Hogan to cut MCPS budget

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oh, don't get me started. Wait, it has happened.

We are in the financial hole we are in because O'Malley was too busy mugging for the cameras in an attempt to get the 2016 Democratic nomination for president than to tend to Maryland. The representatives in Annapolis are too busy admiring their self-importance than to realize that the budget has been running at a deficit. Hogan is taking on a tough problem, and it is just too bad none of us like how he trying to solve it.

As for MCPS, it is a bloated bureaucracy in which students are merely widgets. The students do not come first. I don't even think the teachers do anymore. The school system has taken on a life of its own driven by the central office. Hell, the start time problem is all driven by the counties inability to actually meet all of the needs of the children because they so heavily rely on busses rather than neighborhood schools. Starr doesn't care, since this is merely a stepping stone. NY Times in December noted the reason Start didn't get the NYC job is because Arne Duncan scuttled it over Starr's opinion on testing for common core. I actually think Starr was right on this one, but the evidence is he is on to bigger and better things than MCPS. So, just like O'Malley, he is leaving others to mind the store.

Maybe hard budget cuts will cut some of the MCPS bureaucracy.

The form the cuts will take is fewer teachers and staff to help your children at MCPS schools. Take a look at this article:

http://www.gazette.net/article/20150121/NEWS/150129800/1272&source=RSS&template=gazette?utm_medium=Widgets&utm_source=gazettenet&utm_campaign=PersonalizedPWGazetteNet&_monetaClick=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--

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not necessarily. Look at the boundary maps. They are not logical because they are trying to pull from diverse neighborhoods or for whatever reason. I beg you to look at Kensington Parkwood ESs map. They pull kids from as far west as Old Georgetown Road and Tuckerman Lane. Those kids get bussed right through Garrett Park to get to KPES and away from at least three schools that are geographically closer to the neighborhood. That same neighborhood is adjacent to the Tilden Middle School (i.e., on the same block on the same side of the street), yet those middle school kids are bussed to N. Bethesda MS because that is where KPES feeds to. I wonder how many other boundary maps are equally ridiculous. I bet Starr doesn't even know this is the case.

You want to rezone everybody in Montgomery County so that they go to the closest school? Why? Isn't getting bell times changed enough of a challenge for you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hogan can propose all he wants. He still has to get it through the General Assembly.

The General Assembly can't add money to the budget.

IS this true? Can someone clarify?

“the budget is an executive budget in Maryland,” Norris explained. “The governor essentially writes the check to himself. He prepares the budget…he submits it, and the legislature has something like 60 or 70 days to pass it or reject it. They cannot move money around; they cannot add money, they can only cut.”

http://www.bethesdamagazine.com/Bethesda-Beat/2014/Supporters-Would-Have-Little-Recourse-if-Hogan-Moves-to-Halt-Purple-Line/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not necessarily. Look at the boundary maps. They are not logical because they are trying to pull from diverse neighborhoods or for whatever reason. I beg you to look at Kensington Parkwood ESs map. They pull kids from as far west as Old Georgetown Road and Tuckerman Lane. Those kids get bussed right through Garrett Park to get to KPES and away from at least three schools that are geographically closer to the neighborhood. That same neighborhood is adjacent to the Tilden Middle School (i.e., on the same block on the same side of the street), yet those middle school kids are bussed to N. Bethesda MS because that is where KPES feeds to. I wonder how many other boundary maps are equally ridiculous. I bet Starr doesn't even know this is the case.

You want to rezone everybody in Montgomery County so that they go to the closest school? Why? Isn't getting bell times changed enough of a challenge for you?

I guess I come from a small school district in the Midwest, and I fail to see why you can't just send kids to the closest school, maybe adjusting boundaries so the little kids don't have to cross major roadways. I really think the present maps result from just amending maps rather than redrawing. I think a redraw based on basic principles is in order. If you kid is going to a close enough school, bell times may cease being a major issue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I guess I come from a small school district in the Midwest, and I fail to see why you can't just send kids to the closest school, maybe adjusting boundaries so the little kids don't have to cross major roadways. I really think the present maps result from just amending maps rather than redrawing. I think a redraw based on basic principles is in order. If you kid is going to a close enough school, bell times may cease being a major issue.

Have you lived in Montgomery County for long? Have you ever participated in a rezoning? Have you taken any notice of the debate about economic segregation in Montgomery County schools? How about the rezoning proposals in DC?

