Initial boundary options for Woodward study area are up

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How about Option 4 but send all of Viers Mill elementary to WJ and all of Garrett Park Elementary to Woodward (instead of that portion going to WJ)? Seems like that would mitigate the overcrowding at Wheaton with oversubscribing WJ and also makes the FARMs levels a little more comparable between WJ and Woodward. All without bussing kids long distances.

I'm very ok with this.

BOE won't be because it's only a tiny sliver of GP Elementary for the entire scope of VM Elementary.

I took a look at capacity. Actually it works. WJ is only 77% in option 4 so lots of empty spots to do this swap.

I don't have any dog in this fight. I live in RM cluster and went though boundary change for new ES. People get into heated discussions and many useless discussions are taking place in this thread itself, but 2-3 good ideas can make WJ and Woodward close in FARMS. BOE should also leave extra empty seats in Woodward and WJ otherwise you will get a simialr sitaution like what we see in new elemantry school in RM cluster( Bayard Rustin). Just after few years portables are here and other schools near by have empty seats. I personally met and raised this possibility due to heavy construciton in this area but BOE wrongly went with long term planing projecitons. Thos projecitons are good for areas not changing much otherwise they underproject areas going through big changes.

I think modifying option 4 to balance FARMS in Woodward and WJ is a great option It should leave empty seats in both. Let's have 2 well balanced clusters within MCPS with 10-15% empty seats for future growth in this high growth area. Much better than creating 40% FARMS in Woodward and then making WJ another Whitman.

- A concerned RM cluster parent

I’m also in a different cluster (Einstein under all options) so no dog in this fight but it seems reasonable in terms of capacity. Would encourage folks to raise at meetings.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How about Option 4 but send all of Viers Mill elementary to WJ and all of Garrett Park Elementary to Woodward (instead of that portion going to WJ)? Seems like that would mitigate the overcrowding at Wheaton with oversubscribing WJ and also makes the FARMs levels a little more comparable between WJ and Woodward. All without bussing kids long distances.

I'm very ok with this.

BOE won't be because it's only a tiny sliver of GP Elementary for the entire scope of VM Elementary.

I took a look at capacity. Actually it works. WJ is only 77% in option 4 so lots of empty spots to do this swap.

I don't have any dog in this fight. I live in RM cluster and went though boundary change for new ES. People get into heated discussions and many useless discussions are taking place in this thread itself, but 2-3 good ideas can make WJ and Woodward close in FARMS. BOE should also leave extra empty seats in Woodward and WJ otherwise you will get a simialr sitaution like what we see in new elemantry school in RM cluster( Bayard Rustin). Just after few years portables are here and other schools near by have empty seats. I personally met and raised this possibility due to heavy construciton in this area but BOE wrongly went with long term planing projecitons. Thos projecitons are good for areas not changing much otherwise they underproject areas going through big changes.

I think modifying option 4 to balance FARMS in Woodward and WJ is a great option It should leave empty seats in both. Let's have 2 well balanced clusters within MCPS with 10-15% empty seats for future growth in this high growth area. Much better than creating 40% FARMS in Woodward and then making WJ another Whitman.

- A concerned RM cluster parent

The problem with leaving 10-15% empty seats at Woodward and WJ is that those kids need to go somewhere. They are either already here or in the middle school pipeline. So while you leave WJ and Woodward some room to breathe, you leave Blair and Wheaton at 115% capacity and growing.

But wouldn’t the proposed solution mitigate crowding at Wheaton since you’d be pulling VM elementary from that cluster? (Doesn’t solve Blair but…)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It sucks a little bit, but if I lived in Woodward I would just sell now and move down the street to WJ.

Prices might not go down in Woodward but I think appreciation there will lag WJ by a lot going forward.

Woodward will probably have a highly valued regional program that draws from throughout the regional cachement in the newly configured MCPS regions. Do you think the school district would build a $220 million high school on the west side and not ensure that it is academically successful?

The mantra will change from "Bethesda has the best schools!" to "you need to be cautious about where in Bethesda you're buying a house" and "you have to target specific districts in Bethesda," the same as it has been for Rockville, Gaithersburg, and Silver Spring. Looking at Woodward, "North Bethesda" might as well rename itself back to "Rockville" at this point, because nobody is going to be fooled anymore.

