My gut feeling on 3/26 BOE vote

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The irony is that BOE is actually MUCH more torn and concerned about the Woodward study than the Crown one. That one has real issues with community engagement and equity--this one only has louder voices. How do I know? You'll see on Thursday.

I blame MCPS and their consulting firm for how their surveys. In addition to low participation in the DCC, nobody collected data about what ES you’re zoned for. Someone could also lie or be confused. For example, I live in the DCC and can’t remember which cluster I registered for in the survey. My kid doesn’t go to their home school, but still within the DCC.

Also, whose voices are we trying to cater to? Families that will have to deal with the transition in boundaries/programs in secondary schools in 2027-2032? Families of rising kindergarteners still on the fend about their home school versus an immersion school? Tax payers that can’t afford tax hikes? The families that will be in MCPS in 10 years?

These boundaries will likely stay in place for decades. I don’t think individuals with current students should be the ONLY voice we hear. Taylor has done his due diligence with balancing enrollment. SOMEBODY has to leave Wheaton because it’s so crowded. Whether you move schools to Woodward or Rockville, it will be unexpected.

In hindsight, it would have been nice for Taylor to meet with every elementary PTA in each of his recommended changes but his schedule doesn’t match working parents and many PTA presidents are MCPS employees who fear retaliation/conflict of interest.

At this point, the BOE and MCPS should focus their effort and time on HOW this transition will happen. Lots of logistics that seem like they could go wrong. How can we make it smoother and less expensive? What’s the plan for communities that have chosen to segregate from each other who will now be together?

These are wise words. I endorse all of this.

It is extremely hard to get the general parent population to pay attention to anything until it is close and real - ie, the Superintendent’s actual recommendation.

The majority of the A-G proposals had Wheaton Woods staying at Wheaton, but 2 of them had WW moving to Woodward. On the one hand it’s reasonable even for people who are paying attention to think that a 2/7 scenario is not likely to be the chosen option. But it was clearly on the table.

People have a lot going on and if something seems far away or their focus is on more immediate concerns, it’s hard to get that feedback early in the process. This was a LONG process for people who were involved and paying attention the whole time. But there are also a lot of people who are not going to pay attention until the very end no matter how long you make the process.

By the time the Super got down to one recommended option, he and MCPS had a lot invested in that one option. And at least some BOE members were very involved in the development of that option, at least for Woodward.

The biggest complaint is that Option H seemed to come out of the blue. Looking backwards, the chronology of events would indicate that MCPS considered (and was planning for) moving Wootton to Crown in mid-2024 - it just didn’t tell anyone that was a possibility until December 2025.

There were apparently emails sent to MCPS staff to prepare for a move to Crown - before Option H was released. Even if this was a contingency, and not a pre-determined outcome for Option H, it still demonstrates MCPS knew it was a possibility.

Honestly, even if your conspiracy theory is totally correct that MCPS discussed moving Wootton to Crown before the boundary study or before option H, so what? How is that relevant to anything? It's almost as if people think that MCPS was not allowed to do its job on a daily basis and had to remain silent about anything related to boundaries except for public meetings and in public docs?! Do people really believe this? Do they think that MCPS doing their jobs to consider how to handle enrollment projections and renovation demands is unlawful? Because they didn't talk to Wootton first? Or consider their corrupted survey results as votes? I mean....this is bonkers stuff. People really need to learn the fundamentals of government. MCPS has a deliberative process disclosure exemption like every other government body for a reason - because the government is supposed to be able to do its job discussing various scenarios free from the chilling effects of having every discussion disclosed. All of this "predetermined" talk is ludicrous - do you think BOE members would be responsible if they had zero idea how they are going to vote until the minute the vote comes up? Are they not allowed to form opinions based on gathering information and having discussions?

No one cares that MCPS had internal discussions—that’s not the issue.

The issue is whether a major decision like losing and relocating a high school was already in motion before the public was told. If it was, then the “public process” wasn’t really a process—it was a rollout.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The irony is that BOE is actually MUCH more torn and concerned about the Woodward study than the Crown one. That one has real issues with community engagement and equity--this one only has louder voices. How do I know? You'll see on Thursday.

I blame MCPS and their consulting firm for how their surveys. In addition to low participation in the DCC, nobody collected data about what ES you’re zoned for. Someone could also lie or be confused. For example, I live in the DCC and can’t remember which cluster I registered for in the survey. My kid doesn’t go to their home school, but still within the DCC.

Also, whose voices are we trying to cater to? Families that will have to deal with the transition in boundaries/programs in secondary schools in 2027-2032? Families of rising kindergarteners still on the fend about their home school versus an immersion school? Tax payers that can’t afford tax hikes? The families that will be in MCPS in 10 years?

These boundaries will likely stay in place for decades. I don’t think individuals with current students should be the ONLY voice we hear. Taylor has done his due diligence with balancing enrollment. SOMEBODY has to leave Wheaton because it’s so crowded. Whether you move schools to Woodward or Rockville, it will be unexpected.

In hindsight, it would have been nice for Taylor to meet with every elementary PTA in each of his recommended changes but his schedule doesn’t match working parents and many PTA presidents are MCPS employees who fear retaliation/conflict of interest.

At this point, the BOE and MCPS should focus their effort and time on HOW this transition will happen. Lots of logistics that seem like they could go wrong. How can we make it smoother and less expensive? What’s the plan for communities that have chosen to segregate from each other who will now be together?

These are wise words. I endorse all of this.

It is extremely hard to get the general parent population to pay attention to anything until it is close and real - ie, the Superintendent’s actual recommendation.

The majority of the A-G proposals had Wheaton Woods staying at Wheaton, but 2 of them had WW moving to Woodward. On the one hand it’s reasonable even for people who are paying attention to think that a 2/7 scenario is not likely to be the chosen option. But it was clearly on the table.

