Taylor's Feb Rec for Crown Boundary Study

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The argument about losing the W name is the dumbest argument of this whole thing.

No, it’s losing a school that has been where it is for 55+ years. The school is being closed and moved several miles (driving) away to an entirely new community (which requires moving the Wootton boundaries to achieve.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well there you have it... Dr. T was asked pointedly about the FAKE "Rockville Recommendation" (aka Option G) during the Jawando Education Budget Forum tonight and if he was reconsidering it for his recommendation and he said "absolutely not". It's giving... I appreciate the offer but I'm just not interested.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Taylor is never going to pursue Option G. The only chance it has is if the board itself takes the side of those who are arguing for it.

One of the big hurdles with Rockville’s argument is that it suggests Crown be filled/opened as a full school upon inauguration of a new Wootton building on Wootton parkway. If done that way, it would leave the county with no holding school for subsequent high schools which need renovation after Magruder/Wootton. So the superintendent won’t be too thrilled about that.

Wrong. The hurdle is money. Lack of.

Two things happened contributing to Wootton closure:
1. Building crown with the money to renovate Wootton.
2. Regional programs which take away the operational cost for crown as 27th high school.

Wootton is the one being hurt here. But the resentment toward W schools is making people lose perspective and react irrationally.

Correct. But they are hiding behind fiscal responsibility to excuse their prejudice. It’s yet another example of selective scrutiny (or criticism). They turn a blind eye towards the EV buses shenanigans because they’re pro-green energy (I.e., the ends justify the means).

Most recently on the Wootton closure, they’re turning a blind eye to the enrollment projection data used to justify building Crown, as well as to support Option H. Here’s the problem for them. If the BOE votes to adopt Option H in the face of serious questions about the underlying data, then it’s setting itself up for a smack down by the MD State BOE and/or an court injunction. The smart move for the BOE would be to hold a hearing, calling for experts from both sides, which would demonstrate appropriate due diligence. But this would mean a delay in transplanting Wootton to Crown for the 2027-2028 school year and force MCPS to either fill it with Gaithersburg kids or use it primarily as a holding school. Either way, Option H will be dead or delayed for a few years at least. A delay in Option H and using Crown as a holding school for a few years wouldn’t be a bad outcome for right now, especially since there is precedent with how MCPS used the new Woodward building. It would also give everyone time to cool off.

You're both (all?) wrong. The mistakes have led us here, sure. But moving Wootton to Crown is about what is current - the now. Lack of funding for Wootton now AND decline in enrollment now.

I'm not a fan of regional model (info is severely lacking thus far). But does the regional program budget = the cost of an operational 27th high school. I would think not though haven't checked and again... info is lacking.

And who is turning a blind eye on enrollment projection data? Data showed Crown was needed at one point. Now data shows it's not. Data is coming from MCPS. Things change over time.

First data error by MCPS - The 2019 enrollment projections were completely inaccurate when they were used by MCPS to break ground on Crown. No one with any sense was using pre-COVID projections in 2024. The reason to use those projections was to justify building Crown and not lose the land on which it sits.

Second data error by MCPS - its growth projections in the Wootton and Crown areas are grossly underestimated. This is demonstrated by the City of Rockville and the MBIA (both of which would have a much more accurate sense of the actual growth rate). By ignoring reality, MCPS can grab Wootton’s current building to use as a holding school and avoid operating a 27th school. It will be even worse off in 5-10 years and have to reopen Wootton as a 27th school, but will have eliminated a top performing school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well there you have it... Dr. T was asked pointedly about the FAKE "Rockville Recommendation" (aka Option G) during the Jawando Education Budget Forum tonight and if he was reconsidering it for his recommendation and he said "absolutely not". It's giving... I appreciate the offer but I'm just not interested.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Taylor is never going to pursue Option G. The only chance it has is if the board itself takes the side of those who are arguing for it.

One of the big hurdles with Rockville’s argument is that it suggests Crown be filled/opened as a full school upon inauguration of a new Wootton building on Wootton parkway. If done that way, it would leave the county with no holding school for subsequent high schools which need renovation after Magruder/Wootton. So the superintendent won’t be too thrilled about that.

Wrong. The hurdle is money. Lack of.

Two things happened contributing to Wootton closure:
1. Building crown with the money to renovate Wootton.
2. Regional programs which take away the operational cost for crown as 27th high school.

Wootton is the one being hurt here. But the resentment toward W schools is making people lose perspective and react irrationally.