Yah, agree with this. Woodward is one way or another( even after improvement of options) will be weaker than current WJ and future WJ.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They should redistrict Whitman students to Woodward instead of WJ to help balance FARMS between WJ and Woodward.

It could be done because bus rides won't increase by more than 3-4 minutes. I am comparing adding some Whitman to Woodward instea of WJ. Many intesting ways to balance FARMS between Woodward and WJ.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Will Woodward offer Spanish Immersion with their arts magnet? At least our kids will learn Spanish when they learn skills to line up outside home depot with their peers

I hope MCPS does not put art magnet and spanish immersion in Woodward. If FARMS rate is already going to be 40% then putting these programs will result in small population for kids interested in STEM. Then you will start facing issue with lack of high level math coursesin Woodward.

- RM parent

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How about Option 4 but send all of Viers Mill elementary to WJ and all of Garrett Park Elementary to Woodward (instead of that portion going to WJ)? Seems like that would mitigate the overcrowding at Wheaton with oversubscribing WJ and also makes the FARMs levels a little more comparable between WJ and Woodward. All without bussing kids long distances.

A good idea. One problem we may encounter with this - Number of kids in entire school of viers Mill is not going to be close to small area of Garrett Park. I don't know exact numbers but they will be quite far in my opinion.

Actully, I took a look ayt option 4 capacity utilization. WJ is only 77% in option 4 and Woodward is 94%. So swapping small portion of Garrett Park with entire Viers MIll will bring both scools in 85-90% range and leave room for futuere kids due to so many new housing coming in the area.

This solution won't create much of travel time as well and no walker is forced to take a bus. Viersm Mills students will be taking bus already and WJ is only couple of minutes away from Woodward.

This will create two well balanced schools.

PP here - yes that was the idea. If folks are interested in bringing these ideas to the meetings could help!

I will suggest having a meeting within Tilden community and then have 2-3 people meet BOE members. That's what worked during RM elementary school 5 boundary discussions. You can have short but meanigful conversation. You can also get all Tolden HOA and everyone behind this idea by getting a good petition and signatures before you approach. That way BOE knows that it's a vetted idea. Based on everythnig, this is a good solution. I would like to see two well balanced MCPS school as neighbor. I hope Whitman can get at least 5% extra FARMS if possible wihtout too much busing.

- RM Parent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How about Option 4 but send all of Viers Mill elementary to WJ and all of Garrett Park Elementary to Woodward (instead of that portion going to WJ)? Seems like that would mitigate the overcrowding at Wheaton with oversubscribing WJ and also makes the FARMs levels a little more comparable between WJ and Woodward. All without bussing kids long distances.

I'm very ok with this.

BOE won't be because it's only a tiny sliver of GP Elementary for the entire scope of VM Elementary.

I took a look at capacity. Actually it works. WJ is only 77% in option 4 so lots of empty spots to do this swap.

I don't have any dog in this fight. I live in RM cluster and went though boundary change for new ES. People get into heated discussions and many useless discussions are taking place in this thread itself, but 2-3 good ideas can make WJ and Woodward close in FARMS. BOE should also leave extra empty seats in Woodward and WJ otherwise you will get a simialr sitaution like what we see in new elemantry school in RM cluster( Bayard Rustin). Just after few years portables are here and other schools near by have empty seats. I personally met and raised this possibility due to heavy construciton in this area but BOE wrongly went with long term planing projecitons. Thos projecitons are good for areas not changing much otherwise they underproject areas going through big changes.

I think modifying option 4 to balance FARMS in Woodward and WJ is a great option It should leave empty seats in both. Let's have 2 well balanced clusters within MCPS with 10-15% empty seats for future growth in this high growth area. Much better than creating 40% FARMS in Woodward and then making WJ another Whitman.

- A concerned RM cluster parent

The problem with leaving 10-15% empty seats at Woodward and WJ is that those kids need to go somewhere. They are either already here or in the middle school pipeline. So while you leave WJ and Woodward some room to breathe, you leave Blair and Wheaton at 115% capacity and growing.