People have a lot going on and if something seems far away or their focus is on more immediate concerns, it’s hard to get that feedback early in the process. This was a LONG process for people who were involved and paying attention the whole time. But there are also a lot of people who are not going to pay attention until the very end no matter how long you make the process.

By the time the Super got down to one recommended option, he and MCPS had a lot invested in that one option. And at least some BOE members were very involved in the development of that option, at least for Woodward.

The biggest complaint is that Option H seemed to come out of the blue. Looking backwards, the chronology of events would indicate that MCPS considered (and was planning for) moving Wootton to Crown in mid-2024 - it just didn’t tell anyone that was a possibility until December 2025.

There were apparently emails sent to MCPS staff to prepare for a move to Crown - before Option H was released. Even if this was a contingency, and not a pre-determined outcome for Option H, it still demonstrates MCPS knew it was a possibility.

Honestly, even if your conspiracy theory is totally correct that MCPS discussed moving Wootton to Crown before the boundary study or before option H, so what? How is that relevant to anything? It's almost as if people think that MCPS was not allowed to do its job on a daily basis and had to remain silent about anything related to boundaries except for public meetings and in public docs?! Do people really believe this? Do they think that MCPS doing their jobs to consider how to handle enrollment projections and renovation demands is unlawful? Because they didn't talk to Wootton first? Or consider their corrupted survey results as votes? I mean....this is bonkers stuff. People really need to learn the fundamentals of government. MCPS has a deliberative process disclosure exemption like every other government body for a reason - because the government is supposed to be able to do its job discussing various scenarios free from the chilling effects of having every discussion disclosed. All of this "predetermined" talk is ludicrous - do you think BOE members would be responsible if they had zero idea how they are going to vote until the minute the vote comes up? Are they not allowed to form opinions based on gathering information and having discussions?

It would mean they spent millions on a boundary study knowing the way would throw it away, for one thing

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It makes sense to do these boundary studies with an eye towards the next one and the overall system goals for efficiency and utilization. The prior Superintendent (or really I think it was Jack Smith but maybe it was McKnight) decided to leave the ES boundaries out of the scope of these boundary studies. But because they left them out, MCPS is forced to plan for that study without saying any decisions have been made. Same with the closures. They don’t want the future closures to require changing HS boundaries right after changing them in these studies. So of course they are planning for them, but there are barriers to transparency because it’s not supposed to be part of this process. It’s a cluster, but one Taylor mostly inherited because of the limitations on the scope of Crown and Woodward (which was already decided when he came in) and the inability to delay Woodward and Crown openings and the fact that he didn’t get to do the longer term planning.

This is true.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Without question, it will all pass and all the BOE members will vote for it.

It will pass, but you might get a few BOE members who are nominated to perform and cast a no vote to make the public believe their petitions and protests made a difference.

If they cast unanimous votes it’ll validate the rubber stamping criticism they insist is not reality.

You seem to think there is a wide-ranging conspiracy that involves the superintendent and the entire BOE to do...what exactly? What is their motivation to conspire together and make this choice if it is not the one they think is best for the whole county?

It’s not a conspiracy theory if it turns out to be true. Then again, MCPS will say “oh well, too late now.”

The chronology of events and other evidence appear to show that the decision was made before community engagement.

You are convinced they’re right, so you have a clear bias. I guess the ends justify the means in your mind - laws and regulations don’t matter, and apparently the views of those most affected don’t either.

Sounds rather authoritarian.

None of this tracks, or answers the question.

Why would all of these people collude to do something “wrong.” What is the motivation?

MCPS had a $300M+ parcel with a 20-year deadline and no comparable land available—but not the data to justify a new high school. Now, instead of rethinking that decision, they’re proposing to close a 55-year-old school to make Crown work. That’s not planning—that’s backfilling a decision that was already made.

PP here. So they are trying to make the best decision today, given poor decisions in the past?

I'm OK with that. That is not a conspiracy or wrongdoing.

I'm not making the argument that H is the objectively best option (though I do think it likely is). I'm trying to get at the view that there is conspiracy/collusion, rather than a difference of opinion...

So you’re okay with what MCPS did in the past, and you’re okay with all of MCPS’ failures in pushing Option H.

I guess you’re okay with what the guy in the White House is doing - he thinks it’s the right thing to do as well.

Fortunately, courts don’t look at things that way.

Your TDS is irrelevant. He has nothing to do with MCPS lol

[Anonymous]

I understand all positions, but it’s a done deal. The approval document is posted in the agenda. I am just glad the maps are reasonably geographic, with the exception of Darnestown heading to Kingsview and Poolesville. That is a real headscratcher.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The irony is that BOE is actually MUCH more torn and concerned about the Woodward study than the Crown one. That one has real issues with community engagement and equity--this one only has louder voices. How do I know? You'll see on Thursday.

I blame MCPS and their consulting firm for how their surveys. In addition to low participation in the DCC, nobody collected data about what ES you’re zoned for. Someone could also lie or be confused. For example, I live in the DCC and can’t remember which cluster I registered for in the survey. My kid doesn’t go to their home school, but still within the DCC.

Also, whose voices are we trying to cater to? Families that will have to deal with the transition in boundaries/programs in secondary schools in 2027-2032? Families of rising kindergarteners still on the fend about their home school versus an immersion school? Tax payers that can’t afford tax hikes? The families that will be in MCPS in 10 years?

These boundaries will likely stay in place for decades. I don’t think individuals with current students should be the ONLY voice we hear. Taylor has done his due diligence with balancing enrollment. SOMEBODY has to leave Wheaton because it’s so crowded. Whether you move schools to Woodward or Rockville, it will be unexpected.