Your idea is only slightly more politically feasible than turning the US into a Scandinavian social-welfare state.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not necessarily. Look at the boundary maps. They are not logical because they are trying to pull from diverse neighborhoods or for whatever reason. I beg you to look at Kensington Parkwood ESs map. They pull kids from as far west as Old Georgetown Road and Tuckerman Lane. Those kids get bussed right through Garrett Park to get to KPES and away from at least three schools that are geographically closer to the neighborhood. That same neighborhood is adjacent to the Tilden Middle School (i.e., on the same block on the same side of the street), yet those middle school kids are bussed to N. Bethesda MS because that is where KPES feeds to. I wonder how many other boundary maps are equally ridiculous. I bet Starr doesn't even know this is the case.

You want to rezone everybody in Montgomery County so that they go to the closest school? Why? Isn't getting bell times changed enough of a challenge for you?

I guess I come from a small school district in the Midwest, and I fail to see why you can't just send kids to the closest school, maybe adjusting boundaries so the little kids don't have to cross major roadways. I really think the present maps result from just amending maps rather than redrawing. I think a redraw based on basic principles is in order. If you kid is going to a close enough school, bell times may cease being a major issue.

Because it would lead to de facto segregation of public schools. Since those with lower SES tend to live in areas where the housing is less expensive, neighborhood schools would quickly be divided into haves and have nots. The districting and magnet programs as they stand attempt to alleviate those issues, although the problems persist. If you've lived for any amount of time in this area, or read these boards before, this is definitely something you should be aware of.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Even though there are something like 24 counties in Maryland, MoCo provides a quarter of the tax base....when that tax base starts moving to Va for the better schools, you can blame Hogan.

I'm not a Hogan supporter but you have to be crazy to blame more shifts to VA from MCPS on him. This is already happening because of MCPS and 2.0. The tax base in Montgomery County is not keeping pace with Virginia or Howard. The schools are decline (put your head in the sand all you like but MCPS is no longer the place to move to the schools) and the more lucrative jobs are in Virginia and Howard.

Montgomery County is now famous for poor suburban planning, declining schools, horrible traffic into VA, and mismanaged money.

agree. Hopefully Hogan can right this sinking ship of MoCo and MD. turning into a underfunded socialist freebie nightmare funded by MoCo. Half the state has a job, half the state does nothing but stick its hand out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not necessarily. Look at the boundary maps. They are not logical because they are trying to pull from diverse neighborhoods or for whatever reason. I beg you to look at Kensington Parkwood ESs map. They pull kids from as far west as Old Georgetown Road and Tuckerman Lane. Those kids get bussed right through Garrett Park to get to KPES and away from at least three schools that are geographically closer to the neighborhood. That same neighborhood is adjacent to the Tilden Middle School (i.e., on the same block on the same side of the street), yet those middle school kids are bussed to N. Bethesda MS because that is where KPES feeds to. I wonder how many other boundary maps are equally ridiculous. I bet Starr doesn't even know this is the case.

You want to rezone everybody in Montgomery County so that they go to the closest school? Why? Isn't getting bell times changed enough of a challenge for you?

I guess I come from a small school district in the Midwest, and I fail to see why you can't just send kids to the closest school, maybe adjusting boundaries so the little kids don't have to cross major roadways. I really think the present maps result from just amending maps rather than redrawing. I think a redraw based on basic principles is in order. If you kid is going to a close enough school, bell times may cease being a major issue.

Actually, I am a graduate of MCPS, and I have thought it was dysfunctional since I arrived in the 80s. The problem is a zoning problem that we are trying to solve by bussing kids across great distances at great expense. This is a 1960/70s solution to the problem that doesn't address social integration as a whole. We need more affordable housing throughout the county. Moreover, the current solution is haphazard. Why doesn't Garrett Park get a some of those east Kensington kids? Hmm, where does Nancy Floreen live? Or maybe it was just that they thought the townhouse dwellers over on Old Georgetown Rd wouldn't complain as much as those in Garrett Park. Don't fool yourself into thinking that this is any more than convenience for the county rather than real economic integration.

Because it would lead to de facto segregation of public schools. Since those with lower SES tend to live in areas where the housing is less expensive, neighborhood schools would quickly be divided into haves and have nots. The districting and magnet programs as they stand attempt to alleviate those issues, although the problems persist. If you've lived for any amount of time in this area, or read these boards before, this is definitely something you should be aware of.

