Superintendent's Recommendation for Richard Montgomery ES #5 Boundaries

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For God’s sake, those kids are already in RP right now, we are not busing them anywhere else...just admit that having them will make you not in line with your <7% Potomac neighborhood..

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree that ~25min busing is not desirable, but how about those kids who lives 0.9mile from school have to walk ~20+ min daily without access to a car, in heat, wind, rain, snow, ice?
It is definitely not "wonderful walking distance", it is some times miserable..

And what about kids in those same circumstances who live in Twinbrook? Do you advocate busing them to a different school, too? There are community support measures that can be put in place (both official MCPS ones and informal ones from neighbors) so that children do not need to walk alone and in bad weather. That is not a reason to bus children to a completely different school.

Exactly. What about Wheaton, Silver Spring, Kensington, etc... Do you all advocate we bus them away from their walkable schools?

Also, the furthest walk for RP2 is 0.8 miles. That is a little more than 3 times around a track. It isn't miles away, uphill, in 5ft of snow kinda crap.

1. Stop replying ABOVE
2. I am not from RP, I am from Beall (B5)
3. I don't give a crap about FARMS because it is minimal in this situation.
4. Everyone wants proximity. Bussing my kids further and many at RP further for 1.5 extra FARMS kids in a class is not good enough.
5. Where are you located? What section. You never post and say. Are you even in the RM cluster?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If RP2/6 go to ES#5, have they stated that they will provde bus service? Or is this still up in the air? If they have not made this decision, then I'm not sure how people can make an informed decision without all the info.

Bus service to RP6 will decrease by 3min if they go to RM5. They do not have walk thru access to RM5 as their only 2 access roads go to Maryland Ave
.
RP2 is all walkable. The entire area is less than 0.8 miles and is neighborhood roads with sidewalks. No bus service

Apologize for above. I was confusing RP6 and RP7

RP6 will not be walkable because there is no access to the neighborhood and the kids can not walk along side or across a main road (Wootton) I personally think they should put a walkable access road to Royal Oak Dr to Cabin John Parkway and make that small section walkable.

The entire rest of RP6 below Wootton has no housing but will have over 300 units built starting next this Spring. Near the B3/RP6 section. They will have to be bussed due to Wootton.

OK, I get the RP6 will have a bus. But what is the "official" word on RP2 and a bus?

Official is no bus. The board just did a bus trip and RP2 is not on it as they will walk or stay bussed at RP

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If RP2/6 go to ES#5, have they stated that they will provde bus service? Or is this still up in the air? If they have not made this decision, then I'm not sure how people can make an informed decision without all the info.

Bus service to RP6 will decrease by 3min if they go to RM5. They do not have walk thru access to RM5 as their only 2 access roads go to Maryland Ave
.
RP2 is all walkable. The entire area is less than 0.8 miles and is neighborhood roads with sidewalks. No bus service

Apologize for above. I was confusing RP6 and RP7

RP6 will not be walkable because there is no access to the neighborhood and the kids can not walk along side or across a main road (Wootton) I personally think they should put a walkable access road to Royal Oak Dr to Cabin John Parkway and make that small section walkable.

The entire rest of RP6 below Wootton has no housing but will have over 300 units built starting next this Spring. Near the B3/RP6 section. They will have to be bussed due to Wootton.

OK, I get the RP6 will have a bus. But what is the "official" word on RP2 and a bus?

I don’t think there is an official word. But what if a bus came through the north end of RP2 and drove .8 miles? What is your point? That it is no different?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If RP2/6 go to ES#5, have they stated that they will provde bus service? Or is this still up in the air? If they have not made this decision, then I'm not sure how people can make an informed decision without all the info.

RP6 is the Tower Oaks neighborhood - they are not in the walk zone. All of those children will be bused.

What about Rp2, since that zone seems to be the big sticking point, and whether they are truly walkable or not.

Most people in rp2 want to go to the new school. They just don't waste their time on dcum telling you about it.

Stop speaking for RP2, go and ask if it is better to spend 15 minutes walking with a child to the new school under the elements and then another 30 to the metro instead of a short bus ride to RP.

