3/9 and 3/10 public hearings

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I watched yesterday's video recording, and it was not a pleasant experience. BOE chose to let the CO staff to defend their projection, whereas Wootton parents insisted their data were flawed. So they ended up in stuck, and BOE apparently firmly believed in the former. It's a lost war to me from a spectator's perspective.

That sets up the BOE’s decision as being arbitrary and capricious. Disregarding clear data flaws is the very definition. If the BOE were smart (and honest) it would redo its numbers. But that would mean Wootton can’t move to Crown in the fall of 2027.

The data doesn’t seem flawed. I’ve watched all the presentations even the joint one with planning board. It all seems very defensible and would withstand legal challenge.

A court looks at everything - it’s not obligated to believe anyone.

Uh no.
No, they look at the record before it. And will defer to policy makers when reasoned. Seems reasoned here. I wouldn’t want to be the one wasting money on this suit. MCPS will win despite you not liking it.

Suing because you didn’t get the outcome you wanted is such a waste of money…why won’t they learn that MCPS and the BOE can make these decisions? They choose to give communities a voice…it doesn’t mean they have to agree with what is said.

Just like buying EV buses?

And don’t forget the millions they spent on the Supreme Court loss

Was that a good thing? I'm confused.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I watched yesterday's video recording, and it was not a pleasant experience. BOE chose to let the CO staff to defend their projection, whereas Wootton parents insisted their data were flawed. So they ended up in stuck, and BOE apparently firmly believed in the former. It's a lost war to me from a spectator's perspective.

That sets up the BOE’s decision as being arbitrary and capricious. Disregarding clear data flaws is the very definition. If the BOE were smart (and honest) it would redo its numbers. But that would mean Wootton can’t move to Crown in the fall of 2027.

The data doesn’t seem flawed. I’ve watched all the presentations even the joint one with planning board. It all seems very defensible and would withstand legal challenge.

A court looks at everything - it’s not obligated to believe anyone.

Uh no.
No, they look at the record before it. And will defer to policy makers when reasoned. Seems reasoned here. I wouldn’t want to be the one wasting money on this suit. MCPS will win despite you not liking it.

So you just made my point. A court looks at everything. It also doesn’t have to defer to policy makers. There is insufficient evidence to indicate a process of reasoned elaboration here - indeed, there is a clear rush to a decision based on external factors.

The burden is on plaintiffs to show some kind of law violation. “Insufficient evidence to indicate a process of reasoned elaboration” is ridiculous. There was a scope, there were consultants, there were options, there was feedback. That’s all part of the process even if the option selected wasn’t always under consideration. Then there’s the CO recommendation and report, calculations, and cooperation with the Planning Dept.

It doesn’t mean MCPS is right about the numbers. But they don’t have to be right. Projections are inherently projecting an unknown. If you could see the future you wouldn’t need projections. For a court, they don’t have to be right, they have to be not arbitrary or discriminatory.

A lawsuit will not win unless the MAGA SC just wants to stick it to Montgomery County enough to do something without a basis in the law, which is of course a real possibility at this point.

You just made the case. You can’t have reasoned elaboration if you didn’t actually do it. Proposing and then recommending Option H in less than 2 months is ridiculous, especially when the BOE is now faced with evidence that their numbers are faulty. Also, you do need strong indická that MCPS is right, and the fact that MCPS used faulty projections to build Crown makes its current projections similarly suspect.

And it’s arbitrary and capricious, not discriminatory.

The court doesn't replace MCPS's judgment with its own or do its own analysis. It assesses whether MCPS did a careful and defensible job. All modeling like this requires a ton of assumptions. I've not seen any evidence (not the slightest) that MCPS's assumptions were arbitrary. They are not the assumptions you choose to make but they are certainly defensible.

People also keep arguing "corruption" without any explanation for why MCPS might be motivated to favor Magruder over Wootton. (And in fact, it seems like reasonable people like Wootton teachers favor this proposal so it's difficult to even make the claim that Wootton is being treated worse than other schools. You don't personally like the outcome but it seems like many important stakeholders think Wootton is benefiting from this proposal.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I watched yesterday's video recording, and it was not a pleasant experience. BOE chose to let the CO staff to defend their projection, whereas Wootton parents insisted their data were flawed. So they ended up in stuck, and BOE apparently firmly believed in the former. It's a lost war to me from a spectator's perspective.

