Initial boundary options for Woodward study area are up

[Anonymous]

Previously mcps did go door to door to ask families for feedback, but agree that would probably terrify people today. Not a good plan.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:The problem is again is that the loudest voices will be heard and not the voices of parents who don’t speak English and the families that are receiving FARMS. Where is their voice. I work with these families and they too want their kids in better schools and not have poverty concentrated. What you are proposing with option 4 does not address this. Option 3 does and many of them are okay with bussing to get their kid to a better school and are okay with option 3. There is no reason the povery should be concentrated one part of the county. I plan to present my arguments to the board and represent these families who have been excluded for too long.

How on Earth do you know whose voices are being heard? And why do you think that parents who don’t speak English or families receiving FARMS are a monolith who all want the same things you think they should want? MCPS bends over backwards to get feedback from as many families as possible in numerous languages. It’s like elections. Those who make a point to vote get to vote. Can’t force people to get involved or provide feedback, and all families are being given opportunities through numerous channels. It’s also possible some of these folks don’t have strong opinions and trust the school system to educate their kids in any school building.

Oh you mean online surveys that require internet access and competency and in person meetings that require transportation and time? It took me as a master's educated professional 30 minutes minimum to review the 4 options and generally understand their impacts on me and more broadly.

Saying "they probably just don't have strong opinions" is disgusting.

I didn’t say they probably don’t have strong opinions. I said it’s possible some don’t. There are also probably lots of non FARMS English speakers who also do not care enough to fill out the survey. Not everyone is obsessed with the outcome like you seem to be. Try to understand that other people may have bigger life issues before them and just want their kids to go to school in a safe place they trust. You think families with chronic absenteeism care deeply whether their kid goes to Whitman?

I think it’s disgusting that you assume these adults can’t possibly figure out how to function and are helpless and can’t determine their own priorities without your help from your super special masters degree.

Wow, triggered much?

They could do much more to reach out to communities that aren't technologically savvy and lack transportation. Many live in multifamily housing so canvassing those properties would be a lot faster than canvassing mansions in Potomac. Not a priority for MCPS though.

Agreed more outreach is needed so that people can share their own experiences and concerns with MCPS rather than having a savior imagine what they experience and need speak for them.

Do you think families want their kids bussed a long way to go to a school where their kids will not be welcomed or fit in?

No idea. That is why families should be asked to speak for themselves rather than having policy formed by what people think other people want.

I think they are being asked to speak for themselves. But it seems MCPS hasn't had much success getting good feedback from all areas of the county. I guess we'll see what this survey yields, but I wouldn't be surprised if the results were not equally representative of all areas.

Is that based on anything? Has MCPS said they aren’t getting feedback from certain areas?

I can't remember a time they've released any online survey where the results were representative of the county's overall population. Board members routinely raise concerns about this, but nothing seems to get better.

Which is an indictment on teh board itself. They need to hold Taylor accountable for failing to implement board feedback with fidelity.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:The problem is again is that the loudest voices will be heard and not the voices of parents who don’t speak English and the families that are receiving FARMS. Where is their voice. I work with these families and they too want their kids in better schools and not have poverty concentrated. What you are proposing with option 4 does not address this. Option 3 does and many of them are okay with bussing to get their kid to a better school and are okay with option 3. There is no reason the povery should be concentrated one part of the county. I plan to present my arguments to the board and represent these families who have been excluded for too long.

How on Earth do you know whose voices are being heard? And why do you think that parents who don’t speak English or families receiving FARMS are a monolith who all want the same things you think they should want? MCPS bends over backwards to get feedback from as many families as possible in numerous languages. It’s like elections. Those who make a point to vote get to vote. Can’t force people to get involved or provide feedback, and all families are being given opportunities through numerous channels. It’s also possible some of these folks don’t have strong opinions and trust the school system to educate their kids in any school building.

Oh you mean online surveys that require internet access and competency and in person meetings that require transportation and time? It took me as a master's educated professional 30 minutes minimum to review the 4 options and generally understand their impacts on me and more broadly.

Saying "they probably just don't have strong opinions" is disgusting.

I didn’t say they probably don’t have strong opinions. I said it’s possible some don’t. There are also probably lots of non FARMS English speakers who also do not care enough to fill out the survey. Not everyone is obsessed with the outcome like you seem to be. Try to understand that other people may have bigger life issues before them and just want their kids to go to school in a safe place they trust. You think families with chronic absenteeism care deeply whether their kid goes to Whitman?

