Do the recommendations re: BCC boundary study come out today?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is all so crazy. Both schools are going to be great and successful and majority wealthy (and white). The vast majority of the county would love to go to either one. It's stunning that people think they're somehow burdened by having something like 15% poor kids. Grow up and see how fortunate you all are.

Exactly.

Amen (from a CC parent)

Wait until the flight begins. You are taking it for granted these parents won't go private. It is already beginning. I know of several parents, involved PTA members who have been instrumental in RHPS's successful PTA are already touring private schools since the decision came down. Hope RCF is ready to pick up the slack. I know it is going to make some people mad to hear this, especially those who want everyone to see everything their way but parents who have the means will look out for their own children first.

The good news is this is a solid case to break up the RHPS Triad. If equity and diversity doesn't matter and proximity does, then that should be the rule everywhere and the children of Chevy Chase should not be unfairly burdened when no one else in the county has this arrangement. I am already encouraging parents with babies and small children in my neighborhood to start sowing the seeds and campaign to end RHPS busing and revert to neighborhood schools since this ruling came down. MCPS shouldn't be able to have it both ways at the expense of small children.

RHPS Parent

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So what is the best way to express concern about the superintendent's decision?

Can someone address this question? thanks

Send an email to the individual Board Members, or [e-mail]. Conveniently for the Board, their vote on this issue is after the November 8th election so don't have to hear backlash at the polls in two weeks.

It's funny how they do that to avoid accountability. The council vote on the Subdivision Staging Policy is exactly one week after the election and they won't even have scheduled meetings (although I am sure they are meeting in private) on the downtown Bethesda Sector Plan until at least mid to late November, just in case anything leaks.

Considering that neither the BOE nor the council want people to know what they are going to do before the election, it is a strong indicator that they are not going to be making decisions favorable to communities. Therefore it is probably best to vote for Question B.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is all so crazy. Both schools are going to be great and successful and majority wealthy (and white). The vast majority of the county would love to go to either one. It's stunning that people think they're somehow burdened by having something like 15% poor kids. Grow up and see how fortunate you all are.

Exactly.

Amen (from a CC parent)

Wait until the flight begins. You are taking it for granted these parents won't go private. It is already beginning. I know of several parents, involved PTA members who have been instrumental in RHPS's successful PTA are already touring private schools since the decision came down. Hope RCF is ready to pick up the slack. I know it is going to make some people mad to hear this, especially those who want everyone to see everything their way but parents who have the means will look out for their own children first.

The good news is this is a solid case to break up the RHPS Triad. If equity and diversity doesn't matter and proximity does, then that should be the rule everywhere and the children of Chevy Chase should not be unfairly burdened when no one else in the county has this arrangement. I am already encouraging parents with babies and small children in my neighborhood to start sowing the seeds and campaign to end RHPS busing and revert to neighborhood schools since this ruling came down. MCPS shouldn't be able to have it both ways at the expense of small children.

RHPS Parent

Oh the drama!! If people are leaving for private then great...less crowded! Maybe that was all part of the evil plan.... But I love the hyperbole here, and in many other posts on this thread, like "if equity and diversity doesn't matter and proximity does..." - people, it is a balancing act! Everyone puts slightly different weight on the various considerations. It doesn't mean other factors don't matter. And honestly the two schools won't be all that different, really, in the scheme of things.

Keep telling yourself that! It's not a balancing act when one community is consistently railroaded because their name happens to be "Chevy Chase" even though we have as much, if not more, diversity and Farms than RCF. And do I need to point out the people leaving are the ones that put the time money and effort into the schools to make them better. You can't be that naive.

Honestly, it's just hard to have much sympathy for the CC parents on this issue (especially when presented with such dramatics). These same parents would probably say that their schools are better than the vast majority of the other schools in the county, and assuming that is true, you're doing pretty darn well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Honestly, it's just hard to have much sympathy for the CC parents on this issue (especially when presented with such dramatics). These same parents would probably say that their schools are better than the vast majority of the other schools in the county, and assuming that is true, you're doing pretty darn well.

CCES parent here. I would agree that the Triad is better than the vast majority of schools in the county. However, just because its seen by many as better does not make it an acceptable reason to screw over kids. Is it so wrong that I am not satisfied with being above average or even better than "the vast majority" of the county as PP put it, or that I want the absolute best for my children? I don't care what the county-wide FARMS rate, or racial makeup is, or capacity. I care about the school my kids go to. And if they're getting screwed over, as I believe option 7 is doing, then why would I not voice my concerns?