1. this is not a concern for ALL of RP2 - it is a concern for a small (but important) subset of RP2
2. MCPS is aware of this and is looking into what could be done to support these families
3. Those same parents have difficulty getting to RP now for teacher conferences, school events, PTA meetings, picking up sick children, etc. Other members of the community drive them for important events - as they would also do if (and much more easily) their children were attending a school 0.8 miles away. It will generally be easier for these families to access a school that is 0.8 miles away than one 2-3 miles away, even if it's not a perfect walk.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If RP2/6 go to ES#5, have they stated that they will provde bus service? Or is this still up in the air? If they have not made this decision, then I'm not sure how people can make an informed decision without all the info.

Bus service to RP6 will decrease by 3min if they go to RM5. They do not have walk thru access to RM5 as their only 2 access roads go to Maryland Ave
.
RP2 is all walkable. The entire area is less than 0.8 miles and is neighborhood roads with sidewalks. No bus service

Apologize for above. I was confusing RP6 and RP7

RP6 will not be walkable because there is no access to the neighborhood and the kids can not walk along side or across a main road (Wootton) I personally think they should put a walkable access road to Royal Oak Dr to Cabin John Parkway and make that small section walkable.

The entire rest of RP6 below Wootton has no housing but will have over 300 units built starting next this Spring. Near the B3/RP6 section. They will have to be bussed due to Wootton.

OK, I get the RP6 will have a bus. But what is the "official" word on RP2 and a bus?

I don’t think there is an official word. But what if a bus came through the north end of RP2 and drove .8 miles? What is your point? That it is no different?

? School buses generally don't stop at one point in a neighborhood. I think for ES kids, it's like 1/8 of a mile or something. In our area, we could walk to 2 or 3 different stops with maybe a 1 or 2 minute walk difference.

The point is that people are saying RP2 is really not walking distance to ES#5. So I asked what the official word was on whether that area will get a bus or not if the go to new ES.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Actually, it is 4.1% farms.

Prove it

Using the data from the alternatives for 2019-2020, I easily solved systems of equations. We have the data for what all of RP would be, what RP - RP5 would be, and what RP - (RP2 + RP6) would be. That’s enough info to solve for what’s in (RP1 + RP3 + RP4)


QED

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am curious if this has been brought up as I haven't been really following since it doesn't affect my zone in all options. It seems that proximity is the highest want.

BOE has a duty to focus on 4 major factors otherwise they are not doing their jobs. Most parents don't want to change school mid way and it's understandable, but any decision making body has to be stupid to focus on parents not wanting to move. That's not even a criterion for boundary decision.

If it was about just doing that then you can simply take a poll and decide, but it's not an election.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let's be honest here. RP PTA email clearly said that RP is near Potomac and even 7% is too high for us. We can be politically correct and not say it anymore, but that's the talking point given by PTA in email first time. I think it's not a wrong point.

I will send letter specifying that RP is in different neighborhood and 7% is not too low for our neighborhood. Enough of this political correct talk. It's reality that we don't have 20% FARMs in our neighborhood. We don't have even 7%. 7% is actually higher than what neighborhood looks like. We are already helping enough FARMs kids.

Some more RP parents need to speak up and not be afraid due to political nonsense.

I live in HH and I think you are a troll trying to stir the pot.

Ah, so RP PTA sending the same circulation was also trying to stir the pot? Stop this Political correct language. I support keeping RP at 7% FARMs. RP PTA circulation arguing that was spot on.

[Anonymous]

Bus service to RP6 will decrease by 3min if they go to RM5. They do not have walk thru access to RM5 as their only 2 access roads go to Maryland Ave

This isn't true.

I live in RP6 and regularly walk to the new school (just for fun/exercise). It is exactly a 1 mile walk if I cut through Dogwood Park. It takes about 14-15 minutes. It also takes 14-15 minutes to drive there because I have to drive past the school on Wootton and double back to it. I can drive to Ritchie Park in 9-11 minutes.

However, I don't care about that extra few minutes drive. I care about getting my kids out of a situation where their school is overcrowded, physical resources are stretched, and some kids have to be out in portables. Since leaving us at RP leaves RP over 100% capacity, I am OK with moving to the new school.

