| When does the BOE vote on this? |
GPES and KPES islands probably join Farmland and Luxmanor elementary in the next study. The petition is because Farmland is upset with demographics at new Woodward. |
March 26 |
The recommendation is not Option B. The recommendation is modified Option B. I started this whole exchange by saying that Taylor made a mistake by making his own modifications. If he simply selected one of the Options, let's say Option B, there would be less pushback since options have been discussed for quite some time. But with modifications, he deepened divide, unbalanced utilization and made some groups justifiably upset. |
The modifications are consistent with what has been on the table all year regarding composition and utilization. It was a very slight change based on feedback. Those who are upset would have been upset regardless. |
They stated all along MCPS could modify and it was not necessarily going to be one of the options. That was crystal clear. |
Every group pays attention to FARMS. Why is MCPS including FARMS numbers in tables for all options? They are pretty much the only stat presented when describing different options. But somehow Farmland should ignore that they are getting the biggest jump by far. While at the same time WJ is getting some hypothetical considerations like "there will be a lot of developments here so let's keep utilization at 77%". There are developments everywhere. |
And he made bad modifications. I assume you will be fine when BOE makes their own modifications (since it is crystal clear they have the authority to do so), or the process should stop at the moment you are happy with the outcome. |
They include race. English as second language too. It’s not only stat. Farmland was not entitled to maintain WJ level FARMS in new Woodward. They are behaving as if they were. And the development in new WJ is real. Not hypothetical. |
They have very little authority to switch this to say Option F right now. He presented a 80 page justification in support. They will have to adopt. |
FAA language says minor only. Swapping around 3 different schools isn’t minor. At a certain point the board needs to back up their super too. |
Backing up their super is literally the only thing the BOE does |
I’d encourage everyone to review this document and see where development is concentrated in the county rather than dismiss Woodward utilization concerns. There is a material concentration in North Bethesda. The development on Strathmore is not the driver. All Woodward communities should be concerned about this. https://montgomeryplanningboard.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Pipeline-Analysis-Staff-Report_10.16.25_.pdf |
Strathmore, Grosvenor metro, near the mall, Ashburton. WJ is developing with built in capacity. White flint is just blight. For 15 years. Amazon didn’t want it. Woodward is under utilized in the recommendation. And let’s be clear, Farmland was OK with 93% Woodward utilization (eg option F) so long as they didn’t get VM and WW together. |
+1 Farmland manipulating the KPES GPES island situation making it seem like Taylor is splitting one neighborhood. They are not even close. Keep neighborhoods together. Islands are not in our neighborhood |