That sets up the BOE’s decision as being arbitrary and capricious. Disregarding clear data flaws is the very definition. If the BOE were smart (and honest) it would redo its numbers. But that would mean Wootton can’t move to Crown in the fall of 2027.

The data doesn’t seem flawed. I’ve watched all the presentations even the joint one with planning board. It all seems very defensible and would withstand legal challenge.

A court looks at everything - it’s not obligated to believe anyone.

Uh no.
No, they look at the record before it. And will defer to policy makers when reasoned. Seems reasoned here. I wouldn’t want to be the one wasting money on this suit. MCPS will win despite you not liking it.

Suing because you didn’t get the outcome you wanted is such a waste of money…why won’t they learn that MCPS and the BOE can make these decisions? They choose to give communities a voice…it doesn’t mean they have to agree with what is said.

Lawsuits will turn up corruption. This whole process has been bizarre and there is no logical argument as to why Wootton should close but Magruder remain open. Hold them to the fire and let’s see what turns up.

And then this board will light up complaining about all the money MCPS spent on lawsuits…it’s like a full circle, that we end up causing.

If everything is on the up and up, why is MCPS (and posters on DCUM) afraid of what it might uncover? If there’s such confidence, then the case should get dismissed quickly, so little to no legal expenses. Then again, MCPS blew millions on a case that went all the way to the Supreme Court when if had a very inexpensive alternative it could have taken (but flatly refused, even though it had done it before).

This logic is so faulty. Filing lawsuits because you don’t like something and want to see what if “something sticks.”

Do you welcome any and all lawsuits that anybody could file against you in your personal and professional capacity because you are confident you have done nothing wrong?

Or maybe do you see it as a wasteful drain on time and resources?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I watched yesterday's video recording, and it was not a pleasant experience. BOE chose to let the CO staff to defend their projection, whereas Wootton parents insisted their data were flawed. So they ended up in stuck, and BOE apparently firmly believed in the former. It's a lost war to me from a spectator's perspective.

That sets up the BOE’s decision as being arbitrary and capricious. Disregarding clear data flaws is the very definition. If the BOE were smart (and honest) it would redo its numbers. But that would mean Wootton can’t move to Crown in the fall of 2027.

The data doesn’t seem flawed. I’ve watched all the presentations even the joint one with planning board. It all seems very defensible and would withstand legal challenge.

A court looks at everything - it’s not obligated to believe anyone.

Uh no.
No, they look at the record before it. And will defer to policy makers when reasoned. Seems reasoned here. I wouldn’t want to be the one wasting money on this suit. MCPS will win despite you not liking it.

Suing because you didn’t get the outcome you wanted is such a waste of money…why won’t they learn that MCPS and the BOE can make these decisions? They choose to give communities a voice…it doesn’t mean they have to agree with what is said.

Lawsuits will turn up corruption. This whole process has been bizarre and there is no logical argument as to why Wootton should close but Magruder remain open. Hold them to the fire and let’s see what turns up.

And then this board will light up complaining about all the money MCPS spent on lawsuits…it’s like a full circle, that we end up causing.

If everything is on the up and up, why is MCPS (and posters on DCUM) afraid of what it might uncover? If there’s such confidence, then the case should get dismissed quickly, so little to no legal expenses. Then again, MCPS blew millions on a case that went all the way to the Supreme Court when if had a very inexpensive alternative it could have taken (but flatly refused, even though it had done it before).

This logic is so faulty. Filing lawsuits because you don’t like something and want to see what if “something sticks.”

Do you welcome any and all lawsuits that anybody could file against you in your personal and professional capacity because you are confident you have done nothing wrong?

Or maybe do you see it as a wasteful drain on time and resources?

Litigation is often the only way for the truth to come out. Maybe MCPS should have thought about the risk of litigation before it cooked up Option H and tried to sneak it past everyone over the holidays? Why do that if it was perfectly legal? Why fear litigation if MCPS is right? Indeed, the case should get dismissed quickly if MCPS is right.

Then again, MCPS thought it was right until the Supreme Court told it that it was dead wrong. Likewise, MCPS broke the rules when it bought EV buses. Seems like MCPS can get important matters very wrong.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I watched yesterday's video recording, and it was not a pleasant experience. BOE chose to let the CO staff to defend their projection, whereas Wootton parents insisted their data were flawed. So they ended up in stuck, and BOE apparently firmly believed in the former. It's a lost war to me from a spectator's perspective.

