10/16 Board of Ed meeting

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I watched the video public testimony from the BOE meeting on Thursday. I’m a bit puzzled by some of the comments from people about equity. I absolutely want equity for others and am fortunate to live in a wealthier area, but those comments from people, what do they want? Are they asking for MCPS to bus them from BCC and Woodlin ES 30 minutes away to schools to mix wealthy families with those who aren’t? Are they wanting poorer kids to be bussed 30 mins to their schools?

I get it on the margins like Kensington could be mixed with Einstein, or parts of Silver Spring could go to BCC, but to bring kids to Whitman from Silver Spring or from Churchill to Crown or from Darnestown to Crown just doesn’t make sense.

So what are these people really seeking?

We are just pissed that these options leave some DCC schools still over crowded (Wheaton and Kennedy) but not the richer schools, that there is tons of split articulation forcing our kids to go to different middle schools than their friends but almost none for the richer schools, and that DCC FARMS rates get worse rather than better. And all of this is in every single option so basically it's like MCPS is saying "we won't even consider doing anything that the richer schools wouldn't like, the only choices are around which DCC families will get hurt more, fight amongst yourselves." (And this combined with the way they are taking the DCC away from us and hurting some of our schools with the program changes is just adding insult to injury.)

Wr don't want anything crazy, just a basic sense of fairness. But that is apparently too much to ask.

But you make no sense and talk out of both sides of your mouth. You look down on people who chose “wealthy schools” and say you would never want to buy there or send your kids to that environment but then right here you whine that your FARMS rate might go up. So which is it, you are cool with socioeconomic diversity or you’re only cool with it when it’s the exact amount you think is appropriate? You lament your kids possibly being sent to middle schools away from friends but you simultaneously love and want to keep your current DCC set up and have no problem when all those kids shuffle up and separate from friends in high school. You’re worried about overcrowding at 2 schools (Wheaton and Kennedy) that I don’t even think your child attends or will attend and to which you are not zoned. No one knows what you really want because all you actually say is harm the wealthier schools and not me.

That's a good point. It doesn't make sense for the DCC people to care about split articulation while arguing they want to....articulate to multiple high schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The slides say that the SMCS program to be implemented at Wootton will have 8 periods "to accommodate the interdisciplinary course sequence of the SCMS pathway". Does that mean all six of the schools that host SMCS programs will have 8-period days, while other schools will not? That will complicate transportation and staffing and raise some equity questions. Will they switch to block scheduling, as Blair does? Will non-SMCS students at those schools be allowed to take 8 periods? Does that mean local students who have an 8th period won't be able to ride buses home, since the regular buses would presumably leave after 7th period? So many questions...

Does eveyrone at Blair have 8 period days, or just the SMCS kids?

Blair uses block schedule, but SMCS has an extra 9th period everyday so to take the same afternoon bus with the TPMS and Eastern kids. In the regional model, this transfer need is not longer needed, and I think they will not take the extra period.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The slides say that the SMCS program to be implemented at Wootton will have 8 periods "to accommodate the interdisciplinary course sequence of the SCMS pathway". Does that mean all six of the schools that host SMCS programs will have 8-period days, while other schools will not? That will complicate transportation and staffing and raise some equity questions. Will they switch to block scheduling, as Blair does? Will non-SMCS students at those schools be allowed to take 8 periods? Does that mean local students who have an 8th period won't be able to ride buses home, since the regular buses would presumably leave after 7th period? So many questions...

Does eveyrone at Blair have 8 period days, or just the SMCS kids?

Blair uses block schedule, but SMCS has an extra 9th period everyday so to take the same afternoon bus with the TPMS and Eastern kids. In the regional model, this transfer need is not longer needed, and I think they will not take the extra period.

Is one of the periods lunch? So there are 8 classes for magnet kids, plus lunch; and for non-magnet kids, there are 7 classes, plus lunch?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The slides say that the SMCS program to be implemented at Wootton will have 8 periods "to accommodate the interdisciplinary course sequence of the SCMS pathway". Does that mean all six of the schools that host SMCS programs will have 8-period days, while other schools will not? That will complicate transportation and staffing and raise some equity questions. Will they switch to block scheduling, as Blair does? Will non-SMCS students at those schools be allowed to take 8 periods? Does that mean local students who have an 8th period won't be able to ride buses home, since the regular buses would presumably leave after 7th period? So many questions...