In hindsight, it would have been nice for Taylor to meet with every elementary PTA in each of his recommended changes but his schedule doesn’t match working parents and many PTA presidents are MCPS employees who fear retaliation/conflict of interest.

At this point, the BOE and MCPS should focus their effort and time on HOW this transition will happen. Lots of logistics that seem like they could go wrong. How can we make it smoother and less expensive? What’s the plan for communities that have chosen to segregate from each other who will now be together?

These are wise words. I endorse all of this.

It is extremely hard to get the general parent population to pay attention to anything until it is close and real - ie, the Superintendent’s actual recommendation.

The majority of the A-G proposals had Wheaton Woods staying at Wheaton, but 2 of them had WW moving to Woodward. On the one hand it’s reasonable even for people who are paying attention to think that a 2/7 scenario is not likely to be the chosen option. But it was clearly on the table.

People have a lot going on and if something seems far away or their focus is on more immediate concerns, it’s hard to get that feedback early in the process. This was a LONG process for people who were involved and paying attention the whole time. But there are also a lot of people who are not going to pay attention until the very end no matter how long you make the process.

By the time the Super got down to one recommended option, he and MCPS had a lot invested in that one option. And at least some BOE members were very involved in the development of that option, at least for Woodward.

The biggest complaint is that Option H seemed to come out of the blue. Looking backwards, the chronology of events would indicate that MCPS considered (and was planning for) moving Wootton to Crown in mid-2024 - it just didn’t tell anyone that was a possibility until December 2025.

There were apparently emails sent to MCPS staff to prepare for a move to Crown - before Option H was released. Even if this was a contingency, and not a pre-determined outcome for Option H, it still demonstrates MCPS knew it was a possibility.

Honestly, even if your conspiracy theory is totally correct that MCPS discussed moving Wootton to Crown before the boundary study or before option H, so what? How is that relevant to anything? It's almost as if people think that MCPS was not allowed to do its job on a daily basis and had to remain silent about anything related to boundaries except for public meetings and in public docs?! Do people really believe this? Do they think that MCPS doing their jobs to consider how to handle enrollment projections and renovation demands is unlawful? Because they didn't talk to Wootton first? Or consider their corrupted survey results as votes? I mean....this is bonkers stuff. People really need to learn the fundamentals of government. MCPS has a deliberative process disclosure exemption like every other government body for a reason - because the government is supposed to be able to do its job discussing various scenarios free from the chilling effects of having every discussion disclosed. All of this "predetermined" talk is ludicrous - do you think BOE members would be responsible if they had zero idea how they are going to vote until the minute the vote comes up? Are they not allowed to form opinions based on gathering information and having discussions?

It would mean they spent millions on a boundary study knowing the way would throw it away, for one thing

No it doesn’t. The boundary study had twelve options over one year - that in and of itself demonstrates that the process was evolving over time based on the input from the community. A predetermined outcome would involve one round of options. The Recommendation explains in detail how the process informed the decision.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:SIAP but can someone please post the latest proposal for redistricting (impacted ESs/MSs/HSs)? My head is dizzy keeping up with these options.

There are currently 2 boundary studies going on. We're at the very last step, the Superintendent has submitted his recommendations, the BOE / Superintendent have held multiple public meetings, and the BOE will be voting this Thursday on whether to approve or not.

Additionally, the Regional Programs was also recommended by the Superintendent, which would dissolve the high school consortiums and set up regional programs.

The easiest way to see how you're affected is to click on the interactive map and punch in your address and it should show you what your current MS / HS is and what it will be under the superintendent's recommendation

Woodward opening:
https://sites.google.com/mcpsmd.net/superintendentrecwoodwardnorth?usp=sharing

High schools affected:
Bethesda Chevy-Chase
Montgomery Blair
Albert Einstein
Walter Johnson
John F. Kennedy
Northwood
Wheaton
Walt Whitman

Crown / Wootton + Damascus expansion:
https://sites.google.com/mcpsmd.net/superintendentreccrowndamascus?usp=sharing

High schools affected:
Winston Churchill
Clarksburg
Damascus
Gaithersburg
Richard Montgomery
Northwest
Poolesville
Quince Orchard
Seneca Valley
Watkins Mill
Thomas S. Wootton

Full presentation: https://go.boarddocs.com/mabe/mcpsmd/Board.nsf/files/DQZPAX63BCF7/$file/Rec%20Secondary%20Prog%20Analysis%20Boundary%20Studies%20260205%20PPT.pdf

Thrilled that my neighborhood is now connected with Poolesville (instead of NWHS).

As a former Darnestown resident, it is sad the school gets screwed once again. Quince Orchard is a mile from my parents house and I was shipped off to Northwest as a 15 year old instead. Poolesville is even much farther than Northwest.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It makes sense to do these boundary studies with an eye towards the next one and the overall system goals for efficiency and utilization. The prior Superintendent (or really I think it was Jack Smith but maybe it was McKnight) decided to leave the ES boundaries out of the scope of these boundary studies. But because they left them out, MCPS is forced to plan for that study without saying any decisions have been made. Same with the closures. They don’t want the future closures to require changing HS boundaries right after changing them in these studies. So of course they are planning for them, but there are barriers to transparency because it’s not supposed to be part of this process. It’s a cluster, but one Taylor mostly inherited because of the limitations on the scope of Crown and Woodward (which was already decided when he came in) and the inability to delay Woodward and Crown openings and the fact that he didn’t get to do the longer term planning.

This is true.

This is false.
Saying this is true violates both MCPS policy FAA (boundary factors) and ABA (community engagement). The 4 middle schools didn’t have similar utilization in any option 1-4, A-H in 2025. Similar issue in Wheaton and any other MS, ES schools that had no notice until Feb 2026 with superintendent recommendation. MCPS can’t skip all “community engagement” at the Middle school level, and for ES communities, and use a justification of blaming a previous Superintendent that is silent on “make closure decisions while winking.”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The irony is that BOE is actually MUCH more torn and concerned about the Woodward study than the Crown one. That one has real issues with community engagement and equity--this one only has louder voices. How do I know? You'll see on Thursday.