I think it’s disgusting that you assume these adults can’t possibly figure out how to function and are helpless and can’t determine their own priorities without your help from your super special masters degree.

Wow, triggered much?

They could do much more to reach out to communities that aren't technologically savvy and lack transportation. Many live in multifamily housing so canvassing those properties would be a lot faster than canvassing mansions in Potomac. Not a priority for MCPS though.

Agreed more outreach is needed so that people can share their own experiences and concerns with MCPS rather than having a savior imagine what they experience and need speak for them.

Do you think families want their kids bussed a long way to go to a school where their kids will not be welcomed or fit in?

No idea. That is why families should be asked to speak for themselves rather than having policy formed by what people think other people want.

I think they are being asked to speak for themselves. But it seems MCPS hasn't had much success getting good feedback from all areas of the county. I guess we'll see what this survey yields, but I wouldn't be surprised if the results were not equally representative of all areas.

Is that based on anything? Has MCPS said they aren’t getting feedback from certain areas?

If all they are doing is online surveys and evening meetings, they are unquestionably not getting much feedback from low income people and people of color. When the Planning Department sought feedback from downtown Silver Spring residents about the Silver Spring Downtown and Adjacent Communities Plan, 77% of respondents were White (https://montgomeryplanning.org/planning/communities/downcounty/silver-spring/silver-spring-downtown-plan/silver-spring-downtown-and-adjacent-communities-plan-equitable-engagement/what-weve-heard/ ) . They need to go to where low income people are and engage with them directly. In this case I'd imagine they'd want to say hey, there are four options, this is how each would impact children in your community, what do you think?

Offensive to assumed they are not getting feedback online from POC. Really offensive. But you will speak for them?

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:With KSAC closed, we drove from the Tilden area to the aquatic center in DTSS for swim all year. It is a 45 minute drive every time. It was miserable and we won't be signing up to do it again in the Fall.

Traffic in MoCo is miserable - whether west to east or vice versa. I don't know why people are arguing that this is not the case. And obviously a bus ride is much longer because of the stops.

Are you trying to argue traveling from one part of the county to another will always take 45 minutes? Obviously that's absurd but I can't think of any other way your little anecdote is relevant to this thread. If anything it highlights a commute that Option 3 isn't proposing (with good reason, that particular route is a disaster).

No, with traffic it can be longer even in the back roads.

You are absolutely right, that area is terrible, I agree with you. I get stuck in traffic in that area weekly. I am so glad Option 3 doesn't involve having to go from Tilden to DTSS.

Randolph Road is equally bad. Major tie ups at intersections as well as the train crossing. Total nightmare to get from this side of the county to the other.

Some of you may recall that Montrose Parkway (now Josiah Henson Parkway) was supposed to be built on the East side of Rockville Pike to alleviate that traffic. It was not built, of course, when they ran out of money.

But I bet there are a ton of studies about how bad and dangerous that traffic is on Randolph East of Rockville Pike. And that was years ago.

It is really not. I take Randolph Rd all the time in rush hour. Yes there is a stretch around the train tracks where you might get stuck behind traffic lights or a MARC train for a few minutes (rarely have I seen freight trains there at rush hour). It is not remotely like going from Tilden to DTSS.

Btw they did not "run out of money" for Montrose crossing, Elrich simply decided not to do it.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:The problem is again is that the loudest voices will be heard and not the voices of parents who don’t speak English and the families that are receiving FARMS. Where is their voice. I work with these families and they too want their kids in better schools and not have poverty concentrated. What you are proposing with option 4 does not address this. Option 3 does and many of them are okay with bussing to get their kid to a better school and are okay with option 3. There is no reason the povery should be concentrated one part of the county. I plan to present my arguments to the board and represent these families who have been excluded for too long.

How on Earth do you know whose voices are being heard? And why do you think that parents who don’t speak English or families receiving FARMS are a monolith who all want the same things you think they should want? MCPS bends over backwards to get feedback from as many families as possible in numerous languages. It’s like elections. Those who make a point to vote get to vote. Can’t force people to get involved or provide feedback, and all families are being given opportunities through numerous channels. It’s also possible some of these folks don’t have strong opinions and trust the school system to educate their kids in any school building.