Thatbis consistent with the role the BOE always plays — as a rubber stamp.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I watched yesterday's video recording, and it was not a pleasant experience. BOE chose to let the CO staff to defend their projection, whereas Wootton parents insisted their data were flawed. So they ended up in stuck, and BOE apparently firmly believed in the former. It's a lost war to me from a spectator's perspective.

That sets up the BOE’s decision as being arbitrary and capricious. Disregarding clear data flaws is the very definition. If the BOE were smart (and honest) it would redo its numbers. But that would mean Wootton can’t move to Crown in the fall of 2027.

The data doesn’t seem flawed. I’ve watched all the presentations even the joint one with planning board. It all seems very defensible and would withstand legal challenge.

We will find out. I’m sure Wootton and Woodward parents will be suing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I watched yesterday's video recording, and it was not a pleasant experience. BOE chose to let the CO staff to defend their projection, whereas Wootton parents insisted their data were flawed. So they ended up in stuck, and BOE apparently firmly believed in the former. It's a lost war to me from a spectator's perspective.

That sets up the BOE’s decision as being arbitrary and capricious. Disregarding clear data flaws is the very definition. If the BOE were smart (and honest) it would redo its numbers. But that would mean Wootton can’t move to Crown in the fall of 2027.

The data doesn’t seem flawed. I’ve watched all the presentations even the joint one with planning board. It all seems very defensible and would withstand legal challenge.

We will find out. I’m sure Wootton and Woodward parents will be suing.

Agreed. If the data MCPS is using is defensible, why do so many on DCUM fear judicial scrutiny?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lots of people from Magruder there testifying. Also a bunch from SSIMS.

I wonder why MCPS did not point to the additional out-of-bounds immersion students to explain that SSIMS will actually still be around average size for MCPS middle schools? It's a weird omission....

The concerns expressed about RM's numbers offer an analogy. The current attendance, overcapacity, reflects a relatively larger magnet population than the expected differential (small, with nearly as many leaving for other magnets as coming in) from home-catchment populations projected (themselves declining with the overall school-aged population trend) in the out year of the boundary study. Yet some RM stakeholders (and some of those from Wootton grasping at straws) can't wrap their heads around that.

On the other hand, as another poster noted, there might be only French Immersion (if that) continuing at SSIMS, and of the 100-120 across three grades, there, many would come from the proposed home catchment. They might get a bump of 30-50 students, at most, in that case.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I watched yesterday's video recording, and it was not a pleasant experience. BOE chose to let the CO staff to defend their projection, whereas Wootton parents insisted their data were flawed. So they ended up in stuck, and BOE apparently firmly believed in the former. It's a lost war to me from a spectator's perspective.

That sets up the BOE’s decision as being arbitrary and capricious. Disregarding clear data flaws is the very definition. If the BOE were smart (and honest) it would redo its numbers. But that would mean Wootton can’t move to Crown in the fall of 2027.

The data doesn’t seem flawed. I’ve watched all the presentations even the joint one with planning board. It all seems very defensible and would withstand legal challenge.

A court looks at everything - it’s not obligated to believe anyone.

Uh no.
No, they look at the record before it. And will defer to policy makers when reasoned. Seems reasoned here. I wouldn’t want to be the one wasting money on this suit. MCPS will win despite you not liking it.

Suing because you didn’t get the outcome you wanted is such a waste of money…why won’t they learn that MCPS and the BOE can make these decisions? They choose to give communities a voice…it doesn’t mean they have to agree with what is said.

Lawsuits will turn up corruption. This whole process has been bizarre and there is no logical argument as to why Wootton should close but Magruder remain open. Hold them to the fire and let’s see what turns up.

And then this board will light up complaining about all the money MCPS spent on lawsuits…it’s like a full circle, that we end up causing.

If everything is on the up and up, why is MCPS (and posters on DCUM) afraid of what it might uncover? If there’s such confidence, then the case should get dismissed quickly, so little to no legal expenses. Then again, MCPS blew millions on a case that went all the way to the Supreme Court when if had a very inexpensive alternative it could have taken (but flatly refused, even though it had done it before).

This logic is so faulty. Filing lawsuits because you don’t like something and want to see what if “something sticks.”

Do you welcome any and all lawsuits that anybody could file against you in your personal and professional capacity because you are confident you have done nothing wrong?

Or maybe do you see it as a wasteful drain on time and resources?