I blame MCPS and their consulting firm for how their surveys. In addition to low participation in the DCC, nobody collected data about what ES you’re zoned for. Someone could also lie or be confused. For example, I live in the DCC and can’t remember which cluster I registered for in the survey. My kid doesn’t go to their home school, but still within the DCC.

Also, whose voices are we trying to cater to? Families that will have to deal with the transition in boundaries/programs in secondary schools in 2027-2032? Families of rising kindergarteners still on the fend about their home school versus an immersion school? Tax payers that can’t afford tax hikes? The families that will be in MCPS in 10 years?

These boundaries will likely stay in place for decades. I don’t think individuals with current students should be the ONLY voice we hear. Taylor has done his due diligence with balancing enrollment. SOMEBODY has to leave Wheaton because it’s so crowded. Whether you move schools to Woodward or Rockville, it will be unexpected.

In hindsight, it would have been nice for Taylor to meet with every elementary PTA in each of his recommended changes but his schedule doesn’t match working parents and many PTA presidents are MCPS employees who fear retaliation/conflict of interest.

At this point, the BOE and MCPS should focus their effort and time on HOW this transition will happen. Lots of logistics that seem like they could go wrong. How can we make it smoother and less expensive? What’s the plan for communities that have chosen to segregate from each other who will now be together?

These are wise words. I endorse all of this.

It is extremely hard to get the general parent population to pay attention to anything until it is close and real - ie, the Superintendent’s actual recommendation.

The majority of the A-G proposals had Wheaton Woods staying at Wheaton, but 2 of them had WW moving to Woodward. On the one hand it’s reasonable even for people who are paying attention to think that a 2/7 scenario is not likely to be the chosen option. But it was clearly on the table.

People have a lot going on and if something seems far away or their focus is on more immediate concerns, it’s hard to get that feedback early in the process. This was a LONG process for people who were involved and paying attention the whole time. But there are also a lot of people who are not going to pay attention until the very end no matter how long you make the process.

By the time the Super got down to one recommended option, he and MCPS had a lot invested in that one option. And at least some BOE members were very involved in the development of that option, at least for Woodward.

The biggest complaint is that Option H seemed to come out of the blue. Looking backwards, the chronology of events would indicate that MCPS considered (and was planning for) moving Wootton to Crown in mid-2024 - it just didn’t tell anyone that was a possibility until December 2025.

There were apparently emails sent to MCPS staff to prepare for a move to Crown - before Option H was released. Even if this was a contingency, and not a pre-determined outcome for Option H, it still demonstrates MCPS knew it was a possibility.

Honestly, even if your conspiracy theory is totally correct that MCPS discussed moving Wootton to Crown before the boundary study or before option H, so what? How is that relevant to anything? It's almost as if people think that MCPS was not allowed to do its job on a daily basis and had to remain silent about anything related to boundaries except for public meetings and in public docs?! Do people really believe this? Do they think that MCPS doing their jobs to consider how to handle enrollment projections and renovation demands is unlawful? Because they didn't talk to Wootton first? Or consider their corrupted survey results as votes? I mean....this is bonkers stuff. People really need to learn the fundamentals of government. MCPS has a deliberative process disclosure exemption like every other government body for a reason - because the government is supposed to be able to do its job discussing various scenarios free from the chilling effects of having every discussion disclosed. All of this "predetermined" talk is ludicrous - do you think BOE members would be responsible if they had zero idea how they are going to vote until the minute the vote comes up? Are they not allowed to form opinions based on gathering information and having discussions?

No one cares that MCPS had internal discussions—that’s not the issue.

The issue is whether a major decision like losing and relocating a high school was already in motion before the public was told. If it was, then the “public process” wasn’t really a process—it was a rollout.

The people alarmed about alleged emails from 2024 certainly seem to think they’re some sort of smoking gun. By definition, Taylor’s decision to move Wootton to Crown had to be “in motion” before releasing it to the public. His job is to make a recommendation based on the public process that occurred. That’s the process. Options. Public input. More options. More input. Even more options. Even more input. Then it’s time to make a decision. Taylor made the decision. Announced it. More public input. Now BOE votes. Taylor wasn’t required to announce another round of options.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The irony is that BOE is actually MUCH more torn and concerned about the Woodward study than the Crown one. That one has real issues with community engagement and equity--this one only has louder voices. How do I know? You'll see on Thursday.

I blame MCPS and their consulting firm for how their surveys. In addition to low participation in the DCC, nobody collected data about what ES you’re zoned for. Someone could also lie or be confused. For example, I live in the DCC and can’t remember which cluster I registered for in the survey. My kid doesn’t go to their home school, but still within the DCC.

Also, whose voices are we trying to cater to? Families that will have to deal with the transition in boundaries/programs in secondary schools in 2027-2032? Families of rising kindergarteners still on the fend about their home school versus an immersion school? Tax payers that can’t afford tax hikes? The families that will be in MCPS in 10 years?

These boundaries will likely stay in place for decades. I don’t think individuals with current students should be the ONLY voice we hear. Taylor has done his due diligence with balancing enrollment. SOMEBODY has to leave Wheaton because it’s so crowded. Whether you move schools to Woodward or Rockville, it will be unexpected.

In hindsight, it would have been nice for Taylor to meet with every elementary PTA in each of his recommended changes but his schedule doesn’t match working parents and many PTA presidents are MCPS employees who fear retaliation/conflict of interest.

At this point, the BOE and MCPS should focus their effort and time on HOW this transition will happen. Lots of logistics that seem like they could go wrong. How can we make it smoother and less expensive? What’s the plan for communities that have chosen to segregate from each other who will now be together?

