MCPS Boundary Study Meeting Tonight (12/11) at Julius West @ 7pm

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have been a consultant for many years. Never has a client not attended a meeting with me. At a minimum, senior MCPS staff should have been there. Ridiculous and unprofessional.

Wait.... Government officials acting ridiculous and unprofessional?!??! I can't believe it. Seriously though, they don't care. They know that as long as they can get their name on the Union's Apple Ballot, the sheep will walk off the cliff and vote them back in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:+1000000

I am a Wootton/Cabin John/Cold Spring parent and the misinformation that is being spread about this study from my neighbors/friends is absolutely insane!!!! These are smart, kind, educated people who just cannot seem to grasp the fact that yes every once in awhile (in this case it has been over 20 years) change must happen. Guess what it is not just your kid that may go through this change. The entire community that you love so much will be going with you. Please calm down. The ugliness at that meeting was just completely uncalled for. What are you so afraid of? "Worst" case scenario you will end up at a school that currently borders yours with people from your neighborhood going with you. I just don't get what is so terrible about that????

Property values at neighboring school area may be a lot lower. That’s not really fair to make families lose so much money.

This is exactly what is wrong the argument. I posted a clear and concise point about all of us getting moved together and this is the response. Is this what it is all about???

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:+1000000

I am a Wootton/Cabin John/Cold Spring parent and the misinformation that is being spread about this study from my neighbors/friends is absolutely insane!!!! These are smart, kind, educated people who just cannot seem to grasp the fact that yes every once in awhile (in this case it has been over 20 years) change must happen. Guess what it is not just your kid that may go through this change. The entire community that you love so much will be going with you. Please calm down. The ugliness at that meeting was just completely uncalled for. What are you so afraid of? "Worst" case scenario you will end up at a school that currently borders yours with people from your neighborhood going with you. I just don't get what is so terrible about that????

Property values at neighboring school area may be a lot lower. That’s not really fair to make families lose so much money.

Too bad. That's not MCPS's concern. Schools are overcrowded. Boundaries should've been redrawn years ago.

Of course, as a homeowner, I care about my property value, but I can't expect MCPS to never redraw boundaries when the schools are overcrowded just because *I* might lose out on my property value. That's not MCPS' concern, and I wouldn't expect t he to worry about that. They worry about educating all 160K kids, not my property value.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:+1000000

I am a Wootton/Cabin John/Cold Spring parent and the misinformation that is being spread about this study from my neighbors/friends is absolutely insane!!!! These are smart, kind, educated people who just cannot seem to grasp the fact that yes every once in awhile (in this case it has been over 20 years) change must happen. Guess what it is not just your kid that may go through this change. The entire community that you love so much will be going with you. Please calm down. The ugliness at that meeting was just completely uncalled for. What are you so afraid of? "Worst" case scenario you will end up at a school that currently borders yours with people from your neighborhood going with you. I just don't get what is so terrible about that????

Property values at neighboring school area may be a lot lower. That’s not really fair to make families lose so much money.

Too bad. That's not MCPS's concern. Schools are overcrowded. Boundaries should've been redrawn years ago.

Of course, as a homeowner, I care about my property value, but I can't expect MCPS to never redraw boundaries when the schools are overcrowded just because *I* might lose out on my property value. That's not MCPS' concern, and I wouldn't expect t he to worry about that. They worry about educating all 160K kids, not my property value.

And yet a lot of people don't seem to give 2 shts about the kids attending overcrowded schools. Instead, they care about their property values and have become convinced that ANY boundary change means a lower property value and their kids going to a crappy school.

Selfish and ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:+1000000

I am a Wootton/Cabin John/Cold Spring parent and the misinformation that is being spread about this study from my neighbors/friends is absolutely insane!!!! These are smart, kind, educated people who just cannot seem to grasp the fact that yes every once in awhile (in this case it has been over 20 years) change must happen. Guess what it is not just your kid that may go through this change. The entire community that you love so much will be going with you. Please calm down. The ugliness at that meeting was just completely uncalled for. What are you so afraid of? "Worst" case scenario you will end up at a school that currently borders yours with people from your neighborhood going with you. I just don't get what is so terrible about that????

