UMBC for graduation?????

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think MCPS made a rational decision that simplifies the process, solves multiple common complaints, and probably makes financial sense. Of course, this solution also introduces new complaints, one of which they’re trying to address by providing buses.

However, different school communities have different priorities and capabilities. I have no problem with individual schools telling Central Office thanks, but no thanks, and making their own graduation ceremony arrangements at their own expense if that’s what the majority of that school community wants.

Perhaps the UMBC decision makes financial sense for MCPS. But the outcry you're hearing is that this MCPS decision is simply shifting costs from MCPS to the school's communities, particularly for schools that are a long drive from UMBC. If MCPS decided to cut public school buses, and tell parents to drive their children daily if they wanted to attend school, that would be a financial savings to them, but that would not be a rational decision that maximizes well-being of the communities.

+1. This. MCPS trumpets “savings” while a 100,000 community members are pissed about driving an extra 2 hours to what should be a community event.

Nope, maybe 5,000 at most.

And your evidence for that is what? Are there community of surveys where many respondents indicated they would like to spend 2 hours driving to another county to watch their kid’s graduate?

There’s news stories about an entire high school community who are willing to raise tens of thousands of dollars from their own money to cover what should be MCPS’s responsibility so they can have a graduation at their home school as they’ve always done.

Real MCPS parents know it doesn’t take 2 hours to drive to UMBC.
Only trolls

With traffic 60-90 minutes but it depends on on far from the beltway. It could be longer. Plus students have to be there early.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think MCPS made a rational decision that simplifies the process, solves multiple common complaints, and probably makes financial sense. Of course, this solution also introduces new complaints, one of which they’re trying to address by providing buses.

However, different school communities have different priorities and capabilities. I have no problem with individual schools telling Central Office thanks, but no thanks, and making their own graduation ceremony arrangements at their own expense if that’s what the majority of that school community wants.

Perhaps the UMBC decision makes financial sense for MCPS. But the outcry you're hearing is that this MCPS decision is simply shifting costs from MCPS to the school's communities, particularly for schools that are a long drive from UMBC. If MCPS decided to cut public school buses, and tell parents to drive their children daily if they wanted to attend school, that would be a financial savings to them, but that would not be a rational decision that maximizes well-being of the communities.

+1. This. MCPS trumpets “savings” while a 100,000 community members are pissed about driving an extra 2 hours to what should be a community event.

Nope, maybe 5,000 at most.

And your evidence for that is what? Are there community of surveys where many respondents indicated they would like to spend 2 hours driving to another county to watch their kid’s graduate?

There’s news stories about an entire high school community who are willing to raise tens of thousands of dollars from their own money to cover what should be MCPS’s responsibility so they can have a graduation at their home school as they’ve always done.

Real MCPS parents know it doesn’t take 2 hours to drive to UMBC.
Only trolls

With traffic 60-90 minutes but it depends on on far from the beltway. It could be longer. Plus students have to be there early.

+1. At the very least it’s 2 hours to get there and back from Baltimore from many parts of MoCo. This is just MCPS shifting costs onto parents rather than the school system.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think MCPS made a rational decision that simplifies the process, solves multiple common complaints, and probably makes financial sense. Of course, this solution also introduces new complaints, one of which they’re trying to address by providing buses.

However, different school communities have different priorities and capabilities. I have no problem with individual schools telling Central Office thanks, but no thanks, and making their own graduation ceremony arrangements at their own expense if that’s what the majority of that school community wants.

Perhaps the UMBC decision makes financial sense for MCPS. But the outcry you're hearing is that this MCPS decision is simply shifting costs from MCPS to the school's communities, particularly for schools that are a long drive from UMBC. If MCPS decided to cut public school buses, and tell parents to drive their children daily if they wanted to attend school, that would be a financial savings to them, but that would not be a rational decision that maximizes well-being of the communities.

+1. This. MCPS trumpets “savings” while a 100,000 community members are pissed about driving an extra 2 hours to what should be a community event.

Nope, maybe 5,000 at most.

