Cliff Notes summary of MCPS boundary study fight?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

+100, and we are zoned for Einstein. I know my kid will do the same no matter which school he’s in. I’d hate
For my kid to be bussed across the county for the sake of diversity when he can already get that at his home schools, which he can walk to.

And they won't. Why do people keep insisting that this is in the cards. It's not.

Sure, but what about places like Churchill and Whitman, where in order to make an impact on diversity, the student would need to be bused quite far?

MCPS IS NOT GOING TO REASSIGN KIDS TO SCHOOLS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COUNTY.

DP. But there will be no way to meaningfully diversity Whitman and Churchill without significant bus rides.

So, either MCPS will have to accept fairly segregated schools, notwithstanding their desire to diversify, or they will need to accept longer bus rides, notwithstanding their contention that that won’t happen.

No one knows which route they will choose yet. But they are both plausible possibilities.

Things MCPS hasn't said:

1. All schools must be diverse/diversified
2. Nobody will have longer bus rides than they do now

It's just astonishing, how many posters on DCUM already know what MCPS will do with the results of the analysis, when the analysis doesn't even have results yet, let alone MCPS follow-on actions. Enviable crystal balls they must have.

[Anonymous]

Someone has to be bussed to Woodward and it definitely could be my neighborhood even though we’re walkable to Einstein.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

+100, and we are zoned for Einstein. I know my kid will do the same no matter which school he’s in. I’d hate
For my kid to be bussed across the county for the sake of diversity when he can already get that at his home schools, which he can walk to.

And they won't. Why do people keep insisting that this is in the cards. It's not.

Sure, but what about places like Churchill and Whitman, where in order to make an impact on diversity, the student would need to be bused quite far?

MCPS IS NOT GOING TO REASSIGN KIDS TO SCHOOLS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COUNTY.

DP. But there will be no way to meaningfully diversity Whitman and Churchill without significant bus rides.

So, either MCPS will have to accept fairly segregated schools, notwithstanding their desire to diversify, or they will need to accept longer bus rides, notwithstanding their contention that that won’t happen.

No one knows which route they will choose yet. But they are both plausible possibilities.

Perhaps, but seems like you're jumping to a lot of conclusions prematurely.

Not really...seems to me the PP is looking at possible outcomes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

+100, and we are zoned for Einstein. I know my kid will do the same no matter which school he’s in. I’d hate
For my kid to be bussed across the county for the sake of diversity when he can already get that at his home schools, which he can walk to.

And they won't. Why do people keep insisting that this is in the cards. It's not.

Sure, but what about places like Churchill and Whitman, where in order to make an impact on diversity, the student would need to be bused quite far?

MCPS IS NOT GOING TO REASSIGN KIDS TO SCHOOLS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COUNTY.

DP. But there will be no way to meaningfully diversity Whitman and Churchill without significant bus rides.

So, either MCPS will have to accept fairly segregated schools, notwithstanding their desire to diversify, or they will need to accept longer bus rides, notwithstanding their contention that that won’t happen.

No one knows which route they will choose yet. But they are both plausible possibilities.

Perhaps, but seems like you're jumping to a lot of conclusions prematurely.

Not really...seems to me the PP is looking at possible outcomes.

Why limit yourself? Maybe MCPS will get rid of boundaries altogether. Maybe MCPS will go all-charter. Maybe MCPS will dissolve itself and give everyone vouchers for private school. Maybe MCPS will convert all schools to K-12. Maybe MCPS will sell off all of the school properties and just give everyone a chromebook and a router. Maybe space aliens will run for the school board and win.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

+100, and we are zoned for Einstein. I know my kid will do the same no matter which school he’s in. I’d hate
For my kid to be bussed across the county for the sake of diversity when he can already get that at his home schools, which he can walk to.

And they won't. Why do people keep insisting that this is in the cards. It's not.

Sure, but what about places like Churchill and Whitman, where in order to make an impact on diversity, the student would need to be bused quite far?

MCPS IS NOT GOING TO REASSIGN KIDS TO SCHOOLS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COUNTY.

DP. But there will be no way to meaningfully diversity Whitman and Churchill without significant bus rides.

So, either MCPS will have to accept fairly segregated schools, notwithstanding their desire to diversify, or they will need to accept longer bus rides, notwithstanding their contention that that won’t happen.

No one knows which route they will choose yet. But they are both plausible possibilities.

Perhaps, but seems like you're jumping to a lot of conclusions prematurely.

Not really...seems to me the PP is looking at possible outcomes.

Why limit yourself? Maybe MCPS will get rid of boundaries altogether. Maybe MCPS will go all-charter. Maybe MCPS will dissolve itself and give everyone vouchers for private school. Maybe MCPS will convert all schools to K-12. Maybe MCPS will sell off all of the school properties and just give everyone a chromebook and a router. Maybe space aliens will run for the school board and win.