Does eveyrone at Blair have 8 period days, or just the SMCS kids?

Blair uses block schedule, but SMCS has an extra 9th period everyday so to take the same afternoon bus with the TPMS and Eastern kids. In the regional model, this transfer need is not longer needed, and I think they will not take the extra period.

Is one of the periods lunch? So there are 8 classes for magnet kids, plus lunch; and for non-magnet kids, there are 7 classes, plus lunch?

No. Blair uses block schedule, meaning that 4 courses on even days, and 4 courses on odd days. Each period runs 1.5 hours. There's a 9th period every day for 45 mins. This is unique to SMCS student and they hence take one more course than regular students.
I

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The slides say that the SMCS program to be implemented at Wootton will have 8 periods "to accommodate the interdisciplinary course sequence of the SCMS pathway". Does that mean all six of the schools that host SMCS programs will have 8-period days, while other schools will not? That will complicate transportation and staffing and raise some equity questions. Will they switch to block scheduling, as Blair does? Will non-SMCS students at those schools be allowed to take 8 periods? Does that mean local students who have an 8th period won't be able to ride buses home, since the regular buses would presumably leave after 7th period? So many questions...

Does eveyrone at Blair have 8 period days, or just the SMCS kids?

Blair uses block schedule, but SMCS has an extra 9th period everyday so to take the same afternoon bus with the TPMS and Eastern kids. In the regional model, this transfer need is not longer needed, and I think they will not take the extra period.

Is one of the periods lunch? So there are 8 classes for magnet kids, plus lunch; and for non-magnet kids, there are 7 classes, plus lunch?

No. Blair uses block schedule, meaning that 4 courses on even days, and 4 courses on odd days. Each period runs 1.5 hours. There's a 9th period every day for 45 mins. This is unique to SMCS student and they hence take one more course than regular students.
I

This is inequitable because at other high schools, students are limited to 7 classes. Why do some students get more classes because they live in a certain zip
code?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The slides say that the SMCS program to be implemented at Wootton will have 8 periods "to accommodate the interdisciplinary course sequence of the SCMS pathway". Does that mean all six of the schools that host SMCS programs will have 8-period days, while other schools will not? That will complicate transportation and staffing and raise some equity questions. Will they switch to block scheduling, as Blair does? Will non-SMCS students at those schools be allowed to take 8 periods? Does that mean local students who have an 8th period won't be able to ride buses home, since the regular buses would presumably leave after 7th period? So many questions...

Does eveyrone at Blair have 8 period days, or just the SMCS kids?

Blair uses block schedule, but SMCS has an extra 9th period everyday so to take the same afternoon bus with the TPMS and Eastern kids. In the regional model, this transfer need is not longer needed, and I think they will not take the extra period.

Is one of the periods lunch? So there are 8 classes for magnet kids, plus lunch; and for non-magnet kids, there are 7 classes, plus lunch?

No. Blair uses block schedule, meaning that 4 courses on even days, and 4 courses on odd days. Each period runs 1.5 hours. There's a 9th period every day for 45 mins. This is unique to SMCS student and they hence take one more course than regular students.
I

This is inequitable because at other high schools, students are limited to 7 classes. Why do some students get more classes because they live in a certain zip
code?

I'd actually turn this around - it's for students who want to opt in to a program with this kind of structure. I think most kids would not be interested in an extra class period when sports, clubs, homework, etc are part of life. But for those who are excited by it, I have no problem with them having an extra class period.

BTW, I'm not sure Poolesville SMCS has the block schedule. They do have the extra class period though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The slides say that the SMCS program to be implemented at Wootton will have 8 periods "to accommodate the interdisciplinary course sequence of the SCMS pathway". Does that mean all six of the schools that host SMCS programs will have 8-period days, while other schools will not? That will complicate transportation and staffing and raise some equity questions. Will they switch to block scheduling, as Blair does? Will non-SMCS students at those schools be allowed to take 8 periods? Does that mean local students who have an 8th period won't be able to ride buses home, since the regular buses would presumably leave after 7th period? So many questions...