And your evidence for that is what? Are there community of surveys where many respondents indicated they would like to spend 2 hours driving to another county to watch their kid’s graduate?

There’s news stories about an entire high school community who are willing to raise tens of thousands of dollars from their own money to cover what should be MCPS’s responsibility so they can have a graduation at their home school as they’ve always done.

Real MCPS parents know it doesn’t take 2 hours to drive to UMBC.
Only trolls

With traffic 60-90 minutes but it depends on on far from the beltway. It could be longer. Plus students have to be there early.

+1. At the very least it’s 2 hours to get there and back from Baltimore from many parts of MoCo. This is just MCPS shifting costs onto parents rather than the school system.

I bet it's also 2 hours to get there and back from DAR from many parts of MoCo.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think MCPS made a rational decision that simplifies the process, solves multiple common complaints, and probably makes financial sense. Of course, this solution also introduces new complaints, one of which they’re trying to address by providing buses.

However, different school communities have different priorities and capabilities. I have no problem with individual schools telling Central Office thanks, but no thanks, and making their own graduation ceremony arrangements at their own expense if that’s what the majority of that school community wants.

Perhaps the UMBC decision makes financial sense for MCPS. But the outcry you're hearing is that this MCPS decision is simply shifting costs from MCPS to the school's communities, particularly for schools that are a long drive from UMBC. If MCPS decided to cut public school buses, and tell parents to drive their children daily if they wanted to attend school, that would be a financial savings to them, but that would not be a rational decision that maximizes well-being of the communities.

+1. This. MCPS trumpets “savings” while a 100,000 community members are pissed about driving an extra 2 hours to what should be a community event.

Nope, maybe 5,000 at most.

And your evidence for that is what? Are there community of surveys where many respondents indicated they would like to spend 2 hours driving to another county to watch their kid’s graduate?

There’s news stories about an entire high school community who are willing to raise tens of thousands of dollars from their own money to cover what should be MCPS’s responsibility so they can have a graduation at their home school as they’ve always done.

Real MCPS parents know it doesn’t take 2 hours to drive to UMBC.
Only trolls

With traffic 60-90 minutes but it depends on on far from the beltway. It could be longer. Plus students have to be there early.

+1. At the very least it’s 2 hours to get there and back from Baltimore from many parts of MoCo. This is just MCPS shifting costs onto parents rather than the school system.

I bet it's also 2 hours to get there and back from DAR from many parts of MoCo.

It's more than 2 hours to get there and back from DAR from many parts of MoCo.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think MCPS made a rational decision that simplifies the process, solves multiple common complaints, and probably makes financial sense. Of course, this solution also introduces new complaints, one of which they’re trying to address by providing buses.

However, different school communities have different priorities and capabilities. I have no problem with individual schools telling Central Office thanks, but no thanks, and making their own graduation ceremony arrangements at their own expense if that’s what the majority of that school community wants.

Perhaps the UMBC decision makes financial sense for MCPS. But the outcry you're hearing is that this MCPS decision is simply shifting costs from MCPS to the school's communities, particularly for schools that are a long drive from UMBC. If MCPS decided to cut public school buses, and tell parents to drive their children daily if they wanted to attend school, that would be a financial savings to them, but that would not be a rational decision that maximizes well-being of the communities.

+1. This. MCPS trumpets “savings” while a 100,000 community members are pissed about driving an extra 2 hours to what should be a community event.

Nope, maybe 5,000 at most.

And your evidence for that is what? Are there community of surveys where many respondents indicated they would like to spend 2 hours driving to another county to watch their kid’s graduate?

There’s news stories about an entire high school community who are willing to raise tens of thousands of dollars from their own money to cover what should be MCPS’s responsibility so they can have a graduation at their home school as they’ve always done.

Real MCPS parents know it doesn’t take 2 hours to drive to UMBC.
Only trolls

With traffic 60-90 minutes but it depends on on far from the beltway. It could be longer. Plus students have to be there early.