You know, this would explain a lot...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

+100, and we are zoned for Einstein. I know my kid will do the same no matter which school he’s in. I’d hate
For my kid to be bussed across the county for the sake of diversity when he can already get that at his home schools, which he can walk to.

And they won't. Why do people keep insisting that this is in the cards. It's not.

Sure, but what about places like Churchill and Whitman, where in order to make an impact on diversity, the student would need to be bused quite far?

MCPS IS NOT GOING TO REASSIGN KIDS TO SCHOOLS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COUNTY.

DP. But there will be no way to meaningfully diversity Whitman and Churchill without significant bus rides.

So, either MCPS will have to accept fairly segregated schools, notwithstanding their desire to diversify, or they will need to accept longer bus rides, notwithstanding their contention that that won’t happen.

No one knows which route they will choose yet. But they are both plausible possibilities.

Perhaps, but seems like you're jumping to a lot of conclusions prematurely.

Not really...seems to me the PP is looking at possible outcomes.

Why limit yourself? Maybe MCPS will get rid of boundaries altogether. Maybe MCPS will go all-charter. Maybe MCPS will dissolve itself and give everyone vouchers for private school. Maybe MCPS will convert all schools to K-12. Maybe MCPS will sell off all of the school properties and just give everyone a chromebook and a router. Maybe space aliens will run for the school board and win.

Those seem about as likely than the PP's limited set of choices.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Someone has to be bussed to Woodward and it definitely could be my neighborhood even though we’re walkable to Einstein.

No worries. Huge chance it won't be you. MCPS has adamantly said that they will maintain walkers as walkers. They would never put kids who can walk to school on a bus.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

+100, and we are zoned for Einstein. I know my kid will do the same no matter which school he’s in. I’d hate
For my kid to be bussed across the county for the sake of diversity when he can already get that at his home schools, which he can walk to.

And they won't. Why do people keep insisting that this is in the cards. It's not.

Sure, but what about places like Churchill and Whitman, where in order to make an impact on diversity, the student would need to be bused quite far?

MCPS IS NOT GOING TO REASSIGN KIDS TO SCHOOLS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COUNTY.

DP. But there will be no way to meaningfully diversity Whitman and Churchill without significant bus rides.

So, either MCPS will have to accept fairly segregated schools, notwithstanding their desire to diversify, or they will need to accept longer bus rides, notwithstanding their contention that that won’t happen.

No one knows which route they will choose yet. But they are both plausible possibilities.

Perhaps, but seems like you're jumping to a lot of conclusions prematurely.

What conclusions?

Please explain how it is realistically possible that what I said isn’t true: either Whitman or Churchill will low diversity or some kids are going to have to have substantially longer bus rides to add to the diversity rate?

Given the geography and demographics, I don’t see how at least one of these (or a little of both) doesn’t happen. (It may also be possible to divert some of the limited diversity from nearby schools, but then you risk making them as non-diverse as Whitman/Churchill are today. And that would likely still require some solid bus rides.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

+100, and we are zoned for Einstein. I know my kid will do the same no matter which school he’s in. I’d hate
For my kid to be bussed across the county for the sake of diversity when he can already get that at his home schools, which he can walk to.

And they won't. Why do people keep insisting that this is in the cards. It's not.

Sure, but what about places like Churchill and Whitman, where in order to make an impact on diversity, the student would need to be bused quite far?

MCPS IS NOT GOING TO REASSIGN KIDS TO SCHOOLS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COUNTY.

DP. But there will be no way to meaningfully diversity Whitman and Churchill without significant bus rides.

So, either MCPS will have to accept fairly segregated schools, notwithstanding their desire to diversify, or they will need to accept longer bus rides, notwithstanding their contention that that won’t happen.

No one knows which route they will choose yet. But they are both plausible possibilities.

Perhaps, but seems like you're jumping to a lot of conclusions prematurely.

What conclusions?

Please explain how it is realistically possible that what I said isn’t true: either Whitman or Churchill will low diversity or some kids are going to have to have substantially longer bus rides to add to the diversity rate?

Given the geography and demographics, I don’t see how at least one of these (or a little of both) doesn’t happen. (It may also be possible to divert some of the limited diversity from nearby schools, but then you risk making them as non-diverse as Whitman/Churchill are today. And that would likely still require some solid bus rides.

DP. Here are the possibilities.

1. Whitman's boundaries will change, but Churchill's won't.
2. Churchill's boundaries will change, but Whitman's won't.
3. Both Whitman's and Churchill's boundaries will change.
4. Neither Whitman's nor Churchill's boundaries will change.
5. Something else (the concept of boundaries will change, MCPS will cease to exist, it will be the zombie apocalypse...).

There, now you're prepared.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Someone has to be bussed to Woodward and it definitely could be my neighborhood even though we’re walkable to Einstein.

No worries. Huge chance it won't be you. MCPS has adamantly said that they will maintain walkers as walkers. They would never put kids who can walk to school on a bus.