Does eveyrone at Blair have 8 period days, or just the SMCS kids?

Blair uses block schedule, but SMCS has an extra 9th period everyday so to take the same afternoon bus with the TPMS and Eastern kids. In the regional model, this transfer need is not longer needed, and I think they will not take the extra period.

Is one of the periods lunch? So there are 8 classes for magnet kids, plus lunch; and for non-magnet kids, there are 7 classes, plus lunch?

No. Blair uses block schedule, meaning that 4 courses on even days, and 4 courses on odd days. Each period runs 1.5 hours. There's a 9th period every day for 45 mins. This is unique to SMCS student and they hence take one more course than regular students.
I

The extra class is for logistics and will be gone in the future STEM program. Not only that, most of the electives will be gone too. Are you happy now?
Go testify to BOE about your satisfaction. You’ll be probably the first testimony about the regional model and Taylor will give a honored citizen award, something like that.

This is inequitable because at other high schools, students are limited to 7 classes. Why do some students get more classes because they live in a certain zip
code?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The slides say that the SMCS program to be implemented at Wootton will have 8 periods "to accommodate the interdisciplinary course sequence of the SCMS pathway". Does that mean all six of the schools that host SMCS programs will have 8-period days, while other schools will not? That will complicate transportation and staffing and raise some equity questions. Will they switch to block scheduling, as Blair does? Will non-SMCS students at those schools be allowed to take 8 periods? Does that mean local students who have an 8th period won't be able to ride buses home, since the regular buses would presumably leave after 7th period? So many questions...

Does eveyrone at Blair have 8 period days, or just the SMCS kids?

Blair uses block schedule, but SMCS has an extra 9th period everyday so to take the same afternoon bus with the TPMS and Eastern kids. In the regional model, this transfer need is not longer needed, and I think they will not take the extra period.

Is one of the periods lunch? So there are 8 classes for magnet kids, plus lunch; and for non-magnet kids, there are 7 classes, plus lunch?

No. Blair uses block schedule, meaning that 4 courses on even days, and 4 courses on odd days. Each period runs 1.5 hours. There's a 9th period every day for 45 mins. This is unique to SMCS student and they hence take one more course than regular students.
I

This is inequitable because at other high schools, students are limited to 7 classes. Why do some students get more classes because they live in a certain zip
code?

I'd actually turn this around - it's for students who want to opt in to a program with this kind of structure. I think most kids would not be interested in an extra class period when sports, clubs, homework, etc are part of life. But for those who are excited by it, I have no problem with them having an extra class period.

BTW, I'm not sure Poolesville SMCS has the block schedule. They do have the extra class period though.

Is everyone at Blair opting in to 8 classes? Or is 8 periods standard at Blair with 9 available for the opt in magnet kids? Most high schools have a 7 class schedule.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The slides say that the SMCS program to be implemented at Wootton will have 8 periods "to accommodate the interdisciplinary course sequence of the SCMS pathway". Does that mean all six of the schools that host SMCS programs will have 8-period days, while other schools will not? That will complicate transportation and staffing and raise some equity questions. Will they switch to block scheduling, as Blair does? Will non-SMCS students at those schools be allowed to take 8 periods? Does that mean local students who have an 8th period won't be able to ride buses home, since the regular buses would presumably leave after 7th period? So many questions...

Does eveyrone at Blair have 8 period days, or just the SMCS kids?

Blair uses block schedule, but SMCS has an extra 9th period everyday so to take the same afternoon bus with the TPMS and Eastern kids. In the regional model, this transfer need is not longer needed, and I think they will not take the extra period.

Is one of the periods lunch? So there are 8 classes for magnet kids, plus lunch; and for non-magnet kids, there are 7 classes, plus lunch?

No. Blair uses block schedule, meaning that 4 courses on even days, and 4 courses on odd days. Each period runs 1.5 hours. There's a 9th period every day for 45 mins. This is unique to SMCS student and they hence take one more course than regular students.
I

This is inequitable because at other high schools, students are limited to 7 classes. Why do some students get more classes because they live in a certain zip
code?