I think many Horizon Hill RP parents are behaving absolutely atrociously -- but I am truly not surprised. They've always been a clique-y, judgemental group with an undercurrent of racism. Now its all out in the open.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree here as well. Enough of political correct talk. RP PTA first email was spot on.

- Another RP parent

Was there a second email? I only read the one stating that 7% is already more than the neighboring schools.

Second was a toned down version to keep it politically correct. Anyway, RP Parents should speak up. IF WG can all that noise without having any valid concern, I think we have a good argument here. RP is near Potomac and not a typical Rockville neighborhood. 7% is already high.

This is a terrible argument and the second email was not written to be politically correct, but just to be clear that the pta wanted everybody to be free to voice their opinions.

The argument we are taking isn’t meant to arrive at any particular farms rate, but to recognize that the neighborhood configuration is best served by option b. The other options lead to busing or travel increases. The other options often split more neighborhoods into islands and isolate. Ommuniti a from their elementary schools.

OK, so tell me how E leads to islands?

Do you know that every option leads to one zone or another increased bus time? Are you talking about FAllsgrove kids sitting in bus for 2 additional minutes and at the same time forcing FARMS kids to have a difficult walk? I think RP2 should get bus no matter where they go. It's a hard walk and I tried it myself yesterday after seeing all discussion about it.

It's far easier for falls grove kids to spend two minutes extra in bus than lots of FARMs kids to do a difficult Walk in RP2. If MCPS provides bus to RP2 to RM#5 then I will feel less annoyed.

Anyone talking about 6 minutes bus ride vs 9 minutes of bus ride has no argument here. That's a stupid way to approach this decision. MCPS should look at how long many kids take bus ride right now in lots of schools. Someone posted it here earlier.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Bus service to RP6 will decrease by 3min if they go to RM5. They do not have walk thru access to RM5 as their only 2 access roads go to Maryland Ave

This isn't true.

I live in RP6 and regularly walk to the new school (just for fun/exercise). It is exactly a 1 mile walk if I cut through Dogwood Park. It takes about 14-15 minutes. It also takes 14-15 minutes to drive there because I have to drive past the school on Wootton and double back to it. I can drive to Ritchie Park in 9-11 minutes.

However, I don't care about that extra few minutes drive. I care about getting my kids out of a situation where their school is overcrowded, physical resources are stretched, and some kids have to be out in portables. Since leaving us at RP leaves RP over 100% capacity, I am OK with moving to the new school.

I think many Horizon Hill RP parents are behaving absolutely atrociously -- but I am truly not surprised. They've always been a clique-y, judgemental group with an undercurrent of racism. Now its all out in the open.

Why do you think this? They prioritize proximity just like most other parents, so what makes their behavior anymore atrocious than a CG or Beall parent who prioritizes proximity?

and I guess you missed one of the speakers from HH who is black, a former PTA president, and NAACP rep. Is she a racist, too? There are black and hispanic families in HH. Are they racist against each other?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Bus service to RP6 will decrease by 3min if they go to RM5. They do not have walk thru access to RM5 as their only 2 access roads go to Maryland Ave

This isn't true.

I live in RP6 and regularly walk to the new school (just for fun/exercise). It is exactly a 1 mile walk if I cut through Dogwood Park. It takes about 14-15 minutes. It also takes 14-15 minutes to drive there because I have to drive past the school on Wootton and double back to it. I can drive to Ritchie Park in 9-11 minutes.

However, I don't care about that extra few minutes drive. I care about getting my kids out of a situation where their school is overcrowded, physical resources are stretched, and some kids have to be out in portables. Since leaving us at RP leaves RP over 100% capacity, I am OK with moving to the new school.

I think many Horizon Hill RP parents are behaving absolutely atrociously -- but I am truly not surprised. They've always been a clique-y, judgemental group with an undercurrent of racism. Now its all out in the open.

That person corrected and said B7

RP6 is Tower Oaks townhouses and can make a left and a left to get to the new school. What park are you talking about PP that you have to drive 15min now to a school right down the street for you. You can actually get a walkway to Cabin John Rd from your townhouses.

