adequately establish standing in their initial filing and their case got kicked on that basis. A total clown show.

They probably couldn’t find any other attorney.

Yall are so wrong it’s too funny!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The attorneys representing the Wootton parents are a joke. They’re representing families in Anne Arundel county in a similar case and have bungled every aspect of the litigation. They failed to adequately establish standing in their initial filing and their case got kicked on that basis. A total clown show.

They probably couldn’t find any other attorney.

I’m not sure what the point of hiring an attorney is if they can’t write a complaint that survives a 12b-style motion to dismiss.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The attorneys representing the Wootton parents are a joke. They’re representing families in Anne Arundel county in a similar case and have bungled every aspect of the litigation. They failed to adequately establish standing in their initial filing and their case got kicked on that basis. A total clown show.

They probably couldn’t find any other attorney.

Yall are so wrong it’s too funny!

About what?