Litigation is often the only way for the truth to come out. Maybe MCPS should have thought about the risk of litigation before it cooked up Option H and tried to sneak it past everyone over the holidays? Why do that if it was perfectly legal? Why fear litigation if MCPS is right? Indeed, the case should get dismissed quickly if MCPS is right.

Then again, MCPS thought it was right until the Supreme Court told it that it was dead wrong. Likewise, MCPS broke the rules when it bought EV buses. Seems like MCPS can get important matters very wrong.

People keep trying to make this point that they snuck it in before the holidays and no one had a chance to comment or respond to it. This is demonstrably false. There was a survey, which a lot of people in the Wootton cluster responded to, and there have been public meetings. They can’t make people engage.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I watched yesterday's video recording, and it was not a pleasant experience. BOE chose to let the CO staff to defend their projection, whereas Wootton parents insisted their data were flawed. So they ended up in stuck, and BOE apparently firmly believed in the former. It's a lost war to me from a spectator's perspective.

That sets up the BOE’s decision as being arbitrary and capricious. Disregarding clear data flaws is the very definition. If the BOE were smart (and honest) it would redo its numbers. But that would mean Wootton can’t move to Crown in the fall of 2027.

The data doesn’t seem flawed. I’ve watched all the presentations even the joint one with planning board. It all seems very defensible and would withstand legal challenge.

A court looks at everything - it’s not obligated to believe anyone.

Uh no.
No, they look at the record before it. And will defer to policy makers when reasoned. Seems reasoned here. I wouldn’t want to be the one wasting money on this suit. MCPS will win despite you not liking it.

Suing because you didn’t get the outcome you wanted is such a waste of money…why won’t they learn that MCPS and the BOE can make these decisions? They choose to give communities a voice…it doesn’t mean they have to agree with what is said.

Lawsuits will turn up corruption. This whole process has been bizarre and there is no logical argument as to why Wootton should close but Magruder remain open. Hold them to the fire and let’s see what turns up.

And then this board will light up complaining about all the money MCPS spent on lawsuits…it’s like a full circle, that we end up causing.

If everything is on the up and up, why is MCPS (and posters on DCUM) afraid of what it might uncover? If there’s such confidence, then the case should get dismissed quickly, so little to no legal expenses. Then again, MCPS blew millions on a case that went all the way to the Supreme Court when if had a very inexpensive alternative it could have taken (but flatly refused, even though it had done it before).

This logic is so faulty. Filing lawsuits because you don’t like something and want to see what if “something sticks.”

Do you welcome any and all lawsuits that anybody could file against you in your personal and professional capacity because you are confident you have done nothing wrong?

Or maybe do you see it as a wasteful drain on time and resources?

Litigation is often the only way for the truth to come out. Maybe MCPS should have thought about the risk of litigation before it cooked up Option H and tried to sneak it past everyone over the holidays? Why do that if it was perfectly legal? Why fear litigation if MCPS is right? Indeed, the case should get dismissed quickly if MCPS is right.

Then again, MCPS thought it was right until the Supreme Court told it that it was dead wrong. Likewise, MCPS broke the rules when it bought EV buses. Seems like MCPS can get important matters very wrong.

People keep trying to make this point that they snuck it in before the holidays and no one had a chance to comment or respond to it. This is demonstrably false. There was a survey, which a lot of people in the Wootton cluster responded to, and there have been public meetings. They can’t make people engage.

Violating Policy FAA is a fact.
They can’t follow their own Policy. That exposes them to lawsuits.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I watched yesterday's video recording, and it was not a pleasant experience. BOE chose to let the CO staff to defend their projection, whereas Wootton parents insisted their data were flawed. So they ended up in stuck, and BOE apparently firmly believed in the former. It's a lost war to me from a spectator's perspective.

That sets up the BOE’s decision as being arbitrary and capricious. Disregarding clear data flaws is the very definition. If the BOE were smart (and honest) it would redo its numbers. But that would mean Wootton can’t move to Crown in the fall of 2027.

The data doesn’t seem flawed. I’ve watched all the presentations even the joint one with planning board. It all seems very defensible and would withstand legal challenge.

A court looks at everything - it’s not obligated to believe anyone.

Uh no.
No, they look at the record before it. And will defer to policy makers when reasoned. Seems reasoned here. I wouldn’t want to be the one wasting money on this suit. MCPS will win despite you not liking it.

Suing because you didn’t get the outcome you wanted is such a waste of money…why won’t they learn that MCPS and the BOE can make these decisions? They choose to give communities a voice…it doesn’t mean they have to agree with what is said.