In that case, some portion of Blair and Wheaton can be shifted. With so many split articulations and zones, it shouldn't be hard to move them. MOve some to BCC,WJ, Woodward. I don't like to see empty spots anywhere if there is overcrowding in other schools, but long term planning projections used by MCPS is faulty. It undershoots all growing areas. It only works ofr places like deep potomac wth very little change, but then you don't need any planning or projections to see that.

- RM Parent

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How about Option 4 but send all of Viers Mill elementary to WJ and all of Garrett Park Elementary to Woodward (instead of that portion going to WJ)? Seems like that would mitigate the overcrowding at Wheaton with oversubscribing WJ and also makes the FARMs levels a little more comparable between WJ and Woodward. All without bussing kids long distances.

A good idea. One problem we may encounter with this - Number of kids in entire school of viers Mill is not going to be close to small area of Garrett Park. I don't know exact numbers but they will be quite far in my opinion.

Actully, I took a look ayt option 4 capacity utilization. WJ is only 77% in option 4 and Woodward is 94%. So swapping small portion of Garrett Park with entire Viers MIll will bring both scools in 85-90% range and leave room for futuere kids due to so many new housing coming in the area.

This solution won't create much of travel time as well and no walker is forced to take a bus. Viersm Mills students will be taking bus already and WJ is only couple of minutes away from Woodward.

This will create two well balanced schools.

Someone needs to write this up and submit it to BOE ....or higher a lobbyist.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How about Option 4 but send all of Viers Mill elementary to WJ and all of Garrett Park Elementary to Woodward (instead of that portion going to WJ)? Seems like that would mitigate the overcrowding at Wheaton with oversubscribing WJ and also makes the FARMs levels a little more comparable between WJ and Woodward. All without bussing kids long distances.

A good idea. One problem we may encounter with this - Number of kids in entire school of viers Mill is not going to be close to small area of Garrett Park. I don't know exact numbers but they will be quite far in my opinion.

Actully, I took a look ayt option 4 capacity utilization. WJ is only 77% in option 4 and Woodward is 94%. So swapping small portion of Garrett Park with entire Viers MIll will bring both scools in 85-90% range and leave room for futuere kids due to so many new housing coming in the area.

This solution won't create much of travel time as well and no walker is forced to take a bus. Viersm Mills students will be taking bus already and WJ is only couple of minutes away from Woodward.

This will create two well balanced schools.

It is the South side of Garrett Park (South of Strathmore) including the nearby Parkside apartments and townhomes? Or just the town?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How about Option 4 but send all of Viers Mill elementary to WJ and all of Garrett Park Elementary to Woodward (instead of that portion going to WJ)? Seems like that would mitigate the overcrowding at Wheaton with oversubscribing WJ and also makes the FARMs levels a little more comparable between WJ and Woodward. All without bussing kids long distances.

A good idea. One problem we may encounter with this - Number of kids in entire school of viers Mill is not going to be close to small area of Garrett Park. I don't know exact numbers but they will be quite far in my opinion.

Actully, I took a look ayt option 4 capacity utilization. WJ is only 77% in option 4 and Woodward is 94%. So swapping small portion of Garrett Park with entire Viers MIll will bring both scools in 85-90% range and leave room for futuere kids due to so many new housing coming in the area.

This solution won't create much of travel time as well and no walker is forced to take a bus. Viersm Mills students will be taking bus already and WJ is only couple of minutes away from Woodward.

This will create two well balanced schools.

Someone needs to write this up and submit it to BOE ....or higher a lobbyist.

Wite up
Get all HOA behind it with signature
Arrange a meeting with different BOE members

That way BOE can see a better option which is already liked by community. Just saying this based on our previous experience. It;'s not guranteed to work without lots of Tilden community members writing this and even then it's not sure to work. But I don't see a downside of this idea and only see an upside. Unless I am missing something, this idea can work.