Ultimately, I think its a fair point being made by many PP - localization matters or diversity matters. With option 7 the super is talking out of both sides of his mouth. If they want to keep things local, readjust the ass-backward districting at RHES / CC / NCC and stop the bussing from CC to SS and vice versa. If they want to keep diversity, then move RCF to Westland.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Honestly, it's just hard to have much sympathy for the CC parents on this issue (especially when presented with such dramatics). These same parents would probably say that their schools are better than the vast majority of the other schools in the county, and assuming that is true, you're doing pretty darn well.

CCES parent here. I would agree that the Triad is better than the vast majority of schools in the county. However, just because its seen by many as better does not make it an acceptable reason to screw over kids. Is it so wrong that I am not satisfied with being above average or even better than "the vast majority" of the county as PP put it, or that I want the absolute best for my children? I don't care what the county-wide FARMS rate, or racial makeup is, or capacity. I care about the school my kids go to. And if they're getting screwed over, as I believe option 7 is doing, then why would I not voice my concerns?

Ultimately, I think its a fair point being made by many PP - localization matters or diversity matters. With option 7 the super is talking out of both sides of his mouth. If they want to keep things local, readjust the ass-backward districting at RHES / CC / NCC and stop the bussing from CC to SS and vice versa. If they want to keep diversity, then move RCF to Westland.

Its not voicing your opinion that's the problem. Its the fact that A) your outrage/reaction is overblown B) you don't seem to get that there are other opinions and/or others who would be "screwed over" if things went a different way. C) you also don't seem to get that the BCC MS#2 boundary study is a separate issue from the Triad set up. Further, we could've discussed breaking up the Triad prior to this decision as many people pointed out but its only after things didn't go your way that you are considering it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Honestly, it's just hard to have much sympathy for the CC parents on this issue (especially when presented with such dramatics). These same parents would probably say that their schools are better than the vast majority of the other schools in the county, and assuming that is true, you're doing pretty darn well.

CCES parent here. I would agree that the Triad is better than the vast majority of schools in the county. However, just because its seen by many as better does not make it an acceptable reason to screw over kids. Is it so wrong that I am not satisfied with being above average or even better than "the vast majority" of the county as PP put it, or that I want the absolute best for my children? I don't care what the county-wide FARMS rate, or racial makeup is, or capacity. I care about the school my kids go to. And if they're getting screwed over, as I believe option 7 is doing, then why would I not voice my concerns?

Ultimately, I think its a fair point being made by many PP - localization matters or diversity matters. With option 7 the super is talking out of both sides of his mouth. If they want to keep things local, readjust the ass-backward districting at RHES / CC / NCC and stop the bussing from CC to SS and vice versa. If they want to keep diversity, then move RCF to Westland.

I think Option 7 keeps the local principle in place and I am not sure that the "both sides of the mouth" argument makes a lot of sense here. It is not necessary for magnet programs to follow the same feeder patterns as regular school. In this case, everyone goes to the geographically closest MS, except if you elect to participate in a magnet program. If Westland gets too crowded, which I guarantee will happen much sooner than the projections, MCPS could in the future decide to move the Spanish magnet program to Silver Spring International or something like that. There is no guarantee that the magnet program will stay at Westland.

I would also point out for those concerned about FARMS, that BES has a FARMS rate near 10% this year. The downtown Bethesda sector plan calls for 15% affordable housing. All those units are likely to be occupied by families with kids, because why wouldn't they? In a few years time, the FARMS rate at BES could double and all of these kids would feed to Westland. I would not be so sure that the grass is greener and that while you concerns are valid, will hold out in time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Honestly, it's just hard to have much sympathy for the CC parents on this issue (especially when presented with such dramatics). These same parents would probably say that their schools are better than the vast majority of the other schools in the county, and assuming that is true, you're doing pretty darn well.

CCES parent here. I would agree that the Triad is better than the vast majority of schools in the county. However, just because its seen by many as better does not make it an acceptable reason to screw over kids. Is it so wrong that I am not satisfied with being above average or even better than "the vast majority" of the county as PP put it, or that I want the absolute best for my children? I don't care what the county-wide FARMS rate, or racial makeup is, or capacity. I care about the school my kids go to. And if they're getting screwed over, as I believe option 7 is doing, then why would I not voice my concerns?

Ultimately, I think its a fair point being made by many PP - localization matters or diversity matters. With option 7 the super is talking out of both sides of his mouth. If they want to keep things local, readjust the ass-backward districting at RHES / CC / NCC and stop the bussing from CC to SS and vice versa. If they want to keep diversity, then move RCF to Westland.