Property values at neighboring school area may be a lot lower. That’s not really fair to make families lose so much money.

Too bad. That's not MCPS's concern. Schools are overcrowded. Boundaries should've been redrawn years ago.

Of course, as a homeowner, I care about my property value, but I can't expect MCPS to never redraw boundaries when the schools are overcrowded just because *I* might lose out on my property value. That's not MCPS' concern, and I wouldn't expect t he to worry about that. They worry about educating all 160K kids, not my property value.

And yet a lot of people don't seem to give 2 shts about the kids attending overcrowded schools. Instead, they care about their property values and have become convinced that ANY boundary change means a lower property value and their kids going to a crappy school.

Selfish and ridiculous.

People aren't happy about the kids attending overcrowded schools. But it's bearable in comparison to lower performed schools. For those whose kids are already in the "good" schools, the chance for their kids to go to a better or as good schools is very slim. Yes, it's pretty selfish, but the majority who are for boundary change is not from the best school pyramid, which means the chance for their kids to go to a better or worse school is half/half.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:+1000000

I am a Wootton/Cabin John/Cold Spring parent and the misinformation that is being spread about this study from my neighbors/friends is absolutely insane!!!! These are smart, kind, educated people who just cannot seem to grasp the fact that yes every once in awhile (in this case it has been over 20 years) change must happen. Guess what it is not just your kid that may go through this change. The entire community that you love so much will be going with you. Please calm down. The ugliness at that meeting was just completely uncalled for. What are you so afraid of? "Worst" case scenario you will end up at a school that currently borders yours with people from your neighborhood going with you. I just don't get what is so terrible about that????

Property values at neighboring school area may be a lot lower. That’s not really fair to make families lose so much money.

Too bad. That's not MCPS's concern. Schools are overcrowded. Boundaries should've been redrawn years ago.

Of course, as a homeowner, I care about my property value, but I can't expect MCPS to never redraw boundaries when the schools are overcrowded just because *I* might lose out on my property value. That's not MCPS' concern, and I wouldn't expect t he to worry about that. They worry about educating all 160K kids, not my property value.

And yet a lot of people don't seem to give 2 shts about the kids attending overcrowded schools. Instead, they care about their property values and have become convinced that ANY boundary change means a lower property value and their kids going to a crappy school.

Selfish and ridiculous.

People aren't happy about the kids attending overcrowded schools. But it's bearable in comparison to lower performed schools. For those whose kids are already in the "good" schools, the chance for their kids to go to a better or as good schools is very slim. Yes, it's pretty selfish, but the majority who are for boundary change is not from the best school pyramid, which means the chance for their kids to go to a better or worse school is half/half.

No one is entitled to a particular public school. If people want full control over the school their kid attends, they should pay for private school. Otherwise, they need to recognize that they are largely at the mercy of a large system.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:+1000000

I am a Wootton/Cabin John/Cold Spring parent and the misinformation that is being spread about this study from my neighbors/friends is absolutely insane!!!! These are smart, kind, educated people who just cannot seem to grasp the fact that yes every once in awhile (in this case it has been over 20 years) change must happen. Guess what it is not just your kid that may go through this change. The entire community that you love so much will be going with you. Please calm down. The ugliness at that meeting was just completely uncalled for. What are you so afraid of? "Worst" case scenario you will end up at a school that currently borders yours with people from your neighborhood going with you. I just don't get what is so terrible about that????

People aren't happy about the kids attending overcrowded schools. But it's bearable in comparison to lower performed schools. For those whose kids are already in the "good" schools, the chance for their kids to go to a better or as good schools is very slim. Yes, it's pretty selfish, but the majority who are for boundary change is not from the best school pyramid, which means the chance for their kids to go to a better or worse school is half/half.