Correct. But they are hiding behind fiscal responsibility to excuse their prejudice. It’s yet another example of selective scrutiny (or criticism). They turn a blind eye towards the EV buses shenanigans because they’re pro-green energy (I.e., the ends justify the means).

Most recently on the Wootton closure, they’re turning a blind eye to the enrollment projection data used to justify building Crown, as well as to support Option H. Here’s the problem for them. If the BOE votes to adopt Option H in the face of serious questions about the underlying data, then it’s setting itself up for a smack down by the MD State BOE and/or an court injunction. The smart move for the BOE would be to hold a hearing, calling for experts from both sides, which would demonstrate appropriate due diligence. But this would mean a delay in transplanting Wootton to Crown for the 2027-2028 school year and force MCPS to either fill it with Gaithersburg kids or use it primarily as a holding school. Either way, Option H will be dead or delayed for a few years at least. A delay in Option H and using Crown as a holding school for a few years wouldn’t be a bad outcome for right now, especially since there is precedent with how MCPS used the new Woodward building. It would also give everyone time to cool off.

lol. Oh yeah. I'd love to hear that testimony..

"Uh, um. I know we just spent 220 million to build this really cool HS, but we want to use it as a temp facility for a few years. And we want to keep it empty another year and pay for the utilities and maintenance because we want people to take time to cool off..."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well there you have it... Dr. T was asked pointedly about the FAKE "Rockville Recommendation" (aka Option G) during the Jawando Education Budget Forum tonight and if he was reconsidering it for his recommendation and he said "absolutely not". It's giving... I appreciate the offer but I'm just not interested.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Taylor is never going to pursue Option G. The only chance it has is if the board itself takes the side of those who are arguing for it.

One of the big hurdles with Rockville’s argument is that it suggests Crown be filled/opened as a full school upon inauguration of a new Wootton building on Wootton parkway. If done that way, it would leave the county with no holding school for subsequent high schools which need renovation after Magruder/Wootton. So the superintendent won’t be too thrilled about that.

Wrong. The hurdle is money. Lack of.

Two things happened contributing to Wootton closure:
1. Building crown with the money to renovate Wootton.
2. Regional programs which take away the operational cost for crown as 27th high school.

Wootton is the one being hurt here. But the resentment toward W schools is making people lose perspective and react irrationally.

Correct. But they are hiding behind fiscal responsibility to excuse their prejudice. It’s yet another example of selective scrutiny (or criticism). They turn a blind eye towards the EV buses shenanigans because they’re pro-green energy (I.e., the ends justify the means).

Most recently on the Wootton closure, they’re turning a blind eye to the enrollment projection data used to justify building Crown, as well as to support Option H. Here’s the problem for them. If the BOE votes to adopt Option H in the face of serious questions about the underlying data, then it’s setting itself up for a smack down by the MD State BOE and/or an court injunction. The smart move for the BOE would be to hold a hearing, calling for experts from both sides, which would demonstrate appropriate due diligence. But this would mean a delay in transplanting Wootton to Crown for the 2027-2028 school year and force MCPS to either fill it with Gaithersburg kids or use it primarily as a holding school. Either way, Option H will be dead or delayed for a few years at least. A delay in Option H and using Crown as a holding school for a few years wouldn’t be a bad outcome for right now, especially since there is precedent with how MCPS used the new Woodward building. It would also give everyone time to cool off.

lol. Oh yeah. I'd love to hear that testimony..

"Uh, um. I know we just spent 220 million to build this really cool HS, but we want to use it as a temp facility for a few years. And we want to keep it empty another year and pay for the utilities and maintenance because we want people to take time to cool off..."

This doesn't need to be decided now.
1. Wootton moves to Crown and they use Wootton as holding school for the next school up for rebuilding (is that Magruder?)

2. Once Magruder is rebuilt, they assess. It could be that Wootton, itself, gets rebuilt.

3. This puts us to like 5-6 years down the road. If it's true that population in the Crown/Wootton area is growing as much as people are saying, they can open both as regular schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well there you have it... Dr. T was asked pointedly about the FAKE "Rockville Recommendation" (aka Option G) during the Jawando Education Budget Forum tonight and if he was reconsidering it for his recommendation and he said "absolutely not". It's giving... I appreciate the offer but I'm just not interested.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Taylor is never going to pursue Option G. The only chance it has is if the board itself takes the side of those who are arguing for it.

One of the big hurdles with Rockville’s argument is that it suggests Crown be filled/opened as a full school upon inauguration of a new Wootton building on Wootton parkway. If done that way, it would leave the county with no holding school for subsequent high schools which need renovation after Magruder/Wootton. So the superintendent won’t be too thrilled about that.