These are wise words. I endorse all of this.

It is extremely hard to get the general parent population to pay attention to anything until it is close and real - ie, the Superintendent’s actual recommendation.

The majority of the A-G proposals had Wheaton Woods staying at Wheaton, but 2 of them had WW moving to Woodward. On the one hand it’s reasonable even for people who are paying attention to think that a 2/7 scenario is not likely to be the chosen option. But it was clearly on the table.

People have a lot going on and if something seems far away or their focus is on more immediate concerns, it’s hard to get that feedback early in the process. This was a LONG process for people who were involved and paying attention the whole time. But there are also a lot of people who are not going to pay attention until the very end no matter how long you make the process.

By the time the Super got down to one recommended option, he and MCPS had a lot invested in that one option. And at least some BOE members were very involved in the development of that option, at least for Woodward.

The biggest complaint is that Option H seemed to come out of the blue. Looking backwards, the chronology of events would indicate that MCPS considered (and was planning for) moving Wootton to Crown in mid-2024 - it just didn’t tell anyone that was a possibility until December 2025.

There were apparently emails sent to MCPS staff to prepare for a move to Crown - before Option H was released. Even if this was a contingency, and not a pre-determined outcome for Option H, it still demonstrates MCPS knew it was a possibility.

Honestly, even if your conspiracy theory is totally correct that MCPS discussed moving Wootton to Crown before the boundary study or before option H, so what? How is that relevant to anything? It's almost as if people think that MCPS was not allowed to do its job on a daily basis and had to remain silent about anything related to boundaries except for public meetings and in public docs?! Do people really believe this? Do they think that MCPS doing their jobs to consider how to handle enrollment projections and renovation demands is unlawful? Because they didn't talk to Wootton first? Or consider their corrupted survey results as votes? I mean....this is bonkers stuff. People really need to learn the fundamentals of government. MCPS has a deliberative process disclosure exemption like every other government body for a reason - because the government is supposed to be able to do its job discussing various scenarios free from the chilling effects of having every discussion disclosed. All of this "predetermined" talk is ludicrous - do you think BOE members would be responsible if they had zero idea how they are going to vote until the minute the vote comes up? Are they not allowed to form opinions based on gathering information and having discussions?

No one cares that MCPS had internal discussions—that’s not the issue.

The issue is whether a major decision like losing and relocating a high school was already in motion before the public was told. If it was, then the “public process” wasn’t really a process—it was a rollout.

The people alarmed about alleged emails from 2024 certainly seem to think they’re some sort of smoking gun. By definition, Taylor’s decision to move Wootton to Crown had to be “in motion” before releasing it to the public. His job is to make a recommendation based on the public process that occurred. That’s the process. Options. Public input. More options. More input. Even more options. Even more input. Then it’s time to make a decision. Taylor made the decision. Announced it. More public input. Now BOE votes. Taylor wasn’t required to announce another round of options.

DP here.

I am not a Save Wootton person. I pretty much agree with everything you said.

But I do think the problem is less about people not understanding the process and more about how MCPS uses public input in a very political way. They put stuff out, see who screams the loudest and change things to placate them with priority on the richest communities that have the most time to scream. I don't see this as a process that is about trying to truly arrive at the best solution from a public policy perspective or to understand individual community needs and perspectives. It actually does sound to me like Taylor came up with Option H because Wootton successfully advocated for a new building. That's insane. They have a list of schools and what condition they are in. Option H should have been there from the first round. It shouldn't be about which community screams the loudest for a new building. Now Taylor is in bind because he has no money to renovate Wootton or Magruder. Crown can't be a holding school it's not a holding school if the other school isn't being renovated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The irony is that BOE is actually MUCH more torn and concerned about the Woodward study than the Crown one. That one has real issues with community engagement and equity--this one only has louder voices. How do I know? You'll see on Thursday.

I blame MCPS and their consulting firm for how their surveys. In addition to low participation in the DCC, nobody collected data about what ES you’re zoned for. Someone could also lie or be confused. For example, I live in the DCC and can’t remember which cluster I registered for in the survey. My kid doesn’t go to their home school, but still within the DCC.

Also, whose voices are we trying to cater to? Families that will have to deal with the transition in boundaries/programs in secondary schools in 2027-2032? Families of rising kindergarteners still on the fend about their home school versus an immersion school? Tax payers that can’t afford tax hikes? The families that will be in MCPS in 10 years?

These boundaries will likely stay in place for decades. I don’t think individuals with current students should be the ONLY voice we hear. Taylor has done his due diligence with balancing enrollment. SOMEBODY has to leave Wheaton because it’s so crowded. Whether you move schools to Woodward or Rockville, it will be unexpected.

In hindsight, it would have been nice for Taylor to meet with every elementary PTA in each of his recommended changes but his schedule doesn’t match working parents and many PTA presidents are MCPS employees who fear retaliation/conflict of interest.

At this point, the BOE and MCPS should focus their effort and time on HOW this transition will happen. Lots of logistics that seem like they could go wrong. How can we make it smoother and less expensive? What’s the plan for communities that have chosen to segregate from each other who will now be together?

These are wise words. I endorse all of this.

It is extremely hard to get the general parent population to pay attention to anything until it is close and real - ie, the Superintendent’s actual recommendation.

The majority of the A-G proposals had Wheaton Woods staying at Wheaton, but 2 of them had WW moving to Woodward. On the one hand it’s reasonable even for people who are paying attention to think that a 2/7 scenario is not likely to be the chosen option. But it was clearly on the table.

People have a lot going on and if something seems far away or their focus is on more immediate concerns, it’s hard to get that feedback early in the process. This was a LONG process for people who were involved and paying attention the whole time. But there are also a lot of people who are not going to pay attention until the very end no matter how long you make the process.