Although many people in the Cold Spring/Wootton community have been loudly against this boundary study many of us do exist that thing boundary study is long overdue. Please don't assume that because we attend school in a "W" cluster that we are all selfish and only care about our property values. This study is necessary. We need to be using our spaces effectively, walking to schools when we can and most definitely making sure that schools are encompassing the demographics of the real world.

[Anonymous]

Although many people in the Cold Spring/Wootton community have been loudly against this boundary study many of us do exist that thing boundary study is long overdue. Please don't assume that because we attend school in a "W" cluster that we are all selfish and only care about our property values. This study is necessary. We need to be using our spaces effectively, walking to schools when we can and most definitely making sure that schools are encompassing the demographics of the real world.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Although many people in the Cold Spring/Wootton community have been loudly against this boundary study many of us do exist that thing boundary study is long overdue. Please don't assume that because we attend school in a "W" cluster that we are all selfish and only care about our property values. This study is necessary. We need to be using our spaces effectively, walking to schools when we can and most definitely making sure that schools are encompassing the demographics of the real world.

I'm attending the meeting at Walter Johnson. I'll see how you all speak there, as I imagine that's the one many of you will attend. I hope I see polite discourse.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Although many people in the Cold Spring/Wootton community have been loudly against this boundary study many of us do exist that thing boundary study is long overdue. Please don't assume that because we attend school in a "W" cluster that we are all selfish and only care about our property values. This study is necessary. We need to be using our spaces effectively, walking to schools when we can and most definitely making sure that schools are encompassing the demographics of the real world.

I'm attending the meeting at Walter Johnson. I'll see how you all speak there, as I imagine that's the one many of you will attend. I hope I see polite discourse.

I am hopeful those attending will be respectful but unfortunately based on what I see online from my neighbors.... I can't be so sure....it is very unfortunate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:+1000000

I am a Wootton/Cabin John/Cold Spring parent and the misinformation that is being spread about this study from my neighbors/friends is absolutely insane!!!! These are smart, kind, educated people who just cannot seem to grasp the fact that yes every once in awhile (in this case it has been over 20 years) change must happen. Guess what it is not just your kid that may go through this change. The entire community that you love so much will be going with you. Please calm down. The ugliness at that meeting was just completely uncalled for. What are you so afraid of? "Worst" case scenario you will end up at a school that currently borders yours with people from your neighborhood going with you. I just don't get what is so terrible about that????

Property values at neighboring school area may be a lot lower. That’s not really fair to make families lose so much money.

Too bad. That's not MCPS's concern. Schools are overcrowded. Boundaries should've been redrawn years ago.

Of course, as a homeowner, I care about my property value, but I can't expect MCPS to never redraw boundaries when the schools are overcrowded just because *I* might lose out on my property value. That's not MCPS' concern, and I wouldn't expect t he to worry about that. They worry about educating all 160K kids, not my property value.

And yet a lot of people don't seem to give 2 shts about the kids attending overcrowded schools. Instead, they care about their property values and have become convinced that ANY boundary change means a lower property value and their kids going to a crappy school.

Selfish and ridiculous.

People aren't happy about the kids attending overcrowded schools. But it's bearable in comparison to lower performed schools. For those whose kids are already in the "good" schools, the chance for their kids to go to a better or as good schools is very slim. Yes, it's pretty selfish, but the majority who are for boundary change is not from the best school pyramid, which means the chance for their kids to go to a better or worse school is half/half.

As a parent in a public school system, you don't get to choose what school your kids get to attend. The school district needs to address over capacity issues because it becomes a safety and yes, cost issue because they have to rent portables long term. Also, parents keep complaining about how their kids have to sit on the floors or trashcans because there is no room, yet you still don't want boundaries redrawn. You'd rather MCPS spend more money on adding additions. At some point you can't add more classrooms, and MCPS doesn't have the budget to keep adding new classrooms.