Lawsuits will turn up corruption. This whole process has been bizarre and there is no logical argument as to why Wootton should close but Magruder remain open. Hold them to the fire and let’s see what turns up.

And then this board will light up complaining about all the money MCPS spent on lawsuits…it’s like a full circle, that we end up causing.

If everything is on the up and up, why is MCPS (and posters on DCUM) afraid of what it might uncover? If there’s such confidence, then the case should get dismissed quickly, so little to no legal expenses. Then again, MCPS blew millions on a case that went all the way to the Supreme Court when if had a very inexpensive alternative it could have taken (but flatly refused, even though it had done it before).

This logic is so faulty. Filing lawsuits because you don’t like something and want to see what if “something sticks.”

Do you welcome any and all lawsuits that anybody could file against you in your personal and professional capacity because you are confident you have done nothing wrong?

Or maybe do you see it as a wasteful drain on time and resources?

Litigation is often the only way for the truth to come out. Maybe MCPS should have thought about the risk of litigation before it cooked up Option H and tried to sneak it past everyone over the holidays? Why do that if it was perfectly legal? Why fear litigation if MCPS is right? Indeed, the case should get dismissed quickly if MCPS is right.

Then again, MCPS thought it was right until the Supreme Court told it that it was dead wrong. Likewise, MCPS broke the rules when it bought EV buses. Seems like MCPS can get important matters very wrong.

People keep trying to make this point that they snuck it in before the holidays and no one had a chance to comment or respond to it. This is demonstrably false. There was a survey, which a lot of people in the Wootton cluster responded to, and there have been public meetings. They can’t make people engage.

Violating Policy FAA is a fact.
They can’t follow their own Policy. That exposes them to lawsuits.

Which part of FAA are you claiming was violated?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I watched yesterday's video recording, and it was not a pleasant experience. BOE chose to let the CO staff to defend their projection, whereas Wootton parents insisted their data were flawed. So they ended up in stuck, and BOE apparently firmly believed in the former. It's a lost war to me from a spectator's perspective.

That sets up the BOE’s decision as being arbitrary and capricious. Disregarding clear data flaws is the very definition. If the BOE were smart (and honest) it would redo its numbers. But that would mean Wootton can’t move to Crown in the fall of 2027.

The data doesn’t seem flawed. I’ve watched all the presentations even the joint one with planning board. It all seems very defensible and would withstand legal challenge.

A court looks at everything - it’s not obligated to believe anyone.

Uh no.
No, they look at the record before it. And will defer to policy makers when reasoned. Seems reasoned here. I wouldn’t want to be the one wasting money on this suit. MCPS will win despite you not liking it.

Suing because you didn’t get the outcome you wanted is such a waste of money…why won’t they learn that MCPS and the BOE can make these decisions? They choose to give communities a voice…it doesn’t mean they have to agree with what is said.

Lawsuits will turn up corruption. This whole process has been bizarre and there is no logical argument as to why Wootton should close but Magruder remain open. Hold them to the fire and let’s see what turns up.

And then this board will light up complaining about all the money MCPS spent on lawsuits…it’s like a full circle, that we end up causing.

If everything is on the up and up, why is MCPS (and posters on DCUM) afraid of what it might uncover? If there’s such confidence, then the case should get dismissed quickly, so little to no legal expenses. Then again, MCPS blew millions on a case that went all the way to the Supreme Court when if had a very inexpensive alternative it could have taken (but flatly refused, even though it had done it before).

This logic is so faulty. Filing lawsuits because you don’t like something and want to see what if “something sticks.”

Do you welcome any and all lawsuits that anybody could file against you in your personal and professional capacity because you are confident you have done nothing wrong?

Or maybe do you see it as a wasteful drain on time and resources?

Litigation is often the only way for the truth to come out. Maybe MCPS should have thought about the risk of litigation before it cooked up Option H and tried to sneak it past everyone over the holidays? Why do that if it was perfectly legal? Why fear litigation if MCPS is right? Indeed, the case should get dismissed quickly if MCPS is right.

Then again, MCPS thought it was right until the Supreme Court told it that it was dead wrong. Likewise, MCPS broke the rules when it bought EV buses. Seems like MCPS can get important matters very wrong.

People keep trying to make this point that they snuck it in before the holidays and no one had a chance to comment or respond to it. This is demonstrably false. There was a survey, which a lot of people in the Wootton cluster responded to, and there have been public meetings. They can’t make people engage.