Oh you mean online surveys that require internet access and competency and in person meetings that require transportation and time? It took me as a master's educated professional 30 minutes minimum to review the 4 options and generally understand their impacts on me and more broadly.

Saying "they probably just don't have strong opinions" is disgusting.

I didn’t say they probably don’t have strong opinions. I said it’s possible some don’t. There are also probably lots of non FARMS English speakers who also do not care enough to fill out the survey. Not everyone is obsessed with the outcome like you seem to be. Try to understand that other people may have bigger life issues before them and just want their kids to go to school in a safe place they trust. You think families with chronic absenteeism care deeply whether their kid goes to Whitman?

I think it’s disgusting that you assume these adults can’t possibly figure out how to function and are helpless and can’t determine their own priorities without your help from your super special masters degree.

Wow, triggered much?

They could do much more to reach out to communities that aren't technologically savvy and lack transportation. Many live in multifamily housing so canvassing those properties would be a lot faster than canvassing mansions in Potomac. Not a priority for MCPS though.

Agreed more outreach is needed so that people can share their own experiences and concerns with MCPS rather than having a savior imagine what they experience and need speak for them.

Do you think families want their kids bussed a long way to go to a school where their kids will not be welcomed or fit in?

No idea. That is why families should be asked to speak for themselves rather than having policy formed by what people think other people want.

I think they are being asked to speak for themselves. But it seems MCPS hasn't had much success getting good feedback from all areas of the county. I guess we'll see what this survey yields, but I wouldn't be surprised if the results were not equally representative of all areas.

Is that based on anything? Has MCPS said they aren’t getting feedback from certain areas?

If all they are doing is online surveys and evening meetings, they are unquestionably not getting much feedback from low income people and people of color. When the Planning Department sought feedback from downtown Silver Spring residents about the Silver Spring Downtown and Adjacent Communities Plan, 77% of respondents were White (https://montgomeryplanning.org/planning/communities/downcounty/silver-spring/silver-spring-downtown-plan/silver-spring-downtown-and-adjacent-communities-plan-equitable-engagement/what-weve-heard/ ) . They need to go to where low income people are and engage with them directly. In this case I'd imagine they'd want to say hey, there are four options, this is how each would impact children in your community, what do you think?

Offensive to assumed they are not getting feedback online from POC. Really offensive. But you will speak for them?

I've seen this pattern over and over again. Sorry the reality is offensive and inconvenient for you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:With KSAC closed, we drove from the Tilden area to the aquatic center in DTSS for swim all year. It is a 45 minute drive every time. It was miserable and we won't be signing up to do it again in the Fall.

Traffic in MoCo is miserable - whether west to east or vice versa. I don't know why people are arguing that this is not the case. And obviously a bus ride is much longer because of the stops.

Are you trying to argue traveling from one part of the county to another will always take 45 minutes? Obviously that's absurd but I can't think of any other way your little anecdote is relevant to this thread. If anything it highlights a commute that Option 3 isn't proposing (with good reason, that particular route is a disaster).

No, with traffic it can be longer even in the back roads.

You are absolutely right, that area is terrible, I agree with you. I get stuck in traffic in that area weekly. I am so glad Option 3 doesn't involve having to go from Tilden to DTSS.

Randolph Road is equally bad. Major tie ups at intersections as well as the train crossing. Total nightmare to get from this side of the county to the other.

Some of you may recall that Montrose Parkway (now Josiah Henson Parkway) was supposed to be built on the East side of Rockville Pike to alleviate that traffic. It was not built, of course, when they ran out of money.

But I bet there are a ton of studies about how bad and dangerous that traffic is on Randolph East of Rockville Pike. And that was years ago.

Finish the parkway!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Previously mcps did go door to door to ask families for feedback, but agree that would probably terrify people today. Not a good plan.

Not convenient for you

Next year for the midterms will you tell candidates to not canvass to avoid scaring the immigrants?

[Anonymous]

Some of you just like to be mad.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:The problem is again is that the loudest voices will be heard and not the voices of parents who don’t speak English and the families that are receiving FARMS. Where is their voice. I work with these families and they too want their kids in better schools and not have poverty concentrated. What you are proposing with option 4 does not address this. Option 3 does and many of them are okay with bussing to get their kid to a better school and are okay with option 3. There is no reason the povery should be concentrated one part of the county. I plan to present my arguments to the board and represent these families who have been excluded for too long.