Its not voicing your opinion that's the problem. Its the fact that A) your outrage/reaction is overblown B) you don't seem to get that there are other opinions and/or others who would be "screwed over" if things went a different way. C) you also don't seem to get that the BCC MS#2 boundary study is a separate issue from the Triad set up. Further, we could've discussed breaking up the Triad prior to this decision as many people pointed out but its only after things didn't go your way that you are considering it.

There are multiple CCES parents posting here. And we are outraged and have every right to be. It's only overblown in your eyes because it isn't your community, your kids aren't getting screwed. We wanted to discuss breaking up the Triad prior because it made sense and we were told NO by the head of the boundary committee that they would not visit the boundary issue and the Triad issue at the same time. So we fought to keep the kids together rather than letting the Rosemary Hills neighborhood families get bused off and used as tokens to diversify Westland in a sea of strangers. In hindsight, it seems fighting to keep those kids with us was a mistake and created to unequal institutions, a return to Segregation in Westland's case. So you can just take a hike. I'll take my resources and go private with the other familes because I can.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Honestly, it's just hard to have much sympathy for the CC parents on this issue (especially when presented with such dramatics). These same parents would probably say that their schools are better than the vast majority of the other schools in the county, and assuming that is true, you're doing pretty darn well.

CCES parent here. I would agree that the Triad is better than the vast majority of schools in the county. However, just because its seen by many as better does not make it an acceptable reason to screw over kids. Is it so wrong that I am not satisfied with being above average or even better than "the vast majority" of the county as PP put it, or that I want the absolute best for my children? I don't care what the county-wide FARMS rate, or racial makeup is, or capacity. I care about the school my kids go to. And if they're getting screwed over, as I believe option 7 is doing, then why would I not voice my concerns?

Ultimately, I think its a fair point being made by many PP - localization matters or diversity matters. With option 7 the super is talking out of both sides of his mouth. If they want to keep things local, readjust the ass-backward districting at RHES / CC / NCC and stop the bussing from CC to SS and vice versa. If they want to keep diversity, then move RCF to Westland.

Its not voicing your opinion that's the problem. Its the fact that A) your outrage/reaction is overblown B) you don't seem to get that there are other opinions and/or others who would be "screwed over" if things went a different way. C) you also don't seem to get that the BCC MS#2 boundary study is a separate issue from the Triad set up. Further, we could've discussed breaking up the Triad prior to this decision as many people pointed out but its only after things didn't go your way that you are considering it.

There are multiple CCES parents posting here. And we are outraged and have every right to be. It's only overblown in your eyes because it isn't your community, your kids aren't getting screwed. We wanted to discuss breaking up the Triad prior because it made sense and we were told NO by the head of the boundary committee that they would not visit the boundary issue and the Triad issue at the same time. So we fought to keep the kids together rather than letting the Rosemary Hills neighborhood families get bused off and used as tokens to diversify Westland in a sea of strangers. In hindsight, it seems fighting to keep those kids with us was a mistake and created to unequal institutions, a return to Segregation in Westland's case. So you can just take a hike. I'll take my resources and go private with the other familes because I can.

Under the option selected, RCF is being split up (despite the success the school has had with integrating the two programs). Under the option you want, the RCF families would "get bused off and used as tokens to diversity Westland in a sea of strangers."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Honestly, it's just hard to have much sympathy for the CC parents on this issue (especially when presented with such dramatics). These same parents would probably say that their schools are better than the vast majority of the other schools in the county, and assuming that is true, you're doing pretty darn well.

CCES parent here. I would agree that the Triad is better than the vast majority of schools in the county. However, just because its seen by many as better does not make it an acceptable reason to screw over kids. Is it so wrong that I am not satisfied with being above average or even better than "the vast majority" of the county as PP put it, or that I want the absolute best for my children? I don't care what the county-wide FARMS rate, or racial makeup is, or capacity. I care about the school my kids go to. And if they're getting screwed over, as I believe option 7 is doing, then why would I not voice my concerns?

Ultimately, I think its a fair point being made by many PP - localization matters or diversity matters. With option 7 the super is talking out of both sides of his mouth. If they want to keep things local, readjust the ass-backward districting at RHES / CC / NCC and stop the bussing from CC to SS and vice versa. If they want to keep diversity, then move RCF to Westland.

