Taylor's Feb Rec for Crown Boundary Study

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is a certain level of out of touch that allows Wootton families to turn up their noses at a brand new building. Saying you'd rather stay in the disgusting conditions of your current school than move 3 miles away and/or share with other people, is really telling.

It’s a certain level of out of touch to build a brand new school based on pre-Covid enrollment projections created 5 years earlier to justify not losing prime real estate in the heart of Crown. It’s almost like MCPS always planned to close Wootton the minute shovels hit the dirt, but didn’t want to say anything until it was too late. That would be consistent with the PP’s assertion that DEI is the reason for the Wootton closure.

OK, so the Crown school should never have been built. Accepted.

But it IS there. And the most appropriate thing for MCPS to do it to move the Wootton students to that building and change boundaries to reduce overcrowding in some schools.

You keep arguing an irrelevant point.

So you think it’s okay for MCPS to allegedly lie and obfuscate? So the ends justify the means. Got it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is a certain level of out of touch that allows Wootton families to turn up their noses at a brand new building. Saying you'd rather stay in the disgusting conditions of your current school than move 3 miles away and/or share with other people, is really telling.

It’s a certain level of out of touch to build a brand new school based on pre-Covid enrollment projections created 5 years earlier to justify not losing prime real estate in the heart of Crown. It’s almost like MCPS always planned to close Wootton the minute shovels hit the dirt, but didn’t want to say anything until it was too late. That would be consistent with the PP’s assertion that DEI is the reason for the Wootton closure.

OK, so the Crown school should never have been built. Accepted.

But it IS there. And the most appropriate thing for MCPS to do it to move the Wootton students to that building and change boundaries to reduce overcrowding in some schools.

You keep arguing an irrelevant point.

So you think it’s okay for MCPS to allegedly lie and obfuscate? So the ends justify the means. Got it.

Not what I said. What I am saying is how we got here is not relevant to where we go from here. Feel free to "hold them accountable" and call it out and demand change and transparency from MCPS moving forward.

But the fact is that there IS a new building, a dilapidated building, and under-enrollment. The question is what is the best way to handle it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is a certain level of out of touch that allows Wootton families to turn up their noses at a brand new building. Saying you'd rather stay in the disgusting conditions of your current school than move 3 miles away and/or share with other people, is really telling.

It’s a certain level of out of touch to build a brand new school based on pre-Covid enrollment projections created 5 years earlier to justify not losing prime real estate in the heart of Crown. It’s almost like MCPS always planned to close Wootton the minute shovels hit the dirt, but didn’t want to say anything until it was too late. That would be consistent with the PP’s assertion that DEI is the reason for the Wootton closure.

How does the timeline work?

Taylor's been superintendent for less than 2 years. The MCPS school board has 3 members elected in 2024 and another 2 in 2022. The Crown plans have been in motion since before a majority of the school board and superintendent have been in place.

Isn't the more likely scenario here that everyone involved took a new look at a situation that they inherited and decided that the best use of the new high school building was to move students and teachers from an unsafe, crumbling building and put them in a brand new building less than 4 miles away? There's no malevolent plot here, just people trying to do their best with a bad situation.

With perfect hindsight, Crown shouldn't have been built and that money invested in repairing many of the broken buildings in the county, but the die is cast.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is a certain level of out of touch that allows Wootton families to turn up their noses at a brand new building. Saying you'd rather stay in the disgusting conditions of your current school than move 3 miles away and/or share with other people, is really telling.

It’s a certain level of out of touch to build a brand new school based on pre-Covid enrollment projections created 5 years earlier to justify not losing prime real estate in the heart of Crown. It’s almost like MCPS always planned to close Wootton the minute shovels hit the dirt, but didn’t want to say anything until it was too late. That would be consistent with the PP’s assertion that DEI is the reason for the Wootton closure.

OK, so the Crown school should never have been built. Accepted.

But it IS there. And the most appropriate thing for MCPS to do it to move the Wootton students to that building and change boundaries to reduce overcrowding in some schools.

You keep arguing an irrelevant point.

So you think it’s okay for MCPS to allegedly lie and obfuscate? So the ends justify the means. Got it.