By the time the Super got down to one recommended option, he and MCPS had a lot invested in that one option. And at least some BOE members were very involved in the development of that option, at least for Woodward.

The biggest complaint is that Option H seemed to come out of the blue. Looking backwards, the chronology of events would indicate that MCPS considered (and was planning for) moving Wootton to Crown in mid-2024 - it just didn’t tell anyone that was a possibility until December 2025.

There were apparently emails sent to MCPS staff to prepare for a move to Crown - before Option H was released. Even if this was a contingency, and not a pre-determined outcome for Option H, it still demonstrates MCPS knew it was a possibility.

Honestly, even if your conspiracy theory is totally correct that MCPS discussed moving Wootton to Crown before the boundary study or before option H, so what? How is that relevant to anything? It's almost as if people think that MCPS was not allowed to do its job on a daily basis and had to remain silent about anything related to boundaries except for public meetings and in public docs?! Do people really believe this? Do they think that MCPS doing their jobs to consider how to handle enrollment projections and renovation demands is unlawful? Because they didn't talk to Wootton first? Or consider their corrupted survey results as votes? I mean....this is bonkers stuff. People really need to learn the fundamentals of government. MCPS has a deliberative process disclosure exemption like every other government body for a reason - because the government is supposed to be able to do its job discussing various scenarios free from the chilling effects of having every discussion disclosed. All of this "predetermined" talk is ludicrous - do you think BOE members would be responsible if they had zero idea how they are going to vote until the minute the vote comes up? Are they not allowed to form opinions based on gathering information and having discussions?

No one cares that MCPS had internal discussions—that’s not the issue.

The issue is whether a major decision like losing and relocating a high school was already in motion before the public was told. If it was, then the “public process” wasn’t really a process—it was a rollout.

The people alarmed about alleged emails from 2024 certainly seem to think they’re some sort of smoking gun. By definition, Taylor’s decision to move Wootton to Crown had to be “in motion” before releasing it to the public. His job is to make a recommendation based on the public process that occurred. That’s the process. Options. Public input. More options. More input. Even more options. Even more input. Then it’s time to make a decision. Taylor made the decision. Announced it. More public input. Now BOE votes. Taylor wasn’t required to announce another round of options.

DP here.

I am not a Save Wootton person. I pretty much agree with everything you said.

But I do think the problem is less about people not understanding the process and more about how MCPS uses public input in a very political way. They put stuff out, see who screams the loudest and change things to placate them with priority on the richest communities that have the most time to scream. I don't see this as a process that is about trying to truly arrive at the best solution from a public policy perspective or to understand individual community needs and perspectives. It actually does sound to me like Taylor came up with Option H because Wootton successfully advocated for a new building. That's insane. They have a list of schools and what condition they are in. Option H should have been there from the first round. It shouldn't be about which community screams the loudest for a new building. Now Taylor is in bind because he has no money to renovate Wootton or Magruder. Crown can't be a holding school it's not a holding school if the other school isn't being renovated.

Taylor has $70M. No worries on cash.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The irony is that BOE is actually MUCH more torn and concerned about the Woodward study than the Crown one. That one has real issues with community engagement and equity--this one only has louder voices. How do I know? You'll see on Thursday.

I blame MCPS and their consulting firm for how their surveys. In addition to low participation in the DCC, nobody collected data about what ES you’re zoned for. Someone could also lie or be confused. For example, I live in the DCC and can’t remember which cluster I registered for in the survey. My kid doesn’t go to their home school, but still within the DCC.

Also, whose voices are we trying to cater to? Families that will have to deal with the transition in boundaries/programs in secondary schools in 2027-2032? Families of rising kindergarteners still on the fend about their home school versus an immersion school? Tax payers that can’t afford tax hikes? The families that will be in MCPS in 10 years?

These boundaries will likely stay in place for decades. I don’t think individuals with current students should be the ONLY voice we hear. Taylor has done his due diligence with balancing enrollment. SOMEBODY has to leave Wheaton because it’s so crowded. Whether you move schools to Woodward or Rockville, it will be unexpected.

In hindsight, it would have been nice for Taylor to meet with every elementary PTA in each of his recommended changes but his schedule doesn’t match working parents and many PTA presidents are MCPS employees who fear retaliation/conflict of interest.

At this point, the BOE and MCPS should focus their effort and time on HOW this transition will happen. Lots of logistics that seem like they could go wrong. How can we make it smoother and less expensive? What’s the plan for communities that have chosen to segregate from each other who will now be together?

These are wise words. I endorse all of this.

It is extremely hard to get the general parent population to pay attention to anything until it is close and real - ie, the Superintendent’s actual recommendation.

The majority of the A-G proposals had Wheaton Woods staying at Wheaton, but 2 of them had WW moving to Woodward. On the one hand it’s reasonable even for people who are paying attention to think that a 2/7 scenario is not likely to be the chosen option. But it was clearly on the table.

People have a lot going on and if something seems far away or their focus is on more immediate concerns, it’s hard to get that feedback early in the process. This was a LONG process for people who were involved and paying attention the whole time. But there are also a lot of people who are not going to pay attention until the very end no matter how long you make the process.

By the time the Super got down to one recommended option, he and MCPS had a lot invested in that one option. And at least some BOE members were very involved in the development of that option, at least for Woodward.

The biggest complaint is that Option H seemed to come out of the blue. Looking backwards, the chronology of events would indicate that MCPS considered (and was planning for) moving Wootton to Crown in mid-2024 - it just didn’t tell anyone that was a possibility until December 2025.

There were apparently emails sent to MCPS staff to prepare for a move to Crown - before Option H was released. Even if this was a contingency, and not a pre-determined outcome for Option H, it still demonstrates MCPS knew it was a possibility.