Wrong. The hurdle is money. Lack of.

Two things happened contributing to Wootton closure:
1. Building crown with the money to renovate Wootton.
2. Regional programs which take away the operational cost for crown as 27th high school.

Wootton is the one being hurt here. But the resentment toward W schools is making people lose perspective and react irrationally.

Correct. But they are hiding behind fiscal responsibility to excuse their prejudice. It’s yet another example of selective scrutiny (or criticism). They turn a blind eye towards the EV buses shenanigans because they’re pro-green energy (I.e., the ends justify the means).

Most recently on the Wootton closure, they’re turning a blind eye to the enrollment projection data used to justify building Crown, as well as to support Option H. Here’s the problem for them. If the BOE votes to adopt Option H in the face of serious questions about the underlying data, then it’s setting itself up for a smack down by the MD State BOE and/or an court injunction. The smart move for the BOE would be to hold a hearing, calling for experts from both sides, which would demonstrate appropriate due diligence. But this would mean a delay in transplanting Wootton to Crown for the 2027-2028 school year and force MCPS to either fill it with Gaithersburg kids or use it primarily as a holding school. Either way, Option H will be dead or delayed for a few years at least. A delay in Option H and using Crown as a holding school for a few years wouldn’t be a bad outcome for right now, especially since there is precedent with how MCPS used the new Woodward building. It would also give everyone time to cool off.

lol. Oh yeah. I'd love to hear that testimony..

"Uh, um. I know we just spent 220 million to build this really cool HS, but we want to use it as a temp facility for a few years. And we want to keep it empty another year and pay for the utilities and maintenance because we want people to take time to cool off..."

This doesn't need to be decided now.
1. Wootton moves to Crown and they use Wootton as holding school for the next school up for rebuilding (is that Magruder?)

2. Once Magruder is rebuilt, they assess. It could be that Wootton, itself, gets rebuilt.

3. This puts us to like 5-6 years down the road. If it's true that population in the Crown/Wootton area is growing as much as people are saying, they can open both as regular schools.

I think this may be what’s feared by Stone Mill people. If they do have to reopen a new Wootton building in around 5 years because population is growing, I wouldn’t be surprised if both DuFief and Stone Mill or Travilah remain at the Crown building and a reopened Wootton brings back Ritchie Park and/or Cold Spring. DuFief at least would be almost a guarantee to stay at “Crown” and never move back to Wootton.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well there you have it... Dr. T was asked pointedly about the FAKE "Rockville Recommendation" (aka Option G) during the Jawando Education Budget Forum tonight and if he was reconsidering it for his recommendation and he said "absolutely not". It's giving... I appreciate the offer but I'm just not interested.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Taylor is never going to pursue Option G. The only chance it has is if the board itself takes the side of those who are arguing for it.

One of the big hurdles with Rockville’s argument is that it suggests Crown be filled/opened as a full school upon inauguration of a new Wootton building on Wootton parkway. If done that way, it would leave the county with no holding school for subsequent high schools which need renovation after Magruder/Wootton. So the superintendent won’t be too thrilled about that.

Wrong. The hurdle is money. Lack of.

Two things happened contributing to Wootton closure:
1. Building crown with the money to renovate Wootton.
2. Regional programs which take away the operational cost for crown as 27th high school.

Wootton is the one being hurt here. But the resentment toward W schools is making people lose perspective and react irrationally.

Correct. But they are hiding behind fiscal responsibility to excuse their prejudice. It’s yet another example of selective scrutiny (or criticism). They turn a blind eye towards the EV buses shenanigans because they’re pro-green energy (I.e., the ends justify the means).

Most recently on the Wootton closure, they’re turning a blind eye to the enrollment projection data used to justify building Crown, as well as to support Option H. Here’s the problem for them. If the BOE votes to adopt Option H in the face of serious questions about the underlying data, then it’s setting itself up for a smack down by the MD State BOE and/or an court injunction. The smart move for the BOE would be to hold a hearing, calling for experts from both sides, which would demonstrate appropriate due diligence. But this would mean a delay in transplanting Wootton to Crown for the 2027-2028 school year and force MCPS to either fill it with Gaithersburg kids or use it primarily as a holding school. Either way, Option H will be dead or delayed for a few years at least. A delay in Option H and using Crown as a holding school for a few years wouldn’t be a bad outcome for right now, especially since there is precedent with how MCPS used the new Woodward building. It would also give everyone time to cool off.

lol. Oh yeah. I'd love to hear that testimony..