Not what I said. What I am saying is how we got here is not relevant to where we go from here. Feel free to "hold them accountable" and call it out and demand change and transparency from MCPS moving forward.

But the fact is that there IS a new building, a dilapidated building, and under-enrollment. The question is what is the best way to handle it.

It is what you said. You think it’s okay because we are where we are. That’s not how this works. A judge or the MD BOE could easily say that MCPS was either incompetent or malevolent - but in either case the Wootton community shouldn’t have to pay the price.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is a certain level of out of touch that allows Wootton families to turn up their noses at a brand new building. Saying you'd rather stay in the disgusting conditions of your current school than move 3 miles away and/or share with other people, is really telling.

It’s a certain level of out of touch to build a brand new school based on pre-Covid enrollment projections created 5 years earlier to justify not losing prime real estate in the heart of Crown. It’s almost like MCPS always planned to close Wootton the minute shovels hit the dirt, but didn’t want to say anything until it was too late. That would be consistent with the PP’s assertion that DEI is the reason for the Wootton closure.

OK, so the Crown school should never have been built. Accepted.

But it IS there. And the most appropriate thing for MCPS to do it to move the Wootton students to that building and change boundaries to reduce overcrowding in some schools.

You keep arguing an irrelevant point.

So you think it’s okay for MCPS to allegedly lie and obfuscate? So the ends justify the means. Got it.

Not what I said. What I am saying is how we got here is not relevant to where we go from here. Feel free to "hold them accountable" and call it out and demand change and transparency from MCPS moving forward.

But the fact is that there IS a new building, a dilapidated building, and under-enrollment. The question is what is the best way to handle it.

It is what you said. You think it’s okay because we are where we are. That’s not how this works. A judge or the MD BOE could easily say that MCPS was either incompetent or malevolent - but in either case the Wootton community shouldn’t have to pay the price.

So who should pay the price? Quite literally. Who is funding this? The entire county by way of insane tax hikes? Good luck, Chuck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is a certain level of out of touch that allows Wootton families to turn up their noses at a brand new building. Saying you'd rather stay in the disgusting conditions of your current school than move 3 miles away and/or share with other people, is really telling.

It’s a certain level of out of touch to build a brand new school based on pre-Covid enrollment projections created 5 years earlier to justify not losing prime real estate in the heart of Crown. It’s almost like MCPS always planned to close Wootton the minute shovels hit the dirt, but didn’t want to say anything until it was too late. That would be consistent with the PP’s assertion that DEI is the reason for the Wootton closure.

OK, so the Crown school should never have been built. Accepted.

But it IS there. And the most appropriate thing for MCPS to do it to move the Wootton students to that building and change boundaries to reduce overcrowding in some schools.

You keep arguing an irrelevant point.

So you think it’s okay for MCPS to allegedly lie and obfuscate? So the ends justify the means. Got it.

Not what I said. What I am saying is how we got here is not relevant to where we go from here. Feel free to "hold them accountable" and call it out and demand change and transparency from MCPS moving forward.

But the fact is that there IS a new building, a dilapidated building, and under-enrollment. The question is what is the best way to handle it.

It is what you said. You think it’s okay because we are where we are. That’s not how this works. A judge or the MD BOE could easily say that MCPS was either incompetent or malevolent - but in either case the Wootton community shouldn’t have to pay the price.

Crown was planned, what over 10 years ago when enrollment was higher. Wootton familes complained about the safety, so this is the best solution.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is a certain level of out of touch that allows Wootton families to turn up their noses at a brand new building. Saying you'd rather stay in the disgusting conditions of your current school than move 3 miles away and/or share with other people, is really telling.

It’s a certain level of out of touch to build a brand new school based on pre-Covid enrollment projections created 5 years earlier to justify not losing prime real estate in the heart of Crown. It’s almost like MCPS always planned to close Wootton the minute shovels hit the dirt, but didn’t want to say anything until it was too late. That would be consistent with the PP’s assertion that DEI is the reason for the Wootton closure.

OK, so the Crown school should never have been built. Accepted.

But it IS there. And the most appropriate thing for MCPS to do it to move the Wootton students to that building and change boundaries to reduce overcrowding in some schools.

You keep arguing an irrelevant point.

