Option H is permanent and the old Wootton HS campus will be closed for good?

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Let's picture a world where major league baseball was a not for profit organization. Everything would be done for the good of the game only. in this scenario, the league would have even more incentive to preserve successful teams like the Yankees and their legacy.

It is not in the best interests of MCPS to "Disappear" one of their most successful schools. It lowers the overall quality of the school system.

We at Wootton are not entitled. Let someone else have the new building. Giving it to us would be taking from those who need the new building more. We are fine where we are with minor repairs.

People will accuse Wootton of being entitled no matter what. Take the crown, you’re entitled.” Refuse to move, you’re entitled.” Apparently, simply existing as a successful high school in MoCo is enough to be labeled wrong

haven't see a post that states: "If Wootton parents get Crown, they are entitled."

They exist. And there was a whole video of kids from Gaithersburg presented to MCPS saying don’t take our school. Wootton families done want Crown, Gaithersburg families do. Why are people on this thread forcing something that the most affected people DON’T want? Option H doesn’t make the most sense when you consider it from their perspective.

“But it’s for the good of MCPS” and “MCPS can’t afford to fix Wootton”. Neither of these is true. Erasing a proven, top performing school with one that might, someday (unlikely) reach that same level of achievement isn’t in the best interests of MCPS as a whole. Likewise, MCPS can afford remediation of Wootton (not a full renovation). Do a zero base budgeting exercise within MCPS and suddenly tens of millions of dollars will be found.

Doesn't H send both Gaithersburg and Wootton families to Crown? (Obviously not 100% of Gaithersburg families to Crown, but no option would.). Seems pretty win-win to me.

Only the richest part of Gaithersburg and very few people in Gaithersburg would benefit from it as Wootton would take away majority of the seats. Gaithersburg high will be less diverse too with the richest area leaving.

Oh weird, I thought from all the Wootton folks complaining that it was poor kids from Gaithersburg that would be going to the new Wootton (Crown) under option H. Are Wootton families just that elitist that they can't stand any families that aren't super rich?

No, crown people are super rich. Certainly richer than most of Wootton. Wootton doesn’t have that many 2 million dollars single family houses and 1 million townhouses. But crown does. I’m not sure who’s more elitist. But that doesn’t mean they are ok with moving. You can’t dismiss all the valid points on wanting to keep Wootton on Wootton parkway

You're being disingenuous. Yes, there are some very expensive homes in Crown, just like there are some very expensive homes in Wootton's current boundaries. Overall, the median income of people that moved into Wootton at Crown from Gaithersburg would be lower than current Wootton's median income. I'm sure you know that.

Right but everyone sometimes has to deal with boundary changes that slightly change their median income, that's just life and doesn't really a meaningful impact on most people/schools most of the time. Wootton people have been talking about how option H boundaries would radically change the nature of Wootton, which mostly only happens when you add hundreds of FARMS kids to a school, so that's what I assumed was happening. Is that not right? If it's just a mild increase in FARMS rates/decrease in average income, who cares?

Holy crap. I just went to look it up myself and option H changes Wootton from 14.0% FARMS to 14.8% FARMS. That is what they are freaking out about? What the heck is wrong with those people?

That percentage is accounting for fields road as well? I am asking because if H does go through there is no way it’s going through without that school added.

It does not include Fields Road. And yes, I agree Fields Road would be added. There's enough excess capacity in Crown/Wootton to add them.

Okay, it's kind of crazy to oppose option H because of a boundary change that isn't even in option H. But even if they added Fields Road, that would bump up the Wootton FARMS rate from 14% to like 19% or so. In a county where the average FARMS rate is 43%.

Of course they're crazy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So realistically we have 3 totally different clusters being sent to the same high school with H? WHS, GHS and QOHS. Have we ever seen something like that before in MCPS? I know it happens with MS with CJ having kids form both Churchill and Wootton but I don’t think it’s happened with a high school before?

To add-isn’t that a negative for the kids? For Rosemont and Fields road they will only be going to HS with their elementary school correct? That really doesn’t seem like a good decision.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let's picture a world where major league baseball was a not for profit organization. Everything would be done for the good of the game only. in this scenario, the league would have even more incentive to preserve successful teams like the Yankees and their legacy.

It is not in the best interests of MCPS to "Disappear" one of their most successful schools. It lowers the overall quality of the school system.

We at Wootton are not entitled. Let someone else have the new building. Giving it to us would be taking from those who need the new building more. We are fine where we are with minor repairs.

People will accuse Wootton of being entitled no matter what. Take the crown, you’re entitled.” Refuse to move, you’re entitled.” Apparently, simply existing as a successful high school in MoCo is enough to be labeled wrong

haven't see a post that states: "If Wootton parents get Crown, they are entitled."