Its not voicing your opinion that's the problem. Its the fact that A) your outrage/reaction is overblown B) you don't seem to get that there are other opinions and/or others who would be "screwed over" if things went a different way. C) you also don't seem to get that the BCC MS#2 boundary study is a separate issue from the Triad set up. Further, we could've discussed breaking up the Triad prior to this decision as many people pointed out but its only after things didn't go your way that you are considering it.

There are multiple CCES parents posting here. And we are outraged and have every right to be. It's only overblown in your eyes because it isn't your community, your kids aren't getting screwed. We wanted to discuss breaking up the Triad prior because it made sense and we were told NO by the head of the boundary committee that they would not visit the boundary issue and the Triad issue at the same time. So we fought to keep the kids together rather than letting the Rosemary Hills neighborhood families get bused off and used as tokens to diversify Westland in a sea of strangers. In hindsight, it seems fighting to keep those kids with us was a mistake and created to unequal institutions, a return to Segregation in Westland's case. So you can just take a hike. I'll take my resources and go private with the other familes because I can.

Again, because your preference didn't go forward you can't see the impact on others. We did get screwed by A) being split from the rest of our school and B) having to go to the further middle school and middle school that is less desirable per our community desires. But unlike you I'm not raising hell on these boards and realize there is no perfect option to satisfy all parties. I'm happy the Triad didn't split (even though we did) and I'm happy the FARMs kid at RCF who do live in public housing and who don't have transportation will not have to travel across the cluster.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Under the option selected, RCF is being split up (despite the success the school has had with integrating the two programs). Under the option you want, the RCF families would "get bused off and used as tokens to diversity Westland in a sea of strangers."

I'm not sure that's accurate. I believe, but am not positive, that the Spanish Immersion program is not full of ESOLs, and would guess not as high on the FARMS list. Therefore the ESOL / FARMS are going to MS#2 and the Spanish Immersion are going to Westland. No token kids being moved to lilly-white Westland under option 7.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Honestly, it's just hard to have much sympathy for the CC parents on this issue (especially when presented with such dramatics). These same parents would probably say that their schools are better than the vast majority of the other schools in the county, and assuming that is true, you're doing pretty darn well.

CCES parent here. I would agree that the Triad is better than the vast majority of schools in the county. However, just because its seen by many as better does not make it an acceptable reason to screw over kids. Is it so wrong that I am not satisfied with being above average or even better than "the vast majority" of the county as PP put it, or that I want the absolute best for my children? I don't care what the county-wide FARMS rate, or racial makeup is, or capacity. I care about the school my kids go to. And if they're getting screwed over, as I believe option 7 is doing, then why would I not voice my concerns?

Ultimately, I think its a fair point being made by many PP - localization matters or diversity matters. With option 7 the super is talking out of both sides of his mouth. If they want to keep things local, readjust the ass-backward districting at RHES / CC / NCC and stop the bussing from CC to SS and vice versa. If they want to keep diversity, then move RCF to Westland.

Its not voicing your opinion that's the problem. Its the fact that A) your outrage/reaction is overblown B) you don't seem to get that there are other opinions and/or others who would be "screwed over" if things went a different way. C) you also don't seem to get that the BCC MS#2 boundary study is a separate issue from the Triad set up. Further, we could've discussed breaking up the Triad prior to this decision as many people pointed out but its only after things didn't go your way that you are considering it.

There are multiple CCES parents posting here. And we are outraged and have every right to be. It's only overblown in your eyes because it isn't your community, your kids aren't getting screwed. We wanted to discuss breaking up the Triad prior because it made sense and we were told NO by the head of the boundary committee that they would not visit the boundary issue and the Triad issue at the same time. So we fought to keep the kids together rather than letting the Rosemary Hills neighborhood families get bused off and used as tokens to diversify Westland in a sea of strangers. In hindsight, it seems fighting to keep those kids with us was a mistake and created to unequal institutions, a return to Segregation in Westland's case. So you can just take a hike. I'll take my resources and go private with the other familes because I can.

There are also many CCES families that are FINE with option #7 because we got the number one priority which is to not split our kids again. I am so sad about how many posts here are saying they will take their kids to private school because god forbid there is a 15% farms rate-- and I call BS on the continued argument that you are all really concerned about overcrowding-- our kids are now at Westland and BCC which are overcrowded. Say what you mean. You don't want your kids at school with lower income kids. And I am so disgusted by how many people are on this board feeling this way. Many CCES parents and families are fine with this option-- that was apparent as soon as the PTS told parents it was against the Superintendent's decision-- quite a few parents immediately wrote back and said they saw nothing wrong with the option. I bet that view is held by many parents.