+1. At the very least it’s 2 hours to get there and back from Baltimore from many parts of MoCo. This is just MCPS shifting costs onto parents rather than the school system.

My son has classes at UMBC that start at 8:00 am, and it only takes him 40-50 minutes to get there from Germantown.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think MCPS made a rational decision that simplifies the process, solves multiple common complaints, and probably makes financial sense. Of course, this solution also introduces new complaints, one of which they’re trying to address by providing buses.

However, different school communities have different priorities and capabilities. I have no problem with individual schools telling Central Office thanks, but no thanks, and making their own graduation ceremony arrangements at their own expense if that’s what the majority of that school community wants.

Perhaps the UMBC decision makes financial sense for MCPS. But the outcry you're hearing is that this MCPS decision is simply shifting costs from MCPS to the school's communities, particularly for schools that are a long drive from UMBC. If MCPS decided to cut public school buses, and tell parents to drive their children daily if they wanted to attend school, that would be a financial savings to them, but that would not be a rational decision that maximizes well-being of the communities.

+1. This. MCPS trumpets “savings” while a 100,000 community members are pissed about driving an extra 2 hours to what should be a community event.

Nope, maybe 5,000 at most.

And your evidence for that is what? Are there community of surveys where many respondents indicated they would like to spend 2 hours driving to another county to watch their kid’s graduate?

There’s news stories about an entire high school community who are willing to raise tens of thousands of dollars from their own money to cover what should be MCPS’s responsibility so they can have a graduation at their home school as they’ve always done.

Real MCPS parents know it doesn’t take 2 hours to drive to UMBC.
Only trolls

With traffic 60-90 minutes but it depends on on far from the beltway. It could be longer. Plus students have to be there early.

+1. At the very least it’s 2 hours to get there and back from Baltimore from many parts of MoCo. This is just MCPS shifting costs onto parents rather than the school system.

Please tell me what part of MoCo is over 2 hours to UMBC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think MCPS made a rational decision that simplifies the process, solves multiple common complaints, and probably makes financial sense. Of course, this solution also introduces new complaints, one of which they’re trying to address by providing buses.

However, different school communities have different priorities and capabilities. I have no problem with individual schools telling Central Office thanks, but no thanks, and making their own graduation ceremony arrangements at their own expense if that’s what the majority of that school community wants.

Perhaps the UMBC decision makes financial sense for MCPS. But the outcry you're hearing is that this MCPS decision is simply shifting costs from MCPS to the school's communities, particularly for schools that are a long drive from UMBC. If MCPS decided to cut public school buses, and tell parents to drive their children daily if they wanted to attend school, that would be a financial savings to them, but that would not be a rational decision that maximizes well-being of the communities.

+1. This. MCPS trumpets “savings” while a 100,000 community members are pissed about driving an extra 2 hours to what should be a community event.

Nope, maybe 5,000 at most.

And your evidence for that is what? Are there community of surveys where many respondents indicated they would like to spend 2 hours driving to another county to watch their kid’s graduate?

There’s news stories about an entire high school community who are willing to raise tens of thousands of dollars from their own money to cover what should be MCPS’s responsibility so they can have a graduation at their home school as they’ve always done.

Real MCPS parents know it doesn’t take 2 hours to drive to UMBC.
Only trolls

With traffic 60-90 minutes but it depends on on far from the beltway. It could be longer. Plus students have to be there early.

+1. At the very least it’s 2 hours to get there and back from Baltimore from many parts of MoCo. This is just MCPS shifting costs onto parents rather than the school system.

My son has classes at UMBC that start at 8:00 am, and it only takes him 40-50 minutes to get there from Germantown.

Many of us don't live as far out as Germantown so it's easily an hour each way. 1+1=2 hours.

[Anonymous]

TBH, I don't understand why this is such a big deal. It's one day for your kids HS graduation, you can suck it up and make the long drive to UMBC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:TBH, I don't understand why this is such a big deal. It's one day for your kids HS graduation, you can suck it up and make the long drive to UMBC.