Honestly, even if your conspiracy theory is totally correct that MCPS discussed moving Wootton to Crown before the boundary study or before option H, so what? How is that relevant to anything? It's almost as if people think that MCPS was not allowed to do its job on a daily basis and had to remain silent about anything related to boundaries except for public meetings and in public docs?! Do people really believe this? Do they think that MCPS doing their jobs to consider how to handle enrollment projections and renovation demands is unlawful? Because they didn't talk to Wootton first? Or consider their corrupted survey results as votes? I mean....this is bonkers stuff. People really need to learn the fundamentals of government. MCPS has a deliberative process disclosure exemption like every other government body for a reason - because the government is supposed to be able to do its job discussing various scenarios free from the chilling effects of having every discussion disclosed. All of this "predetermined" talk is ludicrous - do you think BOE members would be responsible if they had zero idea how they are going to vote until the minute the vote comes up? Are they not allowed to form opinions based on gathering information and having discussions?

No one cares that MCPS had internal discussions—that’s not the issue.

The issue is whether a major decision like losing and relocating a high school was already in motion before the public was told. If it was, then the “public process” wasn’t really a process—it was a rollout.

The people alarmed about alleged emails from 2024 certainly seem to think they’re some sort of smoking gun. By definition, Taylor’s decision to move Wootton to Crown had to be “in motion” before releasing it to the public. His job is to make a recommendation based on the public process that occurred. That’s the process. Options. Public input. More options. More input. Even more options. Even more input. Then it’s time to make a decision. Taylor made the decision. Announced it. More public input. Now BOE votes. Taylor wasn’t required to announce another round of options.

DP here.

I am not a Save Wootton person. I pretty much agree with everything you said.

But I do think the problem is less about people not understanding the process and more about how MCPS uses public input in a very political way. They put stuff out, see who screams the loudest and change things to placate them with priority on the richest communities that have the most time to scream. I don't see this as a process that is about trying to truly arrive at the best solution from a public policy perspective or to understand individual community needs and perspectives. It actually does sound to me like Taylor came up with Option H because Wootton successfully advocated for a new building. That's insane. They have a list of schools and what condition they are in. Option H should have been there from the first round. It shouldn't be about which community screams the loudest for a new building. Now Taylor is in bind because he has no money to renovate Wootton or Magruder. Crown can't be a holding school it's not a holding school if the other school isn't being renovated.

Taylor has $70M. No worries on cash.

That's not enough money to renovate Wootton

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If the BOE votes yes, it’s a vote to hurt Brown Stations ES https://moderatelymoco.com/brown-station-community-raises-segregation-concerns-over-mcps-boundary-proposal/

They really didn’t focus on how these last minute changes harmed Brown as well as Wheaton Woods. They weren’t giving us real proposals during the process just soliciting feedback, then showing their true hand at the end. I don’t think that is the way it should work.

This is a plan to close Ridgeview or Lakelands MS.

If you look at the Superintendent’s recommendation, it creates a situation in which all of the MSs are in the desired capacity range except Ridgeview and Lakelands which are both around 50% capacity. The projections for the 2029-30 school year of enrollment of Ridgeview + Lakelands = almost exactly 100% capacity at the Lakelands Park building.

This is Taylor’s plan for finding money for other initiatives, maintenance, etc. Close SSIMS and Ridgeview. Take the old Wootton building out of the running for construction and maintenance dollars.

I don’t know what ESs may be on the chopping block but it sure looks like Ridgeview is - with those kids getting moved to Lakelands Park.

At least SSIMS was honestly designated a closure. Closure is a process and MCPS is an LEA, local education authority, in a, SEA, state education authority. Maryland has regulations on public school closures. Part of that is where the LEA proposes to relocate students from the closed schools. This is the process on closure https://regulations.justia.com/states/maryland/title-13a/subtitle-02/chapter-13a-02-09/section-13a-02-09-01/

I posted about this issue previously. Relocation is just part of the closure. https://go.boarddocs.com/mabe/garrett/Board.nsf/files/CPQLA554A890/$file/COMAR%2013A.02.09%20-%20Closing%20of%20Schools.pdf

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The irony is that BOE is actually MUCH more torn and concerned about the Woodward study than the Crown one. That one has real issues with community engagement and equity--this one only has louder voices. How do I know? You'll see on Thursday.

I blame MCPS and their consulting firm for how their surveys. In addition to low participation in the DCC, nobody collected data about what ES you’re zoned for. Someone could also lie or be confused. For example, I live in the DCC and can’t remember which cluster I registered for in the survey. My kid doesn’t go to their home school, but still within the DCC.

Also, whose voices are we trying to cater to? Families that will have to deal with the transition in boundaries/programs in secondary schools in 2027-2032? Families of rising kindergarteners still on the fend about their home school versus an immersion school? Tax payers that can’t afford tax hikes? The families that will be in MCPS in 10 years?

These boundaries will likely stay in place for decades. I don’t think individuals with current students should be the ONLY voice we hear. Taylor has done his due diligence with balancing enrollment. SOMEBODY has to leave Wheaton because it’s so crowded. Whether you move schools to Woodward or Rockville, it will be unexpected.

In hindsight, it would have been nice for Taylor to meet with every elementary PTA in each of his recommended changes but his schedule doesn’t match working parents and many PTA presidents are MCPS employees who fear retaliation/conflict of interest.

At this point, the BOE and MCPS should focus their effort and time on HOW this transition will happen. Lots of logistics that seem like they could go wrong. How can we make it smoother and less expensive? What’s the plan for communities that have chosen to segregate from each other who will now be together?

These are wise words. I endorse all of this.

It is extremely hard to get the general parent population to pay attention to anything until it is close and real - ie, the Superintendent’s actual recommendation.