So you think it’s okay for MCPS to allegedly lie and obfuscate? So the ends justify the means. Got it.

Not what I said. What I am saying is how we got here is not relevant to where we go from here. Feel free to "hold them accountable" and call it out and demand change and transparency from MCPS moving forward.

But the fact is that there IS a new building, a dilapidated building, and under-enrollment. The question is what is the best way to handle it.

It is what you said. You think it’s okay because we are where we are. That’s not how this works. A judge or the MD BOE could easily say that MCPS was either incompetent or malevolent - but in either case the Wootton community shouldn’t have to pay the price.

So who should pay the price? Quite literally. Who is funding this? The entire county by way of insane tax hikes? Good luck, Chuck.

For what, 1500 students?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is a certain level of out of touch that allows Wootton families to turn up their noses at a brand new building. Saying you'd rather stay in the disgusting conditions of your current school than move 3 miles away and/or share with other people, is really telling.

It’s a certain level of out of touch to build a brand new school based on pre-Covid enrollment projections created 5 years earlier to justify not losing prime real estate in the heart of Crown. It’s almost like MCPS always planned to close Wootton the minute shovels hit the dirt, but didn’t want to say anything until it was too late. That would be consistent with the PP’s assertion that DEI is the reason for the Wootton closure.

OK, so the Crown school should never have been built. Accepted.

But it IS there. And the most appropriate thing for MCPS to do it to move the Wootton students to that building and change boundaries to reduce overcrowding in some schools.

You keep arguing an irrelevant point.

So you think it’s okay for MCPS to allegedly lie and obfuscate? So the ends justify the means. Got it.

Not what I said. What I am saying is how we got here is not relevant to where we go from here. Feel free to "hold them accountable" and call it out and demand change and transparency from MCPS moving forward.

But the fact is that there IS a new building, a dilapidated building, and under-enrollment. The question is what is the best way to handle it.

It is what you said. You think it’s okay because we are where we are. That’s not how this works. A judge or the MD BOE could easily say that MCPS was either incompetent or malevolent - but in either case the Wootton community shouldn’t have to pay the price.

"pay the price" of what?? getting a brand new school for your community is not exactly a hardship. You're making the wootton cluster look like elitist snobs to the rest of the county. in the words of a famous reality star, "kim, there's people that are dying."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:i really dont understand the "save wootton" people. the "school" will still exist with the teachers and the programs. why do you cling to a crumbling building?

Because it isn't about the school or the education. It is about the property values.

That and the relatively normal human instinct to reflexively reject change of any kind. Which, while understandable, is not persuasive.

Their property values will not change over school boundaries. It may change because of what is going on in the country right now.

Not only will the property values change, but a huge draw for the county will be gone. High income earners that are looking to put down roots are looking at the ratio of home price to academic cluster success. Wootton clears that hurdle for many, and the resulting Crown will not. Taylor has no skin in the game and will not feel the effects, but the County will.

1. There is no (research-backed) reason to believe that Wootton at Crown will be meaningfully less "successful" than the current location.
2. The county will not lose high income earners because of this move. There are plenty of other locations within the county with the same "ratio" that you describe.

Of course there isn’t any Crown specific research. It’s not open yet. But it’s common sense that there will be a dip (potentially significant, depending on the past performance of the non-Wootton kids who get to go to Crown). Wootton at Crown may recover in 5-10 years, but the damage will be done.

Yes, the county will lose high income earners, likely to Virginia, as there will be one less “W” school.

There is research, cited multiple times on this thread, that contradicts your "common sense."

Feel free to share the research. I’d like to read it.

There is a LOT of great research on this, but here’s one of my favorite summaries. It breaks down the positive benefits both for kids from lower-income backgrounds and those from the higher-resourced communities:

https://tcf.org/content/report/how-racially-diverse-schools-and-classrooms-can-benefit-all-students/

So DEI, got it. Did you ever stop to consider that Wootton is quite diverse already? And that there are low income students attending Wootton already?

Yes! That’s part of why we’re saying that it’s not common sense that “there will be a dip (potentially significant, depending on the past performance of the non-Wootton kids who get to go to Crown).” The rigorous research contradicts that and, as you’ve cleverly highlighted, the less rigorous but still valid case study of the 14% of kids receiving FARMs contradicts that as well.