Go ahead and tell us what the survey results were. And while you’re at it, what was the community’s response at the public meetings? They didn’t have to make anyone engage - sneaking in Option H in early December guaranteed community response would be delayed until after the 1st of the year. Then a snowstorm hit and meetings were canceled.

So yeah, MCPS gave little time for a response. But when that response came, it was loud and unequivocal but MCPS ignored it anyway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lots of people from Magruder there testifying. Also a bunch from SSIMS.

I wonder why MCPS did not point to the additional out-of-bounds immersion students to explain that SSIMS will actually still be around average size for MCPS middle schools? It's a weird omission....

The concerns expressed about RM's numbers offer an analogy. The current attendance, overcapacity, reflects a relatively larger magnet population than the expected differential (small, with nearly as many leaving for other magnets as coming in) from home-catchment populations projected (themselves declining with the overall school-aged population trend) in the out year of the boundary study. Yet some RM stakeholders (and some of those from Wootton grasping at straws) can't wrap their heads around that.

On the other hand, as another poster noted, there might be only French Immersion (if that) continuing at SSIMS, and of the 100-120 across three grades, there, many would come from the proposed home catchment. They might get a bump of 30-50 students, at most, in that case.

But that "expected differential" is based on assumptions (MCPS 's word, not mine). They still have not surveyed families and just made up numbers that are not reflective of past trends. You know what happens when you assume...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I watched yesterday's video recording, and it was not a pleasant experience. BOE chose to let the CO staff to defend their projection, whereas Wootton parents insisted their data were flawed. So they ended up in stuck, and BOE apparently firmly believed in the former. It's a lost war to me from a spectator's perspective.

That sets up the BOE’s decision as being arbitrary and capricious. Disregarding clear data flaws is the very definition. If the BOE were smart (and honest) it would redo its numbers. But that would mean Wootton can’t move to Crown in the fall of 2027.

The data doesn’t seem flawed. I’ve watched all the presentations even the joint one with planning board. It all seems very defensible and would withstand legal challenge.

A court looks at everything - it’s not obligated to believe anyone.

Uh no.
No, they look at the record before it. And will defer to policy makers when reasoned. Seems reasoned here. I wouldn’t want to be the one wasting money on this suit. MCPS will win despite you not liking it.

Suing because you didn’t get the outcome you wanted is such a waste of money…why won’t they learn that MCPS and the BOE can make these decisions? They choose to give communities a voice…it doesn’t mean they have to agree with what is said.

Lawsuits will turn up corruption. This whole process has been bizarre and there is no logical argument as to why Wootton should close but Magruder remain open. Hold them to the fire and let’s see what turns up.

And then this board will light up complaining about all the money MCPS spent on lawsuits…it’s like a full circle, that we end up causing.

If everything is on the up and up, why is MCPS (and posters on DCUM) afraid of what it might uncover? If there’s such confidence, then the case should get dismissed quickly, so little to no legal expenses. Then again, MCPS blew millions on a case that went all the way to the Supreme Court when if had a very inexpensive alternative it could have taken (but flatly refused, even though it had done it before).

This logic is so faulty. Filing lawsuits because you don’t like something and want to see what if “something sticks.”

Do you welcome any and all lawsuits that anybody could file against you in your personal and professional capacity because you are confident you have done nothing wrong?

Or maybe do you see it as a wasteful drain on time and resources?

Litigation is often the only way for the truth to come out. Maybe MCPS should have thought about the risk of litigation before it cooked up Option H and tried to sneak it past everyone over the holidays? Why do that if it was perfectly legal? Why fear litigation if MCPS is right? Indeed, the case should get dismissed quickly if MCPS is right.

Then again, MCPS thought it was right until the Supreme Court told it that it was dead wrong. Likewise, MCPS broke the rules when it bought EV buses. Seems like MCPS can get important matters very wrong.

People keep trying to make this point that they snuck it in before the holidays and no one had a chance to comment or respond to it. This is demonstrably false. There was a survey, which a lot of people in the Wootton cluster responded to, and there have been public meetings. They can’t make people engage.

Go ahead and tell us what the survey results were. And while you’re at it, what was the community’s response at the public meetings? They didn’t have to make anyone engage - sneaking in Option H in early December guaranteed community response would be delayed until after the 1st of the year. Then a snowstorm hit and meetings were canceled.