I'd actually turn this around - it's for students who want to opt in to a program with this kind of structure. I think most kids would not be interested in an extra class period when sports, clubs, homework, etc are part of life. But for those who are excited by it, I have no problem with them having an extra class period.

BTW, I'm not sure Poolesville SMCS has the block schedule. They do have the extra class period though.

Is everyone at Blair opting in to 8 classes? Or is 8 periods standard at Blair with 9 available for the opt in magnet kids? Most high schools have a 7 class schedule.

PP here. My mistake. It’s 8 classes for SMCS, and 7 classes for other students. I don’t think any SMCS student opt out their last period, as it’s like a suicidal way to tell college admission officer that you can’t catch up with your peers. AO don’t put normal Blair students and SMCS students in the same pool for cross-comparison.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The slides say that the SMCS program to be implemented at Wootton will have 8 periods "to accommodate the interdisciplinary course sequence of the SCMS pathway". Does that mean all six of the schools that host SMCS programs will have 8-period days, while other schools will not? That will complicate transportation and staffing and raise some equity questions. Will they switch to block scheduling, as Blair does? Will non-SMCS students at those schools be allowed to take 8 periods? Does that mean local students who have an 8th period won't be able to ride buses home, since the regular buses would presumably leave after 7th period? So many questions...

Does eveyrone at Blair have 8 period days, or just the SMCS kids?

Blair uses block schedule, but SMCS has an extra 9th period everyday so to take the same afternoon bus with the TPMS and Eastern kids. In the regional model, this transfer need is not longer needed, and I think they will not take the extra period.

Is one of the periods lunch? So there are 8 classes for magnet kids, plus lunch; and for non-magnet kids, there are 7 classes, plus lunch?

No. Blair uses block schedule, meaning that 4 courses on even days, and 4 courses on odd days. Each period runs 1.5 hours. There's a 9th period every day for 45 mins. This is unique to SMCS student and they hence take one more course than regular students.
I

This is inequitable because at other high schools, students are limited to 7 classes. Why do some students get more classes because they live in a certain zip
code?

My previous response didn’t show property, so sorry to repeat here. The future STEM program will remove this extra class, and most of the electives. Are you happy now? If yes, please consider testifying to BOE. You’ll be probably the first one give a positive testimony to the regional model. It kills the merits, the challenges and lower the bar to make every student “career ready”. If this is what you called equal, go take it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The slides say that the SMCS program to be implemented at Wootton will have 8 periods "to accommodate the interdisciplinary course sequence of the SCMS pathway". Does that mean all six of the schools that host SMCS programs will have 8-period days, while other schools will not? That will complicate transportation and staffing and raise some equity questions. Will they switch to block scheduling, as Blair does? Will non-SMCS students at those schools be allowed to take 8 periods? Does that mean local students who have an 8th period won't be able to ride buses home, since the regular buses would presumably leave after 7th period? So many questions...

Does eveyrone at Blair have 8 period days, or just the SMCS kids?

Blair uses block schedule, but SMCS has an extra 9th period everyday so to take the same afternoon bus with the TPMS and Eastern kids. In the regional model, this transfer need is not longer needed, and I think they will not take the extra period.

Is one of the periods lunch? So there are 8 classes for magnet kids, plus lunch; and for non-magnet kids, there are 7 classes, plus lunch?

No. Blair uses block schedule, meaning that 4 courses on even days, and 4 courses on odd days. Each period runs 1.5 hours. There's a 9th period every day for 45 mins. This is unique to SMCS student and they hence take one more course than regular students.
I

This is inequitable because at other high schools, students are limited to 7 classes. Why do some students get more classes because they live in a certain zip
code?

My previous response didn’t show property, so sorry to repeat here. The future STEM program will remove this extra class, and most of the electives. Are you happy now? If yes, please consider testifying to BOE. You’ll be probably the first one give a positive testimony to the regional model. It kills the merits, the challenges and lower the bar to make every student “career ready”. If this is what you called equal, go take it.