[Anonymous]

Somehow embedded my reply in the quote:

Actually, I am a graduate of MCPS, and I have thought it was dysfunctional since I arrived in the 80s. The problem is a zoning problem that we are trying to solve by bussing kids across great distances at great expense. This is a 1960/70s solution to the problem that doesn't address social integration as a whole. We need more affordable housing throughout the county. Moreover, the current solution is haphazard. Why doesn't Garrett Park get a some of those east Kensington kids? Hmm, where does Nancy Floreen live? Or maybe it was just that they thought the townhouse dwellers over on Old Georgetown Rd wouldn't complain as much as those in Garrett Park. Don't fool yourself into thinking that this is any more than convenience for the county rather than real economic integration.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Somehow embedded my reply in the quote:

Actually, I am a graduate of MCPS, and I have thought it was dysfunctional since I arrived in the 80s. The problem is a zoning problem that we are trying to solve by bussing kids across great distances at great expense. This is a 1960/70s solution to the problem that doesn't address social integration as a whole. We need more affordable housing throughout the county. Moreover, the current solution is haphazard. Why doesn't Garrett Park get a some of those east Kensington kids? Hmm, where does Nancy Floreen live? Or maybe it was just that they thought the townhouse dwellers over on Old Georgetown Rd wouldn't complain as much as those in Garrett Park. Don't fool yourself into thinking that this is any more than convenience for the county rather than real economic integration.

MCPS does what it can. Is it the perfect solution? No. Is it a solution that is possible to achieve? Yes. Don't let the perfect be the enemy of the better-than-nothing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Somehow embedded my reply in the quote:

Actually, I am a graduate of MCPS, and I have thought it was dysfunctional since I arrived in the 80s. The problem is a zoning problem that we are trying to solve by bussing kids across great distances at great expense. This is a 1960/70s solution to the problem that doesn't address social integration as a whole. We need more affordable housing throughout the county. Moreover, the current solution is haphazard. Why doesn't Garrett Park get a some of those east Kensington kids? Hmm, where does Nancy Floreen live? Or maybe it was just that they thought the townhouse dwellers over on Old Georgetown Rd wouldn't complain as much as those in Garrett Park. Don't fool yourself into thinking that this is any more than convenience for the county rather than real economic integration.

MCPS does what it can. Is it the perfect solution? No. Is it a solution that is possible to achieve? Yes. Don't let the perfect be the enemy of the better-than-nothing.

And Nancy Floreen is a red herring (metaphorically speaking). She doesn't make MCPS zoning decisions.

[Anonymous]

No, but constituents won't be calling the BOE if she lives in the neighborhood. She certainly sees the budget.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not necessarily. Look at the boundary maps. They are not logical because they are trying to pull from diverse neighborhoods or for whatever reason. I beg you to look at Kensington Parkwood ESs map. They pull kids from as far west as Old Georgetown Road and Tuckerman Lane. Those kids get bussed right through Garrett Park to get to KPES and away from at least three schools that are geographically closer to the neighborhood. That same neighborhood is adjacent to the Tilden Middle School (i.e., on the same block on the same side of the street), yet those middle school kids are bussed to N. Bethesda MS because that is where KPES feeds to. I wonder how many other boundary maps are equally ridiculous. I bet Starr doesn't even know this is the case.

You want to rezone everybody in Montgomery County so that they go to the closest school? Why? Isn't getting bell times changed enough of a challenge for you?

I guess I come from a small school district in the Midwest, and I fail to see why you can't just send kids to the closest school, maybe adjusting boundaries so the little kids don't have to cross major roadways. I really think the present maps result from just amending maps rather than redrawing. I think a redraw based on basic principles is in order. If you kid is going to a close enough school, bell times may cease being a major issue.

By that logic, all those KPES students go to Einstein.

[Anonymous]

"This is really no surprise. Hogan got like zero votes in Montgomery County, PG, or Baltimore City, and he knows he never will get any votes there"

Umm, no. There actually are a few of us (97,312 of us) in Montgomery County who voted for fiscal rationality.

Montgomery 163,694 97,312 3,286 6 3 518
http://elections.state.md.us/elections/2014/results/General/gen_detail_results_2014_2_BOT003-.html

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"This is really no surprise. Hogan got like zero votes in Montgomery County, PG, or Baltimore City, and he knows he never will get any votes there"

Umm, no. There actually are a few of us (97,312 of us) in Montgomery County who voted for fiscal rationality.

Montgomery 163,694 97,312 3,286 6 3 518
http://elections.state.md.us/elections/2014/results/General/gen_detail_results_2014_2_BOT003-.html

You might want to remind Hogan of this. He's made it pretty clear that Montgomery County is at the bottom of his priority list.

Also, Montgomery County has 630,000 registered voters.