[Anonymous]

I'm an NCC parent, not CCES, and I know many families who are unhappy with Option 7. We strongly preferred Option 1, and we're really concerned about already being at capacity when the new middle school opens. There was a big debate in the discussions on siting the new middle school that focused around equivalence of the programming. Based on the capacity and demographic differences (which will require greater support at the new middle school as compared with post-split Westland), many of us are very skeptical that our children will be getting an equivalent education at the new middle school versus Westland.

And yes, we feel badly served by an administration that imposes busing on our young elementary kids - but insists that all others in the BCC zone are entitled to the most convenient school options. This is a double standard, and if the other elementaries think it's so wonderful, why not substitute BE and Somerset K-2 students for ours at RHPS?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Under the option selected, RCF is being split up (despite the success the school has had with integrating the two programs). Under the option you want, the RCF families would "get bused off and used as tokens to diversity Westland in a sea of strangers."

I'm not sure that's accurate. I believe, but am not positive, that the Spanish Immersion program is not full of ESOLs, and would guess not as high on the FARMS list. Therefore the ESOL / FARMS are going to MS#2 and the Spanish Immersion are going to Westland. No token kids being moved to lilly-white Westland under option 7.

The point was that under the option advocated for by the CC parents, the RCF ESOL kids would be bussed to Westland. Under the option selected, none of the lower-income families are bussed to the farther option.

[Anonymous]

NCC/RHPS parent here who is also OK with Option #7. It wasn't my first pick but addresses my primary concern of avoiding a 2nd split articulation and certainly seems reasonable even if it wasn't my first choice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Honestly, it's just hard to have much sympathy for the CC parents on this issue (especially when presented with such dramatics). These same parents would probably say that their schools are better than the vast majority of the other schools in the county, and assuming that is true, you're doing pretty darn well.

CCES parent here. I would agree that the Triad is better than the vast majority of schools in the county. However, just because its seen by many as better does not make it an acceptable reason to screw over kids. Is it so wrong that I am not satisfied with being above average or even better than "the vast majority" of the county as PP put it, or that I want the absolute best for my children? I don't care what the county-wide FARMS rate, or racial makeup is, or capacity. I care about the school my kids go to. And if they're getting screwed over, as I believe option 7 is doing, then why would I not voice my concerns?

Ultimately, I think its a fair point being made by many PP - localization matters or diversity matters. With option 7 the super is talking out of both sides of his mouth. If they want to keep things local, readjust the ass-backward districting at RHES / CC / NCC and stop the bussing from CC to SS and vice versa. If they want to keep diversity, then move RCF to Westland.

Its not voicing your opinion that's the problem. Its the fact that A) your outrage/reaction is overblown B) you don't seem to get that there are other opinions and/or others who would be "screwed over" if things went a different way. C) you also don't seem to get that the BCC MS#2 boundary study is a separate issue from the Triad set up. Further, we could've discussed breaking up the Triad prior to this decision as many people pointed out but its only after things didn't go your way that you are considering it.

There are multiple CCES parents posting here. And we are outraged and have every right to be. It's only overblown in your eyes because it isn't your community, your kids aren't getting screwed. We wanted to discuss breaking up the Triad prior because it made sense and we were told NO by the head of the boundary committee that they would not visit the boundary issue and the Triad issue at the same time. So we fought to keep the kids together rather than letting the Rosemary Hills neighborhood families get bused off and used as tokens to diversify Westland in a sea of strangers. In hindsight, it seems fighting to keep those kids with us was a mistake and created to unequal institutions, a return to Segregation in Westland's case. So you can just take a hike. I'll take my resources and go private with the other familes because I can.

There are also many CCES families that are FINE with option #7 because we got the number one priority which is to not split our kids again. I am so sad about how many posts here are saying they will take their kids to private school because god forbid there is a 15% farms rate-- and I call BS on the continued argument that you are all really concerned about overcrowding-- our kids are now at Westland and BCC which are overcrowded. Say what you mean. You don't want your kids at school with lower income kids. And I am so disgusted by how many people are on this board feeling this way. Many CCES parents and families are fine with this option-- that was apparent as soon as the PTS told parents it was against the Superintendent's decision-- quite a few parents immediately wrote back and said they saw nothing wrong with the option. I bet that view is held by many parents.

I 100% agree. I can guarantee you that there would not be the same outcry about crowding if it were BE or Somerset going to MS2 instead of RCF.