Just asking how many classes non-magnet students at Blair take. Is it 7 or is it 8? non-magnet

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I watched the video public testimony from the BOE meeting on Thursday. I’m a bit puzzled by some of the comments from people about equity. I absolutely want equity for others and am fortunate to live in a wealthier area, but those comments from people, what do they want? Are they asking for MCPS to bus them from BCC and Woodlin ES 30 minutes away to schools to mix wealthy families with those who aren’t? Are they wanting poorer kids to be bussed 30 mins to their schools?

I get it on the margins like Kensington could be mixed with Einstein, or parts of Silver Spring could go to BCC, but to bring kids to Whitman from Silver Spring or from Churchill to Crown or from Darnestown to Crown just doesn’t make sense.

So what are these people really seeking?

We are just pissed that these options leave some DCC schools still over crowded (Wheaton and Kennedy) but not the richer schools, that there is tons of split articulation forcing our kids to go to different middle schools than their friends but almost none for the richer schools, and that DCC FARMS rates get worse rather than better. And all of this is in every single option so basically it's like MCPS is saying "we won't even consider doing anything that the richer schools wouldn't like, the only choices are around which DCC families will get hurt more, fight amongst yourselves." (And this combined with the way they are taking the DCC away from us and hurting some of our schools with the program changes is just adding insult to injury.)

Wr don't want anything crazy, just a basic sense of fairness. But that is apparently too much to ask.

But you make no sense and talk out of both sides of your mouth. You look down on people who chose “wealthy schools” and say you would never want to buy there or send your kids to that environment but then right here you whine that your FARMS rate might go up. So which is it, you are cool with socioeconomic diversity or you’re only cool with it when it’s the exact amount you think is appropriate? You lament your kids possibly being sent to middle schools away from friends but you simultaneously love and want to keep your current DCC set up and have no problem when all those kids shuffle up and separate from friends in high school. You’re worried about overcrowding at 2 schools (Wheaton and Kennedy) that I don’t even think your child attends or will attend and to which you are not zoned. No one knows what you really want because all you actually say is harm the wealthier schools and not me.

That's a good point. It doesn't make sense for the DCC people to care about split articulation while arguing they want to....articulate to multiple high schools.

1) Going into the socially-brutal middle school years alongside a solid group of friends vs being separated from them is very different from going to different schools for high school.
2) With the DCC, kids can choose to stay together with friends at their base area school if that's their top priority, or pick a different school if what that other school offers is more important to them than going to school with pre-existing friends. It gives them choice. Split articulation for middle school forces kids apart and offers no choice. Totally different.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The slides say that the SMCS program to be implemented at Wootton will have 8 periods "to accommodate the interdisciplinary course sequence of the SCMS pathway". Does that mean all six of the schools that host SMCS programs will have 8-period days, while other schools will not? That will complicate transportation and staffing and raise some equity questions. Will they switch to block scheduling, as Blair does? Will non-SMCS students at those schools be allowed to take 8 periods? Does that mean local students who have an 8th period won't be able to ride buses home, since the regular buses would presumably leave after 7th period? So many questions...

Does eveyrone at Blair have 8 period days, or just the SMCS kids?

Blair uses block schedule, but SMCS has an extra 9th period everyday so to take the same afternoon bus with the TPMS and Eastern kids. In the regional model, this transfer need is not longer needed, and I think they will not take the extra period.

Is one of the periods lunch? So there are 8 classes for magnet kids, plus lunch; and for non-magnet kids, there are 7 classes, plus lunch?

No. Blair uses block schedule, meaning that 4 courses on even days, and 4 courses on odd days. Each period runs 1.5 hours. There's a 9th period every day for 45 mins. This is unique to SMCS student and they hence take one more course than regular students.
I

This is inequitable because at other high schools, students are limited to 7 classes. Why do some students get more classes because they live in a certain zip
code?

I'd actually turn this around - it's for students who want to opt in to a program with this kind of structure. I think most kids would not be interested in an extra class period when sports, clubs, homework, etc are part of life. But for those who are excited by it, I have no problem with them having an extra class period.

BTW, I'm not sure Poolesville SMCS has the block schedule. They do have the extra class period though.