"Uh, um. I know we just spent 220 million to build this really cool HS, but we want to use it as a temp facility for a few years. And we want to keep it empty another year and pay for the utilities and maintenance because we want people to take time to cool off..."

This doesn't need to be decided now.
1. Wootton moves to Crown and they use Wootton as holding school for the next school up for rebuilding (is that Magruder?)

2. Once Magruder is rebuilt, they assess. It could be that Wootton, itself, gets rebuilt.

3. This puts us to like 5-6 years down the road. If it's true that population in the Crown/Wootton area is growing as much as people are saying, they can open both as regular schools.

If Wootton moves to Crown, it will be a permanent move, not a temp one.

The options are for Wootton to move to Crown and get a new building, or stay where it is and hope MCPS will do repairs to the building to make it suitable for continued use. It's hard to see how they can do the latter option, given the degraded state of the building.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well there you have it... Dr. T was asked pointedly about the FAKE "Rockville Recommendation" (aka Option G) during the Jawando Education Budget Forum tonight and if he was reconsidering it for his recommendation and he said "absolutely not". It's giving... I appreciate the offer but I'm just not interested.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Taylor is never going to pursue Option G. The only chance it has is if the board itself takes the side of those who are arguing for it.

One of the big hurdles with Rockville’s argument is that it suggests Crown be filled/opened as a full school upon inauguration of a new Wootton building on Wootton parkway. If done that way, it would leave the county with no holding school for subsequent high schools which need renovation after Magruder/Wootton. So the superintendent won’t be too thrilled about that.

Wrong. The hurdle is money. Lack of.

Two things happened contributing to Wootton closure:
1. Building crown with the money to renovate Wootton.
2. Regional programs which take away the operational cost for crown as 27th high school.

Wootton is the one being hurt here. But the resentment toward W schools is making people lose perspective and react irrationally.

Correct. But they are hiding behind fiscal responsibility to excuse their prejudice. It’s yet another example of selective scrutiny (or criticism). They turn a blind eye towards the EV buses shenanigans because they’re pro-green energy (I.e., the ends justify the means).

Most recently on the Wootton closure, they’re turning a blind eye to the enrollment projection data used to justify building Crown, as well as to support Option H. Here’s the problem for them. If the BOE votes to adopt Option H in the face of serious questions about the underlying data, then it’s setting itself up for a smack down by the MD State BOE and/or an court injunction. The smart move for the BOE would be to hold a hearing, calling for experts from both sides, which would demonstrate appropriate due diligence. But this would mean a delay in transplanting Wootton to Crown for the 2027-2028 school year and force MCPS to either fill it with Gaithersburg kids or use it primarily as a holding school. Either way, Option H will be dead or delayed for a few years at least. A delay in Option H and using Crown as a holding school for a few years wouldn’t be a bad outcome for right now, especially since there is precedent with how MCPS used the new Woodward building. It would also give everyone time to cool off.

lol. Oh yeah. I'd love to hear that testimony..

"Uh, um. I know we just spent 220 million to build this really cool HS, but we want to use it as a temp facility for a few years. And we want to keep it empty another year and pay for the utilities and maintenance because we want people to take time to cool off..."

This doesn't need to be decided now.
1. Wootton moves to Crown and they use Wootton as holding school for the next school up for rebuilding (is that Magruder?)

2. Once Magruder is rebuilt, they assess. It could be that Wootton, itself, gets rebuilt.

3. This puts us to like 5-6 years down the road. If it's true that population in the Crown/Wootton area is growing as much as people are saying, they can open both as regular schools.

If Wootton moves to Crown, it will be a permanent move, not a temp one.

The options are for Wootton to move to Crown and get a new building, or stay where it is and hope MCPS will do repairs to the building to make it suitable for continued use. It's hard to see how they can do the latter option, given the degraded state of the building.

If the population increase, there is the possibility of it reopening. Northwood and Woodward were closed and now reopening/reopened. You all are saying its in terrible condition, so a new school is a great thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The argument about losing the W name is the dumbest argument of this whole thing.

No, it’s losing a school that has been where it is for 55+ years. The school is being closed and moved several miles (driving) away to an entirely new community (which requires moving the Wootton boundaries to achieve.

The boundaries of virtually every school in this study are changing. Wootton is currently under capacity and QO significantly over. Had Wootton been rebuilt on site, it's extremely likely Fields Road would have been moved into it anyhow.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well there you have it... Dr. T was asked pointedly about the FAKE "Rockville Recommendation" (aka Option G) during the Jawando Education Budget Forum tonight and if he was reconsidering it for his recommendation and he said "absolutely not". It's giving... I appreciate the offer but I'm just not interested.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Taylor is never going to pursue Option G. The only chance it has is if the board itself takes the side of those who are arguing for it.