Thanks for admitting this closure is based on DEI. Also, the academic research is clear that low performing kids, particularly disruptive ones, will cause a decline in the learning environment and overall school performance.

You’re welcome? MCPS’s mandate is to provide equitable opportunities for all kids that they serve - not to protect and segregate the Wootton kids who already come in with so much more than so many of their peers. If you’re coming to the table with an unshakable belief that DEI is an evil rather than a mechanism to improve outcomes for all kids, then you are starting in a place where there isn’t any credible research that is going to help you. But the research I shared shows that it might just help make sure your kid isn’t back on this board 20 years from now carrying on your legacy of yelling about DEI.

MCPS is in no way equitable or other schools would have the same courses, clubs, and activities Wootton has. They are being moved to a new school due to parent concerns over the condition of the building. Parents had a fit, MCPS listened.

Incorrect. Taylor is closing Wootton to fill a school building that should have never been built. MCPS built Crown using wildly inaccurate pre-Covid enrollment projections to avoid losing land that had been set aside in 2006 on the condition MCPS build a school there within 20 years. Wootton was taken off the CIP 3 separate times over the years. If MCPS really cared about what Wootton parents thought, it wouldn’t have done so.

Both things can be true. Accepting that Wootton should not have been built and that Wootton should have been on the CIP and improved years ago, we are where we are. And that is with overall under-enrollment, a brand new building, and an old building in dire need of repair/replacement. And therefore the choice that meets the needs of most students in the most fiscally sound manner is to move Wootton to Crown.

Many schools need to be repaired or replaced and aren't getting it. Wootton is being offered a great solution that most of us would gladly accept. Is the school not as bad as those advocating are saying?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:i really dont understand the "save wootton" people. the "school" will still exist with the teachers and the programs. why do you cling to a crumbling building?

Because it isn't about the school or the education. It is about the property values.

That and the relatively normal human instinct to reflexively reject change of any kind. Which, while understandable, is not persuasive.

Their property values will not change over school boundaries. It may change because of what is going on in the country right now.

Not only will the property values change, but a huge draw for the county will be gone. High income earners that are looking to put down roots are looking at the ratio of home price to academic cluster success. Wootton clears that hurdle for many, and the resulting Crown will not. Taylor has no skin in the game and will not feel the effects, but the County will.

1. There is no (research-backed) reason to believe that Wootton at Crown will be meaningfully less "successful" than the current location.
2. The county will not lose high income earners because of this move. There are plenty of other locations within the county with the same "ratio" that you describe.

Of course there isn’t any Crown specific research. It’s not open yet. But it’s common sense that there will be a dip (potentially significant, depending on the past performance of the non-Wootton kids who get to go to Crown). Wootton at Crown may recover in 5-10 years, but the damage will be done.

Yes, the county will lose high income earners, likely to Virginia, as there will be one less “W” school.

There is research, cited multiple times on this thread, that contradicts your "common sense."

Feel free to share the research. I’d like to read it.

There is a LOT of great research on this, but here’s one of my favorite summaries. It breaks down the positive benefits both for kids from lower-income backgrounds and those from the higher-resourced communities:

https://tcf.org/content/report/how-racially-diverse-schools-and-classrooms-can-benefit-all-students/

So DEI, got it. Did you ever stop to consider that Wootton is quite diverse already? And that there are low income students attending Wootton already?

Yes! That’s part of why we’re saying that it’s not common sense that “there will be a dip (potentially significant, depending on the past performance of the non-Wootton kids who get to go to Crown).” The rigorous research contradicts that and, as you’ve cleverly highlighted, the less rigorous but still valid case study of the 14% of kids receiving FARMs contradicts that as well.

Thanks for admitting this closure is based on DEI. Also, the academic research is clear that low performing kids, particularly disruptive ones, will cause a decline in the learning environment and overall school performance.

You’re welcome? MCPS’s mandate is to provide equitable opportunities for all kids that they serve - not to protect and segregate the Wootton kids who already come in with so much more than so many of their peers. If you’re coming to the table with an unshakable belief that DEI is an evil rather than a mechanism to improve outcomes for all kids, then you are starting in a place where there isn’t any credible research that is going to help you. But the research I shared shows that it might just help make sure your kid isn’t back on this board 20 years from now carrying on your legacy of yelling about DEI.