We did not consider Blair because of the extra class and activities. I do like the block schedule.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I watched the video public testimony from the BOE meeting on Thursday. I’m a bit puzzled by some of the comments from people about equity. I absolutely want equity for others and am fortunate to live in a wealthier area, but those comments from people, what do they want? Are they asking for MCPS to bus them from BCC and Woodlin ES 30 minutes away to schools to mix wealthy families with those who aren’t? Are they wanting poorer kids to be bussed 30 mins to their schools?

I get it on the margins like Kensington could be mixed with Einstein, or parts of Silver Spring could go to BCC, but to bring kids to Whitman from Silver Spring or from Churchill to Crown or from Darnestown to Crown just doesn’t make sense.

So what are these people really seeking?

We are just pissed that these options leave some DCC schools still over crowded (Wheaton and Kennedy) but not the richer schools, that there is tons of split articulation forcing our kids to go to different middle schools than their friends but almost none for the richer schools, and that DCC FARMS rates get worse rather than better. And all of this is in every single option so basically it's like MCPS is saying "we won't even consider doing anything that the richer schools wouldn't like, the only choices are around which DCC families will get hurt more, fight amongst yourselves." (And this combined with the way they are taking the DCC away from us and hurting some of our schools with the program changes is just adding insult to injury.)

Wr don't want anything crazy, just a basic sense of fairness. But that is apparently too much to ask.

But you make no sense and talk out of both sides of your mouth. You look down on people who chose “wealthy schools” and say you would never want to buy there or send your kids to that environment but then right here you whine that your FARMS rate might go up. So which is it, you are cool with socioeconomic diversity or you’re only cool with it when it’s the exact amount you think is appropriate? You lament your kids possibly being sent to middle schools away from friends but you simultaneously love and want to keep your current DCC set up and have no problem when all those kids shuffle up and separate from friends in high school. You’re worried about overcrowding at 2 schools (Wheaton and Kennedy) that I don’t even think your child attends or will attend and to which you are not zoned. No one knows what you really want because all you actually say is harm the wealthier schools and not me.

That's a good point. It doesn't make sense for the DCC people to care about split articulation while arguing they want to....articulate to multiple high schools.

1) Going into the socially-brutal middle school years alongside a solid group of friends vs being separated from them is very different from going to different schools for high school.
2) With the DCC, kids can choose to stay together with friends at their base area school if that's their top priority, or pick a different school if what that other school offers is more important to them than going to school with pre-existing friends. It gives them choice. Split articulation for middle school forces kids apart and offers no choice. Totally different.

It’s not that Brutal and kids are fine. It’s common in the dcc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The slides say that the SMCS program to be implemented at Wootton will have 8 periods "to accommodate the interdisciplinary course sequence of the SCMS pathway". Does that mean all six of the schools that host SMCS programs will have 8-period days, while other schools will not? That will complicate transportation and staffing and raise some equity questions. Will they switch to block scheduling, as Blair does? Will non-SMCS students at those schools be allowed to take 8 periods? Does that mean local students who have an 8th period won't be able to ride buses home, since the regular buses would presumably leave after 7th period? So many questions...

Does eveyrone at Blair have 8 period days, or just the SMCS kids?

Blair uses block schedule, but SMCS has an extra 9th period everyday so to take the same afternoon bus with the TPMS and Eastern kids. In the regional model, this transfer need is not longer needed, and I think they will not take the extra period.

Is one of the periods lunch? So there are 8 classes for magnet kids, plus lunch; and for non-magnet kids, there are 7 classes, plus lunch?

No. Blair uses block schedule, meaning that 4 courses on even days, and 4 courses on odd days. Each period runs 1.5 hours. There's a 9th period every day for 45 mins. This is unique to SMCS student and they hence take one more course than regular students.
I

This is inequitable because at other high schools, students are limited to 7 classes. Why do some students get more classes because they live in a certain zip
code?

My previous response didn’t show property, so sorry to repeat here. The future STEM program will remove this extra class, and most of the electives. Are you happy now? If yes, please consider testifying to BOE. You’ll be probably the first one give a positive testimony to the regional model. It kills the merits, the challenges and lower the bar to make every student “career ready”. If this is what you called equal, go take it.

Just asking how many classes non-magnet students at Blair take. Is it 7 or is it 8? non-magnet

Non magnet kids take 7 classes, magnet kids take 8.