One of the big hurdles with Rockville’s argument is that it suggests Crown be filled/opened as a full school upon inauguration of a new Wootton building on Wootton parkway. If done that way, it would leave the county with no holding school for subsequent high schools which need renovation after Magruder/Wootton. So the superintendent won’t be too thrilled about that.

Wrong. The hurdle is money. Lack of.

Two things happened contributing to Wootton closure:
1. Building crown with the money to renovate Wootton.
2. Regional programs which take away the operational cost for crown as 27th high school.

Wootton is the one being hurt here. But the resentment toward W schools is making people lose perspective and react irrationally.

Correct. But they are hiding behind fiscal responsibility to excuse their prejudice. It’s yet another example of selective scrutiny (or criticism). They turn a blind eye towards the EV buses shenanigans because they’re pro-green energy (I.e., the ends justify the means).

Most recently on the Wootton closure, they’re turning a blind eye to the enrollment projection data used to justify building Crown, as well as to support Option H. Here’s the problem for them. If the BOE votes to adopt Option H in the face of serious questions about the underlying data, then it’s setting itself up for a smack down by the MD State BOE and/or an court injunction. The smart move for the BOE would be to hold a hearing, calling for experts from both sides, which would demonstrate appropriate due diligence. But this would mean a delay in transplanting Wootton to Crown for the 2027-2028 school year and force MCPS to either fill it with Gaithersburg kids or use it primarily as a holding school. Either way, Option H will be dead or delayed for a few years at least. A delay in Option H and using Crown as a holding school for a few years wouldn’t be a bad outcome for right now, especially since there is precedent with how MCPS used the new Woodward building. It would also give everyone time to cool off.

You're both (all?) wrong. The mistakes have led us here, sure. But moving Wootton to Crown is about what is current - the now. Lack of funding for Wootton now AND decline in enrollment now.

I'm not a fan of regional model (info is severely lacking thus far). But does the regional program budget = the cost of an operational 27th high school. I would think not though haven't checked and again... info is lacking.

And who is turning a blind eye on enrollment projection data? Data showed Crown was needed at one point. Now data shows it's not. Data is coming from MCPS. Things change over time.

First data error by MCPS - The 2019 enrollment projections were completely inaccurate when they were used by MCPS to break ground on Crown. No one with any sense was using pre-COVID projections in 2024. The reason to use those projections was to justify building Crown and not lose the land on which it sits.

Second data error by MCPS - its growth projections in the Wootton and Crown areas are grossly underestimated. This is demonstrated by the City of Rockville and the MBIA (both of which would have a much more accurate sense of the actual growth rate). By ignoring reality, MCPS can grab Wootton’s current building to use as a holding school and avoid operating a 27th school. It will be even worse off in 5-10 years and have to reopen Wootton as a 27th school, but will have eliminated a top performing school.

Completely agree that using pre-COVID data was an error, but the declines in enrollment MCPS is experiencing right now (2600 fewer students this year and 5000+ next year) could not have been predicted by any model. The federal job loss and outmigration and disruption to immigrant communities are completely unprecedented and have ramped up a trend started by the COVID-era erosion of trust in public schools (and declining birth rates).

However, the idea that the city of Rockville and the MBIA have a better sense of the growth rate is wishful thinking at best. Because of all the aforementioned trends, housing development isn’t as good a predictor of public school enrollment as it used to be, especially in the Wootton catchment area where costs are high (part of why, even before all these trends, Wootton has been underenrolled for the better part of the last decade). And most of the data Rockville and the MBIA are citing is information on individual housing developments that may or may not actually get built. Not even close to offsetting that 7000+ student decrease over the course of 2 years.

Could the population rebound in 10 years creating a need for the 27th school? Of course - population growth projections aren’t reliable 10 years out, even in normal times. But MCPS has historically done a boundary study every 5-10 years anyway, so I don’t think they’re looking for a solution that prevents that nearly inevitable need

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well there you have it... Dr. T was asked pointedly about the FAKE "Rockville Recommendation" (aka Option G) during the Jawando Education Budget Forum tonight and if he was reconsidering it for his recommendation and he said "absolutely not". It's giving... I appreciate the offer but I'm just not interested.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Taylor is never going to pursue Option G. The only chance it has is if the board itself takes the side of those who are arguing for it.