The majority of the A-G proposals had Wheaton Woods staying at Wheaton, but 2 of them had WW moving to Woodward. On the one hand it’s reasonable even for people who are paying attention to think that a 2/7 scenario is not likely to be the chosen option. But it was clearly on the table.

People have a lot going on and if something seems far away or their focus is on more immediate concerns, it’s hard to get that feedback early in the process. This was a LONG process for people who were involved and paying attention the whole time. But there are also a lot of people who are not going to pay attention until the very end no matter how long you make the process.

By the time the Super got down to one recommended option, he and MCPS had a lot invested in that one option. And at least some BOE members were very involved in the development of that option, at least for Woodward.

The biggest complaint is that Option H seemed to come out of the blue. Looking backwards, the chronology of events would indicate that MCPS considered (and was planning for) moving Wootton to Crown in mid-2024 - it just didn’t tell anyone that was a possibility until December 2025.

There were apparently emails sent to MCPS staff to prepare for a move to Crown - before Option H was released. Even if this was a contingency, and not a pre-determined outcome for Option H, it still demonstrates MCPS knew it was a possibility.

Honestly, even if your conspiracy theory is totally correct that MCPS discussed moving Wootton to Crown before the boundary study or before option H, so what? How is that relevant to anything? It's almost as if people think that MCPS was not allowed to do its job on a daily basis and had to remain silent about anything related to boundaries except for public meetings and in public docs?! Do people really believe this? Do they think that MCPS doing their jobs to consider how to handle enrollment projections and renovation demands is unlawful? Because they didn't talk to Wootton first? Or consider their corrupted survey results as votes? I mean....this is bonkers stuff. People really need to learn the fundamentals of government. MCPS has a deliberative process disclosure exemption like every other government body for a reason - because the government is supposed to be able to do its job discussing various scenarios free from the chilling effects of having every discussion disclosed. All of this "predetermined" talk is ludicrous - do you think BOE members would be responsible if they had zero idea how they are going to vote until the minute the vote comes up? Are they not allowed to form opinions based on gathering information and having discussions?

No one cares that MCPS had internal discussions—that’s not the issue.

The issue is whether a major decision like losing and relocating a high school was already in motion before the public was told. If it was, then the “public process” wasn’t really a process—it was a rollout.

The people alarmed about alleged emails from 2024 certainly seem to think they’re some sort of smoking gun. By definition, Taylor’s decision to move Wootton to Crown had to be “in motion” before releasing it to the public. His job is to make a recommendation based on the public process that occurred. That’s the process. Options. Public input. More options. More input. Even more options. Even more input. Then it’s time to make a decision. Taylor made the decision. Announced it. More public input. Now BOE votes. Taylor wasn’t required to announce another round of options.

DP here.

I am not a Save Wootton person. I pretty much agree with everything you said.

But I do think the problem is less about people not understanding the process and more about how MCPS uses public input in a very political way. They put stuff out, see who screams the loudest and change things to placate them with priority on the richest communities that have the most time to scream. I don't see this as a process that is about trying to truly arrive at the best solution from a public policy perspective or to understand individual community needs and perspectives. It actually does sound to me like Taylor came up with Option H because Wootton successfully advocated for a new building. That's insane. They have a list of schools and what condition they are in. Option H should have been there from the first round. It shouldn't be about which community screams the loudest for a new building. Now Taylor is in bind because he has no money to renovate Wootton or Magruder. Crown can't be a holding school it's not a holding school if the other school isn't being renovated.

Taylor has $70M. No worries on cash.

That's not enough money to renovate Wootton

Right. MCPS only gives money to their friends to do “construction”. More is needed to pad the bills.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If the BOE votes yes, it’s a vote to hurt Brown Stations ES https://moderatelymoco.com/brown-station-community-raises-segregation-concerns-over-mcps-boundary-proposal/

They really didn’t focus on how these last minute changes harmed Brown as well as Wheaton Woods. They weren’t giving us real proposals during the process just soliciting feedback, then showing their true hand at the end. I don’t think that is the way it should work.

This is a plan to close Ridgeview or Lakelands MS.

If you look at the Superintendent’s recommendation, it creates a situation in which all of the MSs are in the desired capacity range except Ridgeview and Lakelands which are both around 50% capacity. The projections for the 2029-30 school year of enrollment of Ridgeview + Lakelands = almost exactly 100% capacity at the Lakelands Park building.

This is Taylor’s plan for finding money for other initiatives, maintenance, etc. Close SSIMS and Ridgeview. Take the old Wootton building out of the running for construction and maintenance dollars.

I don’t know what ESs may be on the chopping block but it sure looks like Ridgeview is - with those kids getting moved to Lakelands Park.

At least SSIMS was honestly designated a closure. Closure is a process and MCPS is an LEA, local education authority, in a, SEA, state education authority. Maryland has regulations on public school closures. Part of that is where the LEA proposes to relocate students from the closed schools. This is the process on closure https://regulations.justia.com/states/maryland/title-13a/subtitle-02/chapter-13a-02-09/section-13a-02-09-01/

I posted about this issue previously. Relocation is just part of the closure. https://go.boarddocs.com/mabe/garrett/Board.nsf/files/CPQLA554A890/$file/COMAR%2013A.02.09%20-%20Closing%20of%20Schools.pdf

The end result of Wootton moving to Crown is a relocation; the entire student body of Wootton (with the boundary relocations) is moving to a completely new building. It's not merging into another school. The Save Wootton group will argue that it's a "de facto closure" or whatever, but it clearly meets the definition of a move rather than a closure. COMAR's probably a dead-end here.

Ridgeview, assuming it's closed and the student body is merged in with Lakelands Park, is clearly a closure, but will be part of the next round of boundary studies, which will include other closures (Cold Spring? DuFief? SSIMS?). Those will adhere to the MCPS policy for closures.