Saw it numerous times in this post.

I think what has seemed entitled is that there were a lot of Wootton families who didn't like the first set of options and complained that none of them fixed their building problem which was the biggest deal ever. Then Option H came out, which seemingly solves both problems (keeps the community together and provides a new building) and there was squawking about not wanting to be with Gaithersburg HS students or to lose "W" status from a new name. And then a lot of statements that if your kid doesn't go to Wootton or Crown, it shouldn't concern you... not recognizing that this is but one piece in a bigger puzzle that affects everyone on this side of the county. Option H reverberates to almost every family in this half of the redistricting map. It's the whole sequence of complaints and retorts that has seemed entitled.

You mix up the CIP testimony and option 1-4, A-D. Nobody was complaining the options don’t fix Wootton. Wootton PTSA was testifying in CIP hearing the same time as A-D was out. They’re testifying because this year Wootton was removed from CIP. But then MCPS is the one who mixed boundary study and CIP issues to introduce option E-H just shortly after A-D

I also want to add that after Wootton was removed from the CIP, and with Taylor stating that making Crown the holding school was the only option to allow Wootton to be renovated, there was significant support at the time for Crown to serve as the holding school. That support later backfired when Option H emerged. It now feels like Wootton is being boxed in by MCPS.

Why should we pay to renovate Wootton when there's a perfectly good brand new school a few miles away?

Because that school was built to alleviate overcrowding of QO, RM and Gaithersburg. Now they’re still overcrowded with many portables but nobody cares. There are so many new developments which will bring more students which are not being factored in.
So inevitably they’ll have to reopen Wootton parkway site and cause disruption for Wootton students again and again.
Money wise, it doesn’t make much difference with crown being holding school or Wootton being holding school. And ask Damascus and Magruder which school they’d rather have as holding school.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let's picture a world where major league baseball was a not for profit organization. Everything would be done for the good of the game only. in this scenario, the league would have even more incentive to preserve successful teams like the Yankees and their legacy.

It is not in the best interests of MCPS to "Disappear" one of their most successful schools. It lowers the overall quality of the school system.

We at Wootton are not entitled. Let someone else have the new building. Giving it to us would be taking from those who need the new building more. We are fine where we are with minor repairs.

People will accuse Wootton of being entitled no matter what. Take the crown, you’re entitled.” Refuse to move, you’re entitled.” Apparently, simply existing as a successful high school in MoCo is enough to be labeled wrong

haven't see a post that states: "If Wootton parents get Crown, they are entitled."

They exist. And there was a whole video of kids from Gaithersburg presented to MCPS saying don’t take our school. Wootton families done want Crown, Gaithersburg families do. Why are people on this thread forcing something that the most affected people DON’T want? Option H doesn’t make the most sense when you consider it from their perspective.

“But it’s for the good of MCPS” and “MCPS can’t afford to fix Wootton”. Neither of these is true. Erasing a proven, top performing school with one that might, someday (unlikely) reach that same level of achievement isn’t in the best interests of MCPS as a whole. Likewise, MCPS can afford remediation of Wootton (not a full renovation). Do a zero base budgeting exercise within MCPS and suddenly tens of millions of dollars will be found.

Doesn't H send both Gaithersburg and Wootton families to Crown? (Obviously not 100% of Gaithersburg families to Crown, but no option would.). Seems pretty win-win to me.

Only the richest part of Gaithersburg and very few people in Gaithersburg would benefit from it as Wootton would take away majority of the seats. Gaithersburg high will be less diverse too with the richest area leaving.

Oh weird, I thought from all the Wootton folks complaining that it was poor kids from Gaithersburg that would be going to the new Wootton (Crown) under option H. Are Wootton families just that elitist that they can't stand any families that aren't super rich?

No, crown people are super rich. Certainly richer than most of Wootton. Wootton doesn’t have that many 2 million dollars single family houses and 1 million townhouses. But crown does. I’m not sure who’s more elitist. But that doesn’t mean they are ok with moving. You can’t dismiss all the valid points on wanting to keep Wootton on Wootton parkway

You're being disingenuous. Yes, there are some very expensive homes in Crown, just like there are some very expensive homes in Wootton's current boundaries. Overall, the median income of people that moved into Wootton at Crown from Gaithersburg would be lower than current Wootton's median income. I'm sure you know that.

Right but everyone sometimes has to deal with boundary changes that slightly change their median income, that's just life and doesn't really a meaningful impact on most people/schools most of the time. Wootton people have been talking about how option H boundaries would radically change the nature of Wootton, which mostly only happens when you add hundreds of FARMS kids to a school, so that's what I assumed was happening. Is that not right? If it's just a mild increase in FARMS rates/decrease in average income, who cares?