One of the big hurdles with Rockville’s argument is that it suggests Crown be filled/opened as a full school upon inauguration of a new Wootton building on Wootton parkway. If done that way, it would leave the county with no holding school for subsequent high schools which need renovation after Magruder/Wootton. So the superintendent won’t be too thrilled about that.

Wrong. The hurdle is money. Lack of.

Two things happened contributing to Wootton closure:
1. Building crown with the money to renovate Wootton.
2. Regional programs which take away the operational cost for crown as 27th high school.

Wootton is the one being hurt here. But the resentment toward W schools is making people lose perspective and react irrationally.

Correct. But they are hiding behind fiscal responsibility to excuse their prejudice. It’s yet another example of selective scrutiny (or criticism). They turn a blind eye towards the EV buses shenanigans because they’re pro-green energy (I.e., the ends justify the means).

Most recently on the Wootton closure, they’re turning a blind eye to the enrollment projection data used to justify building Crown, as well as to support Option H. Here’s the problem for them. If the BOE votes to adopt Option H in the face of serious questions about the underlying data, then it’s setting itself up for a smack down by the MD State BOE and/or an court injunction. The smart move for the BOE would be to hold a hearing, calling for experts from both sides, which would demonstrate appropriate due diligence. But this would mean a delay in transplanting Wootton to Crown for the 2027-2028 school year and force MCPS to either fill it with Gaithersburg kids or use it primarily as a holding school. Either way, Option H will be dead or delayed for a few years at least. A delay in Option H and using Crown as a holding school for a few years wouldn’t be a bad outcome for right now, especially since there is precedent with how MCPS used the new Woodward building. It would also give everyone time to cool off.

You're both (all?) wrong. The mistakes have led us here, sure. But moving Wootton to Crown is about what is current - the now. Lack of funding for Wootton now AND decline in enrollment now.

I'm not a fan of regional model (info is severely lacking thus far). But does the regional program budget = the cost of an operational 27th high school. I would think not though haven't checked and again... info is lacking.

And who is turning a blind eye on enrollment projection data? Data showed Crown was needed at one point. Now data shows it's not. Data is coming from MCPS. Things change over time.

First data error by MCPS - The 2019 enrollment projections were completely inaccurate when they were used by MCPS to break ground on Crown. No one with any sense was using pre-COVID projections in 2024. The reason to use those projections was to justify building Crown and not lose the land on which it sits.

Second data error by MCPS - its growth projections in the Wootton and Crown areas are grossly underestimated. This is demonstrated by the City of Rockville and the MBIA (both of which would have a much more accurate sense of the actual growth rate). By ignoring reality, MCPS can grab Wootton’s current building to use as a holding school and avoid operating a 27th school. It will be even worse off in 5-10 years and have to reopen Wootton as a 27th school, but will have eliminated a top performing school.

Completely agree that using pre-COVID data was an error, but the declines in enrollment MCPS is experiencing right now (2600 fewer students this year and 5000+ next year) could not have been predicted by any model. The federal job loss and outmigration and disruption to immigrant communities are completely unprecedented and have ramped up a trend started by the COVID-era erosion of trust in public schools (and declining birth rates).

However, the idea that the city of Rockville and the MBIA have a better sense of the growth rate is wishful thinking at best. Because of all the aforementioned trends, housing development isn’t as good a predictor of public school enrollment as it used to be, especially in the Wootton catchment area where costs are high (part of why, even before all these trends, Wootton has been underenrolled for the better part of the last decade). And most of the data Rockville and the MBIA are citing is information on individual housing developments that may or may not actually get built. Not even close to offsetting that 7000+ student decrease over the course of 2 years.

Could the population rebound in 10 years creating a need for the 27th school? Of course - population growth projections aren’t reliable 10 years out, even in normal times. But MCPS has historically done a boundary study every 5-10 years anyway, so I don’t think they’re looking for a solution that prevents that nearly inevitable need

There are multiple reasons for the reduction including people leaving for privates to avoid virtual and people leaving for the lack of virtual school. And, housing prices continue to go up to the point it’s not affordable for most.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well there you have it... Dr. T was asked pointedly about the FAKE "Rockville Recommendation" (aka Option G) during the Jawando Education Budget Forum tonight and if he was reconsidering it for his recommendation and he said "absolutely not". It's giving... I appreciate the offer but I'm just not interested.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Taylor is never going to pursue Option G. The only chance it has is if the board itself takes the side of those who are arguing for it.