- RM Parent

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How about Option 4 but send all of Viers Mill elementary to WJ and all of Garrett Park Elementary to Woodward (instead of that portion going to WJ)? Seems like that would mitigate the overcrowding at Wheaton with oversubscribing WJ and also makes the FARMs levels a little more comparable between WJ and Woodward. All without bussing kids long distances.

A good idea. One problem we may encounter with this - Number of kids in entire school of viers Mill is not going to be close to small area of Garrett Park. I don't know exact numbers but they will be quite far in my opinion.

Actully, I took a look ayt option 4 capacity utilization. WJ is only 77% in option 4 and Woodward is 94%. So swapping small portion of Garrett Park with entire Viers MIll will bring both scools in 85-90% range and leave room for futuere kids due to so many new housing coming in the area.

This solution won't create much of travel time as well and no walker is forced to take a bus. Viersm Mills students will be taking bus already and WJ is only couple of minutes away from Woodward.

This will create two well balanced schools.

It is the South side of Garrett Park (South of Strathmore) including the nearby Parkside apartments and townhomes? Or just the town?

If you take option 4 map then it shows an area of Garrett park going to WJ. That area can go to Woodward. it will also support argument about trying to keep split articualtion to minimum unless it's needed. Entire Viers mill going to WJ means no split articulation for that ES as well.

In map, it's South of Strathmore. Area is solit into two zones. ONe is going to WJ and one is going to Woodward in option 4. Both can go to Woodward to keep the community together.

- RM parent

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Will Woodward offer Spanish Immersion with their arts magnet? At least our kids will learn Spanish when they learn skills to line up outside home depot with their peers

I hope MCPS does not put art magnet and spanish immersion in Woodward. If FARMS rate is already going to be 40% then putting these programs will result in small population for kids interested in STEM. Then you will start facing issue with lack of high level math coursesin Woodward.

- RM parent

Isn’t this going to be the idea behind the new regional model they are going to be rolling out, schools with specialties in the broader region? I do feel like we only know half the story until we see how that maps out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Will Woodward offer Spanish Immersion with their arts magnet? At least our kids will learn Spanish when they learn skills to line up outside home depot with their peers

I hope MCPS does not put art magnet and spanish immersion in Woodward. If FARMS rate is already going to be 40% then putting these programs will result in small population for kids interested in STEM. Then you will start facing issue with lack of high level math coursesin Woodward.

- RM parent

Isn’t this going to be the idea behind the new regional model they are going to be rolling out, schools with specialties in the broader region? I do feel like we only know half the story until we see how that maps out.

All ideas can be and should be explored, but if you have a situation where very few kids are interested in taking higher level math courses then you are not going have that option in HS. Put a art program in places like Whitman, Churchill etc. It does not have high FARMS it won't impact too much to not leave enough kids for higher level math. ONe of the problem in many DCC schools are not offering higher level math due to not enoujgh students being intertested in it. You don't want Woodward to face simiar situation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Will Woodward offer Spanish Immersion with their arts magnet? At least our kids will learn Spanish when they learn skills to line up outside home depot with their peers

I hope MCPS does not put art magnet and spanish immersion in Woodward. If FARMS rate is already going to be 40% then putting these programs will result in small population for kids interested in STEM. Then you will start facing issue with lack of high level math coursesin Woodward.

- RM parent

Isn’t this going to be the idea behind the new regional model they are going to be rolling out, schools with specialties in the broader region? I do feel like we only know half the story until we see how that maps out.

All ideas can be and should be explored, but if you have a situation where very few kids are interested in taking higher level math courses then you are not going have that option in HS. Put a art program in places like Whitman, Churchill etc. It does not have high FARMS it won't impact too much to not leave enough kids for higher level math. ONe of the problem in many DCC schools are not offering higher level math due to not enoujgh students being intertested in it. You don't want Woodward to face simiar situation.

Kids are interested but discouraged from doing anything more than ab. We had to really push to get our kids into bc.

[Anonymous]

RM parent solved the stated problems on this thread. Modify option 4 to keep all of Garrett Park with Woodward, Send Viers Mill Elementary to WJ (it's connected to WJ zone in that option already near KenGar). Balance out DCC schools to alleviate overcrowding at the 1 school.

How do we successfully get it implemented