MCPS is in no way equitable or other schools would have the same courses, clubs, and activities Wootton has. They are being moved to a new school due to parent concerns over the condition of the building. Parents had a fit, MCPS listened.

Incorrect. Taylor is closing Wootton to fill a school building that should have never been built. MCPS built Crown using wildly inaccurate pre-Covid enrollment projections to avoid losing land that had been set aside in 2006 on the condition MCPS build a school there within 20 years. Wootton was taken off the CIP 3 separate times over the years. If MCPS really cared about what Wootton parents thought, it wouldn’t have done so.

Both things can be true. Accepting that Wootton should not have been built and that Wootton should have been on the CIP and improved years ago, we are where we are. And that is with overall under-enrollment, a brand new building, and an old building in dire need of repair/replacement. And therefore the choice that meets the needs of most students in the most fiscally sound manner is to move Wootton to Crown.

Many schools need to be repaired or replaced and aren't getting it. Wootton is being offered a great solution that most of us would gladly accept. Is the school not as bad as those advocating are saying?

Wootton didn’t ask for nor does it want Crown, so it’s not a gift nor a great solution. Use Crown as a holding school until Gaithersburg grows again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:i really dont understand the "save wootton" people. the "school" will still exist with the teachers and the programs. why do you cling to a crumbling building?

Because it isn't about the school or the education. It is about the property values.

That and the relatively normal human instinct to reflexively reject change of any kind. Which, while understandable, is not persuasive.

Their property values will not change over school boundaries. It may change because of what is going on in the country right now.

Not only will the property values change, but a huge draw for the county will be gone. High income earners that are looking to put down roots are looking at the ratio of home price to academic cluster success. Wootton clears that hurdle for many, and the resulting Crown will not. Taylor has no skin in the game and will not feel the effects, but the County will.

1. There is no (research-backed) reason to believe that Wootton at Crown will be meaningfully less "successful" than the current location.
2. The county will not lose high income earners because of this move. There are plenty of other locations within the county with the same "ratio" that you describe.

Of course there isn’t any Crown specific research. It’s not open yet. But it’s common sense that there will be a dip (potentially significant, depending on the past performance of the non-Wootton kids who get to go to Crown). Wootton at Crown may recover in 5-10 years, but the damage will be done.

Yes, the county will lose high income earners, likely to Virginia, as there will be one less “W” school.

There is research, cited multiple times on this thread, that contradicts your "common sense."

Feel free to share the research. I’d like to read it.

There is a LOT of great research on this, but here’s one of my favorite summaries. It breaks down the positive benefits both for kids from lower-income backgrounds and those from the higher-resourced communities:

https://tcf.org/content/report/how-racially-diverse-schools-and-classrooms-can-benefit-all-students/

So DEI, got it. Did you ever stop to consider that Wootton is quite diverse already? And that there are low income students attending Wootton already?

Yes! That’s part of why we’re saying that it’s not common sense that “there will be a dip (potentially significant, depending on the past performance of the non-Wootton kids who get to go to Crown).” The rigorous research contradicts that and, as you’ve cleverly highlighted, the less rigorous but still valid case study of the 14% of kids receiving FARMs contradicts that as well.

Thanks for admitting this closure is based on DEI. Also, the academic research is clear that low performing kids, particularly disruptive ones, will cause a decline in the learning environment and overall school performance.

You’re welcome? MCPS’s mandate is to provide equitable opportunities for all kids that they serve - not to protect and segregate the Wootton kids who already come in with so much more than so many of their peers. If you’re coming to the table with an unshakable belief that DEI is an evil rather than a mechanism to improve outcomes for all kids, then you are starting in a place where there isn’t any credible research that is going to help you. But the research I shared shows that it might just help make sure your kid isn’t back on this board 20 years from now carrying on your legacy of yelling about DEI.

MCPS is in no way equitable or other schools would have the same courses, clubs, and activities Wootton has. They are being moved to a new school due to parent concerns over the condition of the building. Parents had a fit, MCPS listened.