One of the big hurdles with Rockville’s argument is that it suggests Crown be filled/opened as a full school upon inauguration of a new Wootton building on Wootton parkway. If done that way, it would leave the county with no holding school for subsequent high schools which need renovation after Magruder/Wootton. So the superintendent won’t be too thrilled about that.

Wrong. The hurdle is money. Lack of.

Two things happened contributing to Wootton closure:
1. Building crown with the money to renovate Wootton.
2. Regional programs which take away the operational cost for crown as 27th high school.

Wootton is the one being hurt here. But the resentment toward W schools is making people lose perspective and react irrationally.

Correct. But they are hiding behind fiscal responsibility to excuse their prejudice. It’s yet another example of selective scrutiny (or criticism). They turn a blind eye towards the EV buses shenanigans because they’re pro-green energy (I.e., the ends justify the means).

Most recently on the Wootton closure, they’re turning a blind eye to the enrollment projection data used to justify building Crown, as well as to support Option H. Here’s the problem for them. If the BOE votes to adopt Option H in the face of serious questions about the underlying data, then it’s setting itself up for a smack down by the MD State BOE and/or an court injunction. The smart move for the BOE would be to hold a hearing, calling for experts from both sides, which would demonstrate appropriate due diligence. But this would mean a delay in transplanting Wootton to Crown for the 2027-2028 school year and force MCPS to either fill it with Gaithersburg kids or use it primarily as a holding school. Either way, Option H will be dead or delayed for a few years at least. A delay in Option H and using Crown as a holding school for a few years wouldn’t be a bad outcome for right now, especially since there is precedent with how MCPS used the new Woodward building. It would also give everyone time to cool off.

lol. Oh yeah. I'd love to hear that testimony..

"Uh, um. I know we just spent 220 million to build this really cool HS, but we want to use it as a temp facility for a few years. And we want to keep it empty another year and pay for the utilities and maintenance because we want people to take time to cool off..."

This doesn't need to be decided now.
1. Wootton moves to Crown and they use Wootton as holding school for the next school up for rebuilding (is that Magruder?)

2. Once Magruder is rebuilt, they assess. It could be that Wootton, itself, gets rebuilt.

3. This puts us to like 5-6 years down the road. If it's true that population in the Crown/Wootton area is growing as much as people are saying, they can open both as regular schools.

Thinking that the county can authorize, plan, build, and reopen a new school in 5-6 years is out of touch with reality. That process would take 10-15 years minimum. Anyone with children in the school system today will never see this happen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well there you have it... Dr. T was asked pointedly about the FAKE "Rockville Recommendation" (aka Option G) during the Jawando Education Budget Forum tonight and if he was reconsidering it for his recommendation and he said "absolutely not". It's giving... I appreciate the offer but I'm just not interested.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Taylor is never going to pursue Option G. The only chance it has is if the board itself takes the side of those who are arguing for it.

One of the big hurdles with Rockville’s argument is that it suggests Crown be filled/opened as a full school upon inauguration of a new Wootton building on Wootton parkway. If done that way, it would leave the county with no holding school for subsequent high schools which need renovation after Magruder/Wootton. So the superintendent won’t be too thrilled about that.

Wrong. The hurdle is money. Lack of.

Two things happened contributing to Wootton closure:
1. Building crown with the money to renovate Wootton.
2. Regional programs which take away the operational cost for crown as 27th high school.

Wootton is the one being hurt here. But the resentment toward W schools is making people lose perspective and react irrationally.

Correct. But they are hiding behind fiscal responsibility to excuse their prejudice. It’s yet another example of selective scrutiny (or criticism). They turn a blind eye towards the EV buses shenanigans because they’re pro-green energy (I.e., the ends justify the means).

Most recently on the Wootton closure, they’re turning a blind eye to the enrollment projection data used to justify building Crown, as well as to support Option H. Here’s the problem for them. If the BOE votes to adopt Option H in the face of serious questions about the underlying data, then it’s setting itself up for a smack down by the MD State BOE and/or an court injunction. The smart move for the BOE would be to hold a hearing, calling for experts from both sides, which would demonstrate appropriate due diligence. But this would mean a delay in transplanting Wootton to Crown for the 2027-2028 school year and force MCPS to either fill it with Gaithersburg kids or use it primarily as a holding school. Either way, Option H will be dead or delayed for a few years at least. A delay in Option H and using Crown as a holding school for a few years wouldn’t be a bad outcome for right now, especially since there is precedent with how MCPS used the new Woodward building. It would also give everyone time to cool off.

lol. Oh yeah. I'd love to hear that testimony..