And if you believe anonymous people on a board acting all "atrociously" from any zone is actually them, I have some land to sell you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree here as well. Enough of political correct talk. RP PTA first email was spot on.

- Another RP parent

Was there a second email? I only read the one stating that 7% is already more than the neighboring schools.

Second was a toned down version to keep it politically correct. Anyway, RP Parents should speak up. IF WG can all that noise without having any valid concern, I think we have a good argument here. RP is near Potomac and not a typical Rockville neighborhood. 7% is already high.

This is a terrible argument and the second email was not written to be politically correct, but just to be clear that the pta wanted everybody to be free to voice their opinions.

The argument we are taking isn’t meant to arrive at any particular farms rate, but to recognize that the neighborhood configuration is best served by option b. The other options lead to busing or travel increases. The other options often split more neighborhoods into islands and isolate. Ommuniti a from their elementary schools.

OK, so tell me how E leads to islands?

Do you know that every option leads to one zone or another increased bus time? Are you talking about FAllsgrove kids sitting in bus for 2 additional minutes and at the same time forcing FARMS kids to have a difficult walk? I think RP2 should get bus no matter where they go. It's a hard walk and I tried it myself yesterday after seeing all discussion about it.

It's far easier for falls grove kids to spend two minutes extra in bus than lots of FARMs kids to do a difficult Walk in RP2. If MCPS provides bus to RP2 to RM#5 then I will feel less annoyed.

Anyone talking about 6 minutes bus ride vs 9 minutes of bus ride has no argument here. That's a stupid way to approach this decision. MCPS should look at how long many kids take bus ride right now in lots of schools. Someone posted it here earlier.

DP.. I agree that Rp2 should have a bus. Option E leaves B8 an island. Look at the map. I don't believe FG bus will be 2 extra minutes. I don't live in FG, but I drive down Wootton pkwy towards the pike, passing Edmonston during high traffic times. It's pretty backed up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Bus service to RP6 will decrease by 3min if they go to RM5. They do not have walk thru access to RM5 as their only 2 access roads go to Maryland Ave

This isn't true.

I live in RP6 and regularly walk to the new school (just for fun/exercise). It is exactly a 1 mile walk if I cut through Dogwood Park. It takes about 14-15 minutes. It also takes 14-15 minutes to drive there because I have to drive past the school on Wootton and double back to it. I can drive to Ritchie Park in 9-11 minutes.

However, I don't care about that extra few minutes drive. I care about getting my kids out of a situation where their school is overcrowded, physical resources are stretched, and some kids have to be out in portables. Since leaving us at RP leaves RP over 100% capacity, I am OK with moving to the new school.

I think many Horizon Hill RP parents are behaving absolutely atrociously -- but I am truly not surprised. They've always been a clique-y, judgemental group with an undercurrent of racism. Now its all out in the open.

Thank you for saying that. I also don't get this fixation on 2-4 extra minutes for RP5 or 5 extra minutes of some other zone. As long as it's well within reasonable range it's a non-issue. I would be only concerned about our zone kids(TB) bused somewhere else because many families don't own cars. If they miss bus then it means missing their school. I came to know about testimony only yesterday toherwise I would have opposed C and D. Anyway, I am sending letters to BOE.

[Anonymous]

Why all this "RP2 can't walk" because some are low income?
I am curious what zones here are saying that.

Do you all know how many schools have walkable low income areas? Many - MCPS doesn't change walkable areas and give busses. Otherwise anyone .8 - 1 mile out would be flooding the the board for busses.

Low income kids in the city walk very far in heavily congested roads. Some takes busses. In NYC they take the subway too and have to walk to the subway and then walk from subway to school.

This point they can't walk 3/4 of a mile or less in a neighborhood with sidewalks is so deameaning. Why can't they?

My kid walks or scooters to school daily. We are almost 3/4 mile too. I leave for work before he goes. So rain or shine. He loves it and it is FANTASTIC excercise for this lazy generation of obese kids. It is also great for anxiety and ADHD.