Not everyone is as lucky or as healthy or as prosperous as you where they have a car, can easily take off work and drive 2 hours. Check your privilege.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:TBH, I don't understand why this is such a big deal. It's one day for your kids HS graduation, you can suck it up and make the long drive to UMBC.

Not everyone is as lucky or as healthy or as prosperous as you where they have a car, can easily take off work and drive 2 hours. Check your privilege.

"MCPS will provide information in the coming months about transportation options and supports to make sure all students and families are able to attend."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:TBH, I don't understand why this is such a big deal. It's one day for your kids HS graduation, you can suck it up and make the long drive to UMBC.

Not everyone is as lucky or as healthy or as prosperous as you where they have a car, can easily take off work and drive 2 hours. Check your privilege.

The specific health issues and work schedule of every graduation guest can’t possibly be taken into consideration and accommodated. MCPS is offering transportation to those who cannot drive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:TBH, I don't understand why this is such a big deal. It's one day for your kids HS graduation, you can suck it up and make the long drive to UMBC.

Not everyone is as lucky or as healthy or as prosperous as you where they have a car, can easily take off work and drive 2 hours. Check your privilege.

The specific health issues and work schedule of every graduation guest can’t possibly be taken into consideration and accommodated. MCPS is offering transportation to those who cannot drive.

Yes but MCPS is also saying that the costs of busing are minimal which implies that they expect most people to drive themselves. Therefore, MCPS is shifting the costs (time and transport) to families.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:TBH, I don't understand why this is such a big deal. It's one day for your kids HS graduation, you can suck it up and make the long drive to UMBC.

Not everyone is as lucky or as healthy or as prosperous as you where they have a car, can easily take off work and drive 2 hours. Check your privilege.

The specific health issues and work schedule of every graduation guest can’t possibly be taken into consideration and accommodated. MCPS is offering transportation to those who cannot drive.

Yes but MCPS is also saying that the costs of busing are minimal which implies that they expect most people to drive themselves. Therefore, MCPS is shifting the costs (time and transport) to families.

Those costs would exist at DAR too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:TBH, I don't understand why this is such a big deal. It's one day for your kids HS graduation, you can suck it up and make the long drive to UMBC.

Not everyone is as lucky or as healthy or as prosperous as you where they have a car, can easily take off work and drive 2 hours. Check your privilege.

The specific health issues and work schedule of every graduation guest can’t possibly be taken into consideration and accommodated. MCPS is offering transportation to those who cannot drive.

Yes but MCPS is also saying that the costs of busing are minimal which implies that they expect most people to drive themselves. Therefore, MCPS is shifting the costs (time and transport) to families.

Those costs would exist at DAR too.

Who said the only alternative was DAR? We have schools like Damascus HS where parents are fundraising amongst themselves to pay the 20K$ in expenses it would take to hold their graduation at their own school athletic field rather than drive out to Baltimore.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:TBH, I don't understand why this is such a big deal. It's one day for your kids HS graduation, you can suck it up and make the long drive to UMBC.

Not everyone is as lucky or as healthy or as prosperous as you where they have a car, can easily take off work and drive 2 hours. Check your privilege.

The specific health issues and work schedule of every graduation guest can’t possibly be taken into consideration and accommodated. MCPS is offering transportation to those who cannot drive.

Yes but MCPS is also saying that the costs of busing are minimal which implies that they expect most people to drive themselves. Therefore, MCPS is shifting the costs (time and transport) to families.

Those costs would exist at DAR too.

Who said the only alternative was DAR? We have schools like Damascus HS where parents are fundraising amongst themselves to pay the 20K$ in expenses it would take to hold their graduation at their own school athletic field rather than drive out to Baltimore.

Most of our high schools cannot host their graduation ceremony onsite. Arrangements that best suit the district as a whole were made. Most of our school communities benefit from that. Several do not. It’s a shame Damascas (and maybe others) have to foot the bill themselves to have the graduation ceremony they want, but since Central Office typically chooses the venues and signs the contracts, the booking process was looked at holistically. This is the best decision for the district as a whole.