How on Earth do you know whose voices are being heard? And why do you think that parents who don’t speak English or families receiving FARMS are a monolith who all want the same things you think they should want? MCPS bends over backwards to get feedback from as many families as possible in numerous languages. It’s like elections. Those who make a point to vote get to vote. Can’t force people to get involved or provide feedback, and all families are being given opportunities through numerous channels. It’s also possible some of these folks don’t have strong opinions and trust the school system to educate their kids in any school building.

Oh you mean online surveys that require internet access and competency and in person meetings that require transportation and time? It took me as a master's educated professional 30 minutes minimum to review the 4 options and generally understand their impacts on me and more broadly.

Saying "they probably just don't have strong opinions" is disgusting.

I didn’t say they probably don’t have strong opinions. I said it’s possible some don’t. There are also probably lots of non FARMS English speakers who also do not care enough to fill out the survey. Not everyone is obsessed with the outcome like you seem to be. Try to understand that other people may have bigger life issues before them and just want their kids to go to school in a safe place they trust. You think families with chronic absenteeism care deeply whether their kid goes to Whitman?

I think it’s disgusting that you assume these adults can’t possibly figure out how to function and are helpless and can’t determine their own priorities without your help from your super special masters degree.

Wow, triggered much?

They could do much more to reach out to communities that aren't technologically savvy and lack transportation. Many live in multifamily housing so canvassing those properties would be a lot faster than canvassing mansions in Potomac. Not a priority for MCPS though.

Agreed more outreach is needed so that people can share their own experiences and concerns with MCPS rather than having a savior imagine what they experience and need speak for them.

Do you think families want their kids bussed a long way to go to a school where their kids will not be welcomed or fit in?

No idea. That is why families should be asked to speak for themselves rather than having policy formed by what people think other people want.

I think they are being asked to speak for themselves. But it seems MCPS hasn't had much success getting good feedback from all areas of the county. I guess we'll see what this survey yields, but I wouldn't be surprised if the results were not equally representative of all areas.

Is that based on anything? Has MCPS said they aren’t getting feedback from certain areas?

If all they are doing is online surveys and evening meetings, they are unquestionably not getting much feedback from low income people and people of color. When the Planning Department sought feedback from downtown Silver Spring residents about the Silver Spring Downtown and Adjacent Communities Plan, 77% of respondents were White (https://montgomeryplanning.org/planning/communities/downcounty/silver-spring/silver-spring-downtown-plan/silver-spring-downtown-and-adjacent-communities-plan-equitable-engagement/what-weve-heard/ ) . They need to go to where low income people are and engage with them directly. In this case I'd imagine they'd want to say hey, there are four options, this is how each would impact children in your community, what do you think?

They also need to break this down to several levels that actually mean something to POC and lower income people.

The Boundary Analysis is too abstract and theoretical. Also, given how far we are from any of these options being real, it's not clear what value you get from engaging with MCPS in giving them feedback on these maps.

It's actually really simple. You describe the specific impacts for the neighborhood where you are canvassing. "In Option 1, children in your neighborhood would be assigned to the same schools they are now, how do you feel about that? In Option 2, half of the kids in your neighborhood would go to middle school x and high school x, and the other half would go to middle school y and high school y" etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Some of you just like to be mad.

I agree, it's crazy how worked up people get in opposition to MCPS getting feedback from low income people.

[Anonymous]

Nobody is really opposed to getting feedback from low income people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Nobody is really opposed to getting feedback from low income people.

Of course they are. They will find any reason to oppose any method that will actually reach them. They will insist it won't work. They want to be able to get their own voices heard and drown out everybody else's. The best is when they act like they know what boundaries will be best for low income people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Nobody is really opposed to getting feedback from low income people.

Of course they are. They will find any reason to oppose any method that will actually reach them. They will insist it won't work. They want to be able to get their own voices heard and drown out everybody else's. The best is when they act like they know what boundaries will be best for low income people.

This is a straw man that you are generating.

[Anonymous]

MCPS isn’t going to canvas.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:MCPS isn’t going to canvas.

Yeah I'm getting that impression. Why is that? The consultant has multiple scheduled virtual office hours every week (advertised in English, so I assume they don't have interpreters). They have some time to knock on doors.