So yeah, MCPS gave little time for a response. But when that response came, it was loud and unequivocal but MCPS ignored it anyway.

Just because the opposition is loud, doesn't mean MCPS or the BOE needs to follow it.

MCPS has already incorporated feedback into the process (moving Cold Spring into Churchill, moved Fields Road to Wootton). They've held multiple meetings and took many survey results. There's been a robust debate between all the stakeholders.

This kind of decision isn't decided by whether a school population supports it or not; there's going to be various trade-offs of any decision, even maintaining the status quo.

MCPS and BOE need to make decisions based on the entire county holistically and not let the process to be hijacked by an outspoken minority.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I watched yesterday's video recording, and it was not a pleasant experience. BOE chose to let the CO staff to defend their projection, whereas Wootton parents insisted their data were flawed. So they ended up in stuck, and BOE apparently firmly believed in the former. It's a lost war to me from a spectator's perspective.

That sets up the BOE’s decision as being arbitrary and capricious. Disregarding clear data flaws is the very definition. If the BOE were smart (and honest) it would redo its numbers. But that would mean Wootton can’t move to Crown in the fall of 2027.

The data doesn’t seem flawed. I’ve watched all the presentations even the joint one with planning board. It all seems very defensible and would withstand legal challenge.

A court looks at everything - it’s not obligated to believe anyone.

Uh no.
No, they look at the record before it. And will defer to policy makers when reasoned. Seems reasoned here. I wouldn’t want to be the one wasting money on this suit. MCPS will win despite you not liking it.

Suing because you didn’t get the outcome you wanted is such a waste of money…why won’t they learn that MCPS and the BOE can make these decisions? They choose to give communities a voice…it doesn’t mean they have to agree with what is said.

Lawsuits will turn up corruption. This whole process has been bizarre and there is no logical argument as to why Wootton should close but Magruder remain open. Hold them to the fire and let’s see what turns up.

And then this board will light up complaining about all the money MCPS spent on lawsuits…it’s like a full circle, that we end up causing.

If everything is on the up and up, why is MCPS (and posters on DCUM) afraid of what it might uncover? If there’s such confidence, then the case should get dismissed quickly, so little to no legal expenses. Then again, MCPS blew millions on a case that went all the way to the Supreme Court when if had a very inexpensive alternative it could have taken (but flatly refused, even though it had done it before).

This logic is so faulty. Filing lawsuits because you don’t like something and want to see what if “something sticks.”

Do you welcome any and all lawsuits that anybody could file against you in your personal and professional capacity because you are confident you have done nothing wrong?

Or maybe do you see it as a wasteful drain on time and resources?

Litigation is often the only way for the truth to come out. Maybe MCPS should have thought about the risk of litigation before it cooked up Option H and tried to sneak it past everyone over the holidays? Why do that if it was perfectly legal? Why fear litigation if MCPS is right? Indeed, the case should get dismissed quickly if MCPS is right.

Then again, MCPS thought it was right until the Supreme Court told it that it was dead wrong. Likewise, MCPS broke the rules when it bought EV buses. Seems like MCPS can get important matters very wrong.

People keep trying to make this point that they snuck it in before the holidays and no one had a chance to comment or respond to it. This is demonstrably false. There was a survey, which a lot of people in the Wootton cluster responded to, and there have been public meetings. They can’t make people engage.

Go ahead and tell us what the survey results were. And while you’re at it, what was the community’s response at the public meetings? They didn’t have to make anyone engage - sneaking in Option H in early December guaranteed community response would be delayed until after the 1st of the year. Then a snowstorm hit and meetings were canceled.

So yeah, MCPS gave little time for a response. But when that response came, it was loud and unequivocal but MCPS ignored it anyway.

Just because the opposition is loud, doesn't mean MCPS or the BOE needs to follow it.

MCPS has already incorporated feedback into the process (moving Cold Spring into Churchill, moved Fields Road to Wootton). They've held multiple meetings and took many survey results. There's been a robust debate between all the stakeholders.

This kind of decision isn't decided by whether a school population supports it or not; there's going to be various trade-offs of any decision, even maintaining the status quo.

MCPS and BOE need to make decisions based on the entire county holistically and not let the process to be hijacked by an outspoken minority.

And they don’t need to abide by decisions of the State Board of Education, the Maryland Appellate Court, the Inspector General or even the results of an audit they paid for.

They are the supreme ruler of the public schools and they answer to no one.