"Uh, um. I know we just spent 220 million to build this really cool HS, but we want to use it as a temp facility for a few years. And we want to keep it empty another year and pay for the utilities and maintenance because we want people to take time to cool off..."

This doesn't need to be decided now.
1. Wootton moves to Crown and they use Wootton as holding school for the next school up for rebuilding (is that Magruder?)

2. Once Magruder is rebuilt, they assess. It could be that Wootton, itself, gets rebuilt.

3. This puts us to like 5-6 years down the road. If it's true that population in the Crown/Wootton area is growing as much as people are saying, they can open both as regular schools.

Thinking that the county can authorize, plan, build, and reopen a new school in 5-6 years is out of touch with reality. That process would take 10-15 years minimum. Anyone with children in the school system today will never see this happen.

Agree. It's clear this person has no idea how politics, CIP's, budgets and construction cycles work. The only way the County can fund this would be a massive (unpopular) tax hike, which no politician would support, given the pushback on the last one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well there you have it... Dr. T was asked pointedly about the FAKE "Rockville Recommendation" (aka Option G) during the Jawando Education Budget Forum tonight and if he was reconsidering it for his recommendation and he said "absolutely not". It's giving... I appreciate the offer but I'm just not interested.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Taylor is never going to pursue Option G. The only chance it has is if the board itself takes the side of those who are arguing for it.

One of the big hurdles with Rockville’s argument is that it suggests Crown be filled/opened as a full school upon inauguration of a new Wootton building on Wootton parkway. If done that way, it would leave the county with no holding school for subsequent high schools which need renovation after Magruder/Wootton. So the superintendent won’t be too thrilled about that.

Wrong. The hurdle is money. Lack of.

Two things happened contributing to Wootton closure:
1. Building crown with the money to renovate Wootton.
2. Regional programs which take away the operational cost for crown as 27th high school.

Wootton is the one being hurt here. But the resentment toward W schools is making people lose perspective and react irrationally.

Wootton renovations were *never* in the CIP. Expansion for RM *was* and there were even architectural drawings for the exapnsion before it was taken out and MCPS said Crown would alleviate the overcrowding at RM by sending students there instead of moving forward with the RM building expansion that had previously been in the CIP.

The problem is not "resentment toward W schools making people lose perspective and react irrationally" its that Wootton parents are taking a boundary study that includes almost half of the county and making it all about them with a completely myopic view and casting themselves as the victims of an evil MCPS plot when really its *not* all about Wootton and what Wootton families want or need. Crown was supposed to solve issues at many schools by creating a new school *instead of* rebuilding or expanding older schools, but instead Woitton families are complaining because it isnt exactly how *they* want the solution to be for their 1 school when actually this impacts many schools.

MCPS made it clear they would rather build Crown as a way of alleviating the overcrowding at RM instead of adding on to the school. That appears to be their strategy for Wootton too - brand new school instead of rebuild or expansion but Wootton wants it to be the way *they* want, not what is best for *all* schools and the county as a whole fiscally or from a holistic perspective. Its like a 2 year old having a temper tantrum

+1 The issue isn't 'resentment toward W schools.' It's that for the last months, Wootton parents/posters have had a huge sense of entitlement and a victim mentality. Nobody cares about a "W" designation except Wootton parents who are so insecure that there's a frequent poster on this board terrified that they'll rename the school something that doesn't start with "W."

Wootton has gotten largely what they wanted-- keeping the current Wootton feeders together (lots of other schools in they county are losing that) and a new building to replace the one they've complained about for years. Even getting the new building ahead of another school that is arguably in worse physical shape. I think there would be sympathy on the board for the plight of current walkers who will now be bus riders, but the extreme entitlement and claims of racism have pretty much burned that goodwill.

Not only that but Wootton is so underutilized they probably risk being closed down the line if they stay at Wootton instead of just accepting Crown and the whole cluster would then be split between QO, Crown, RM. The housing is pricing people out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The argument about losing the W name is the dumbest argument of this whole thing.

No, it’s losing a school that has been where it is for 55+ years. The school is being closed and moved several miles (driving) away to an entirely new community (which requires moving the Wootton boundaries to achieve.

OK, so then, a school that's been there for 55+ years and is clearing falling a part should be closed down.

Boundaries get redrawn from time to time. That's part of living in a large public school district.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The argument about losing the W name is the dumbest argument of this whole thing.

No, it’s losing a school that has been where it is for 55+ years. The school is being closed and moved several miles (driving) away to an entirely new community (which requires moving the Wootton boundaries to achieve.

Um well there were some posters who were lamenting losing the W moniker. "Will colleges know that my kid went to a W school?"