Holy crap. I just went to look it up myself and option H changes Wootton from 14.0% FARMS to 14.8% FARMS. That is what they are freaking out about? What the heck is wrong with those people?

That percentage is accounting for fields road as well? I am asking because if H does go through there is no way it’s going through without that school added.

It does not include Fields Road. And yes, I agree Fields Road would be added. There's enough excess capacity in Crown/Wootton to add them.

Okay, it's kind of crazy to oppose option H because of a boundary change that isn't even in option H. But even if they added Fields Road, that would bump up the Wootton FARMS rate from 14% to like 19% or so. In a county where the average FARMS rate is 43%.

Adding fields road will make it overcrowded. Other than I have no problem of adding them. The remaining space is only enough for either crown or fields road and not even counting the new development

[Anonymous]

Crown was not built for Wooton. Otherwise it not fair to Gaithersburg and other area kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Crown was not built for Wooton. Otherwise it not fair to Gaithersburg and other area kids.

Wootton is technically Gaithersburg. But, it is cruel to take away crown. They should close Wootton if it’s so unsafe and redistribute the kids to other schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let's picture a world where major league baseball was a not for profit organization. Everything would be done for the good of the game only. in this scenario, the league would have even more incentive to preserve successful teams like the Yankees and their legacy.

It is not in the best interests of MCPS to "Disappear" one of their most successful schools. It lowers the overall quality of the school system.

We at Wootton are not entitled. Let someone else have the new building. Giving it to us would be taking from those who need the new building more. We are fine where we are with minor repairs.

People will accuse Wootton of being entitled no matter what. Take the crown, you’re entitled.” Refuse to move, you’re entitled.” Apparently, simply existing as a successful high school in MoCo is enough to be labeled wrong

haven't see a post that states: "If Wootton parents get Crown, they are entitled."

They exist. And there was a whole video of kids from Gaithersburg presented to MCPS saying don’t take our school. Wootton families done want Crown, Gaithersburg families do. Why are people on this thread forcing something that the most affected people DON’T want? Option H doesn’t make the most sense when you consider it from their perspective.

“But it’s for the good of MCPS” and “MCPS can’t afford to fix Wootton”. Neither of these is true. Erasing a proven, top performing school with one that might, someday (unlikely) reach that same level of achievement isn’t in the best interests of MCPS as a whole. Likewise, MCPS can afford remediation of Wootton (not a full renovation). Do a zero base budgeting exercise within MCPS and suddenly tens of millions of dollars will be found.

Doesn't H send both Gaithersburg and Wootton families to Crown? (Obviously not 100% of Gaithersburg families to Crown, but no option would.). Seems pretty win-win to me.

Only the richest part of Gaithersburg and very few people in Gaithersburg would benefit from it as Wootton would take away majority of the seats. Gaithersburg high will be less diverse too with the richest area leaving.

Oh weird, I thought from all the Wootton folks complaining that it was poor kids from Gaithersburg that would be going to the new Wootton (Crown) under option H. Are Wootton families just that elitist that they can't stand any families that aren't super rich?

No, crown people are super rich. Certainly richer than most of Wootton. Wootton doesn’t have that many 2 million dollars single family houses and 1 million townhouses. But crown does. I’m not sure who’s more elitist. But that doesn’t mean they are ok with moving. You can’t dismiss all the valid points on wanting to keep Wootton on Wootton parkway

You're being disingenuous. Yes, there are some very expensive homes in Crown, just like there are some very expensive homes in Wootton's current boundaries. Overall, the median income of people that moved into Wootton at Crown from Gaithersburg would be lower than current Wootton's median income. I'm sure you know that.

Right but everyone sometimes has to deal with boundary changes that slightly change their median income, that's just life and doesn't really a meaningful impact on most people/schools most of the time. Wootton people have been talking about how option H boundaries would radically change the nature of Wootton, which mostly only happens when you add hundreds of FARMS kids to a school, so that's what I assumed was happening. Is that not right? If it's just a mild increase in FARMS rates/decrease in average income, who cares?

Holy crap. I just went to look it up myself and option H changes Wootton from 14.0% FARMS to 14.8% FARMS. That is what they are freaking out about? What the heck is wrong with those people?

It's all stereotypes. Different Wootton families have different motivations. i'm personally sympathetic to those who are currenly walkers and would suddenly be miles away from their school. But among those worried about more diversity or more FARMS, it's all stereotypes. Just a visceral reaction to the word Gaithersburg.