Some schools are so overcrowded that kids start lunch time at 10:30, and in ES, there is very little space for recess. You think that's fine for your kid, but it's not fine overall. MCPS is concerned about all 160K kids, not just your's. Change is hard, but that's what happens when the population increases.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:+1000000

I am a Wootton/Cabin John/Cold Spring parent and the misinformation that is being spread about this study from my neighbors/friends is absolutely insane!!!! These are smart, kind, educated people who just cannot seem to grasp the fact that yes every once in awhile (in this case it has been over 20 years) change must happen. Guess what it is not just your kid that may go through this change. The entire community that you love so much will be going with you. Please calm down. The ugliness at that meeting was just completely uncalled for. What are you so afraid of? "Worst" case scenario you will end up at a school that currently borders yours with people from your neighborhood going with you. I just don't get what is so terrible about that????

Property values at neighboring school area may be a lot lower. That’s not really fair to make families lose so much money.

Too bad. That's not MCPS's concern. Schools are overcrowded. Boundaries should've been redrawn years ago.

Of course, as a homeowner, I care about my property value, but I can't expect MCPS to never redraw boundaries when the schools are overcrowded just because *I* might lose out on my property value. That's not MCPS' concern, and I wouldn't expect t he to worry about that. They worry about educating all 160K kids, not my property value.

Relieving overcrowding is fine. Trying to balance demographics could result in big big shifts because of how the population segments are distributed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Also - everyone who is constantly griping about the BOE not being everywhere all the time.....do you know what they get paid? They are doing their jobs out of service to the community, it damn sure isn't for the money. The hours they put in, the lack of privacy, the lack of respect.....would you want that job?

I don’t expect them to be everywhere all the time- but for something this controversial, then yes there should be BOE representatives at each meeting. Send two members to each or something- that’s not a huge commitment per person.

Frankly, the vague language in the RFP and the consultants proposal that included language about providing new “options” for cluster boundaries is part of the reason there’s so much confusion and misinformation out there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:+1000000

I am a Wootton/Cabin John/Cold Spring parent and the misinformation that is being spread about this study from my neighbors/friends is absolutely insane!!!! These are smart, kind, educated people who just cannot seem to grasp the fact that yes every once in awhile (in this case it has been over 20 years) change must happen. Guess what it is not just your kid that may go through this change. The entire community that you love so much will be going with you. Please calm down. The ugliness at that meeting was just completely uncalled for. What are you so afraid of? "Worst" case scenario you will end up at a school that currently borders yours with people from your neighborhood going with you. I just don't get what is so terrible about that????

Property values at neighboring school area may be a lot lower. That’s not really fair to make families lose so much money.

Too bad. That's not MCPS's concern. Schools are overcrowded. Boundaries should've been redrawn years ago.

Of course, as a homeowner, I care about my property value, but I can't expect MCPS to never redraw boundaries when the schools are overcrowded just because *I* might lose out on my property value. That's not MCPS' concern, and I wouldn't expect t he to worry about that. They worry about educating all 160K kids, not my property value.

Relieving overcrowding is fine. Trying to balance demographics could result in big big shifts because of how the population segments are distributed.

They are redrawing and looking at adjoining boundaries to make small shifts.... nobody is taking a student from Germantown and sending them to Bethesda or vice versa. This is very simple but the fear mongering public over concerned with property values have turned it into something it is not. Please read the actual information provided and do not listen to the spin. It is so unfortunate the amount of misinformation by incredibly bright people who should know better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Also - everyone who is constantly griping about the BOE not being everywhere all the time.....do you know what they get paid? They are doing their jobs out of service to the community, it damn sure isn't for the money. The hours they put in, the lack of privacy, the lack of respect.....would you want that job?

I don’t expect them to be everywhere all the time- but for something this controversial, then yes there should be BOE representatives at each meeting. Send two members to each or something- that’s not a huge commitment per person.

Frankly, the vague language in the RFP and the consultants proposal that included language about providing new “options” for cluster boundaries is part of the reason there’s so much confusion and misinformation out there.

I don't understand why we'd want the BOE members there. Maybe have an MCPS staff member there who could introduce the consultants, but it's really their meeting to facilitate.