+1. Specifically, they will not put kids who can walk to their assigned school on a bus to a different school. And if there are schools which kids *can* walk to but aren't currently assigned to, I'd expect those areas to be contenders for reassignment in order to maximize walkers.

[Anonymous]

Wait, let me see what my Magic 8 ball has to say...

Outlook Good!

That means people who do not want children on long bus rides will not have them on long bus rides, and people who want diverse schools will have diverse schools! Isn't it possible to have both? Magic 8 ball says yes!

It has just as much a possibility of happening as everything else people had suggested.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

+100, and we are zoned for Einstein. I know my kid will do the same no matter which school he’s in. I’d hate
For my kid to be bussed across the county for the sake of diversity when he can already get that at his home schools, which he can walk to.

And they won't. Why do people keep insisting that this is in the cards. It's not.

Sure, but what about places like Churchill and Whitman, where in order to make an impact on diversity, the student would need to be bused quite far?

MCPS IS NOT GOING TO REASSIGN KIDS TO SCHOOLS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COUNTY.

DP. But there will be no way to meaningfully diversity Whitman and Churchill without significant bus rides.

So, either MCPS will have to accept fairly segregated schools, notwithstanding their desire to diversify, or they will need to accept longer bus rides, notwithstanding their contention that that won’t happen.

No one knows which route they will choose yet. But they are both plausible possibilities.

Perhaps, but seems like you're jumping to a lot of conclusions prematurely.

What conclusions?

Please explain how it is realistically possible that what I said isn’t true: either Whitman or Churchill will low diversity or some kids are going to have to have substantially longer bus rides to add to the diversity rate?

Given the geography and demographics, I don’t see how at least one of these (or a little of both) doesn’t happen. (It may also be possible to divert some of the limited diversity from nearby schools, but then you risk making them as non-diverse as Whitman/Churchill are today. And that would likely still require some solid bus rides.

DP. Here are the possibilities.

1. Whitman's boundaries will change, but Churchill's won't.
2. Churchill's boundaries will change, but Whitman's won't.
3. Both Whitman's and Churchill's boundaries will change.
4. Neither Whitman's nor Churchill's boundaries will change.
5. Something else (the concept of boundaries will change, MCPS will cease to exist, it will be the zombie apocalypse...).

There, now you're prepared.

This has to be a joke. Do you really not see how you have proven my point?

1. Then Churchill stays low diversity and Whitman doesn't.
2. The reverse
3. Both attain higher diversity through boundary changes that require busing. (It is also possible that the County would make more minor changes to either or both schools boundaries. But then, you still have low diversity. This could apply to 1 and 2 as well, but in any case you are back to one of the two possibilities I raised.)
4. Both schools remain low diversity.
5. It is hard to see how the concept of boundaries changing (for example all lottery, or free for all) wouldn't lead to a lot of busing. And of course these fail the realistic requirement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

This has to be a joke. Do you really not see how you have proven my point?

1. Then Churchill stays low diversity and Whitman doesn't.
2. The reverse
3. Both attain higher diversity through boundary changes that require busing. (It is also possible that the County would make more minor changes to either or both schools boundaries. But then, you still have low diversity. This could apply to 1 and 2 as well, but in any case you are back to one of the two possibilities I raised.)
4. Both schools remain low diversity.
5. It is hard to see how the concept of boundaries changing (for example all lottery, or free for all) wouldn't lead to a lot of busing. And of course these fail the realistic requirement.

What's your point? That things might change, or they might stay the same?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Someone has to be bussed to Woodward and it definitely could be my neighborhood even though we’re walkable to Einstein.

No worries. Huge chance it won't be you. MCPS has adamantly said that they will maintain walkers as walkers. They would never put kids who can walk to school on a bus.

+1. Specifically, they will not put kids who can walk to their assigned school on a bus to a different school. And if there are schools which kids *can* walk to but aren't currently assigned to, I'd expect those areas to be contenders for reassignment in order to maximize walkers.

DP.. I wouldn't bet your house on this. They've certainly done this before, and while, recently, they have kept walk zones alone, I wouldn't think they would never bus a walk zone ever again. However, I would bet my house that they certainly won't bus kids across the other side of the county, but they might bus a walk zone to a neighboring cluster.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Someone has to be bussed to Woodward and it definitely could be my neighborhood even though we’re walkable to Einstein.

No worries. Huge chance it won't be you. MCPS has adamantly said that they will maintain walkers as walkers. They would never put kids who can walk to school on a bus.

+1. Specifically, they will not put kids who can walk to their assigned school on a bus to a different school. And if there are schools which kids *can* walk to but aren't currently assigned to, I'd expect those areas to be contenders for reassignment in order to maximize walkers.

DP.. I wouldn't bet your house on this. They've certainly done this before, and while, recently, they have kept walk zones alone, I wouldn't think they would never bus a walk zone ever again. However, I would bet my house that they certainly won't bus kids across the other side of the county, but they might bus a walk zone to a neighboring cluster.

By not betting your house, do you mean not taking out a home equity loan until all this is settled?