Walking zone for hs is two miles.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Crown was not built for Wooton. Otherwise it not fair to Gaithersburg and other area kids.

Wootton is technically Gaithersburg. But, it is cruel to take away crown. They should close Wootton if it’s so unsafe and redistribute the kids to other schools.

You have already made this comment about Wootton being Gaithersburg. Curious do you also think Bethesda is Gaithersburg? I’m just wondering because Wootton is nowhere near Gaithersburg.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Crown was not built for Wooton. Otherwise it not fair to Gaithersburg and other area kids.

Wootton is technically Gaithersburg. But, it is cruel to take away crown. They should close Wootton if it’s so unsafe and redistribute the kids to other schools.

You have already made this comment about Wootton being Gaithersburg. Curious do you also think Bethesda is Gaithersburg? I’m just wondering because Wootton is nowhere near Gaithersburg.

Parts of Wootton are Gaithersburg. North Potomac is a fancy term for Gaithersburg. Same thing for north Bethesda. It’s Rockville.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Crown was not built for Wooton. Otherwise it not fair to Gaithersburg and other area kids.

Wootton is technically Gaithersburg. But, it is cruel to take away crown. They should close Wootton if it’s so unsafe and redistribute the kids to other schools.

You have already made this comment about Wootton being Gaithersburg. Curious do you also think Bethesda is Gaithersburg? I’m just wondering because Wootton is nowhere near Gaithersburg.

Parts of Wootton are Gaithersburg. North Potomac is a fancy term for Gaithersburg. Same thing for north Bethesda. It’s Rockville.

So this is important enough to you to make the comment more than once? Because some of the attendance zone lives in “Gaithersburg”? It’s not even relevant.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So realistically we have 3 totally different clusters being sent to the same high school with H? WHS, GHS and QOHS. Have we ever seen something like that before in MCPS? I know it happens with MS with CJ having kids form both Churchill and Wootton but I don’t think it’s happened with a high school before?

Yes, when Seneca Valley was expanded, students from Clarksburg and Northwest were reassigned there. And it happened when Northwood reopened in 2004. Students from Blair, Kennedy, and Einstein were reassigned there.

[Anonymous]

"They should close Wootton if it’s so unsafe and redistribute the kids to other schools."

No, but they do need to decide what they are doing with Wootton..If Wootton is usable with minor rehabilitation then leave the Wootton cluster there. If it is totally unusable then condemn the building. Moving Wootton out due to safety and moving others in makes no sense. it also makes no sense to leave it empty "in case they need it". The building's issues, especially if there is mold will only get worse . Not that Rockshire and Fallsmead need any more urgency towards this issue, but wow, you had a vacant Giant shopping center for decades, only to replace it with this mess?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So realistically we have 3 totally different clusters being sent to the same high school with H? WHS, GHS and QOHS. Have we ever seen something like that before in MCPS? I know it happens with MS with CJ having kids form both Churchill and Wootton but I don’t think it’s happened with a high school before?

Yes, when Seneca Valley was expanded, students from Clarksburg and Northwest were reassigned there. And it happened when Northwood reopened in 2004. Students from Blair, Kennedy, and Einstein were reassigned there.

Were they reassigned to different elementary and middle schools too? I just don’t understand how you can switch clusters just for HS. It just seems so disruptive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Crown was not built for Wooton. Otherwise it not fair to Gaithersburg and other area kids.

Wootton is technically Gaithersburg. But, it is cruel to take away crown. They should close Wootton if it’s so unsafe and redistribute the kids to other schools.

You have already made this comment about Wootton being Gaithersburg. Curious do you also think Bethesda is Gaithersburg? I’m just wondering because Wootton is nowhere near Gaithersburg.

Parts of Wootton are Gaithersburg. North Potomac is a fancy term for Gaithersburg. Same thing for north Bethesda. It’s Rockville.

So this is important enough to you to make the comment more than once? Because some of the attendance zone lives in “Gaithersburg”? It’s not even relevant.

It is as Wootton parents have an issue with Gaithersburg families.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"They should close Wootton if it’s so unsafe and redistribute the kids to other schools."

No, but they do need to decide what they are doing with Wootton..If Wootton is usable with minor rehabilitation then leave the Wootton cluster there. If it is totally unusable then condemn the building. Moving Wootton out due to safety and moving others in makes no sense. it also makes no sense to leave it empty "in case they need it". The building's issues, especially if there is mold will only get worse . Not that Rockshire and Fallsmead need any more urgency towards this issue, but wow, you had a vacant Giant shopping center for decades, only to replace it with this mess?

Many schools have mold. Mcps is not saying it’s unsafe, parents are. Big difference.