Incorrect. Taylor is closing Wootton to fill a school building that should have never been built. MCPS built Crown using wildly inaccurate pre-Covid enrollment projections to avoid losing land that had been set aside in 2006 on the condition MCPS build a school there within 20 years. Wootton was taken off the CIP 3 separate times over the years. If MCPS really cared about what Wootton parents thought, it wouldn’t have done so.

Both things can be true. Accepting that Wootton should not have been built and that Wootton should have been on the CIP and improved years ago, we are where we are. And that is with overall under-enrollment, a brand new building, and an old building in dire need of repair/replacement. And therefore the choice that meets the needs of most students in the most fiscally sound manner is to move Wootton to Crown.

Many schools need to be repaired or replaced and aren't getting it. Wootton is being offered a great solution that most of us would gladly accept. Is the school not as bad as those advocating are saying?

Wootton didn’t ask for nor does it want Crown, so it’s not a gift nor a great solution. Use Crown as a holding school until Gaithersburg grows again.

You don’t speak for all of Wootton

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is a certain level of out of touch that allows Wootton families to turn up their noses at a brand new building. Saying you'd rather stay in the disgusting conditions of your current school than move 3 miles away and/or share with other people, is really telling.

It’s a certain level of out of touch to build a brand new school based on pre-Covid enrollment projections created 5 years earlier to justify not losing prime real estate in the heart of Crown. It’s almost like MCPS always planned to close Wootton the minute shovels hit the dirt, but didn’t want to say anything until it was too late. That would be consistent with the PP’s assertion that DEI is the reason for the Wootton closure.

OK, so the Crown school should never have been built. Accepted.

But it IS there. And the most appropriate thing for MCPS to do it to move the Wootton students to that building and change boundaries to reduce overcrowding in some schools.

You keep arguing an irrelevant point.

So you think it’s okay for MCPS to allegedly lie and obfuscate? So the ends justify the means. Got it.

Not what I said. What I am saying is how we got here is not relevant to where we go from here. Feel free to "hold them accountable" and call it out and demand change and transparency from MCPS moving forward.

But the fact is that there IS a new building, a dilapidated building, and under-enrollment. The question is what is the best way to handle it.

It is what you said. You think it’s okay because we are where we are. That’s not how this works. A judge or the MD BOE could easily say that MCPS was either incompetent or malevolent - but in either case the Wootton community shouldn’t have to pay the price.

Sigh. I think that as a tax payer I want my School Board to make the best decision for all students at any given point in time. Don't you?

You aren't even arguing that this isn't the best option. You are just whining that we shouldn't be in this situation. I agree! But that isn't the point.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:i really dont understand the "save wootton" people. the "school" will still exist with the teachers and the programs. why do you cling to a crumbling building?

Because it isn't about the school or the education. It is about the property values.

That and the relatively normal human instinct to reflexively reject change of any kind. Which, while understandable, is not persuasive.

Their property values will not change over school boundaries. It may change because of what is going on in the country right now.

Not only will the property values change, but a huge draw for the county will be gone. High income earners that are looking to put down roots are looking at the ratio of home price to academic cluster success. Wootton clears that hurdle for many, and the resulting Crown will not. Taylor has no skin in the game and will not feel the effects, but the County will.

1. There is no (research-backed) reason to believe that Wootton at Crown will be meaningfully less "successful" than the current location.
2. The county will not lose high income earners because of this move. There are plenty of other locations within the county with the same "ratio" that you describe.

Of course there isn’t any Crown specific research. It’s not open yet. But it’s common sense that there will be a dip (potentially significant, depending on the past performance of the non-Wootton kids who get to go to Crown). Wootton at Crown may recover in 5-10 years, but the damage will be done.

Yes, the county will lose high income earners, likely to Virginia, as there will be one less “W” school.

There is research, cited multiple times on this thread, that contradicts your "common sense."

Feel free to share the research. I’d like to read it.

There is a LOT of great research on this, but here’s one of my favorite summaries. It breaks down the positive benefits both for kids from lower-income backgrounds and those from the higher-resourced communities:

https://tcf.org/content/report/how-racially-diverse-schools-and-classrooms-can-benefit-all-students/

So DEI, got it. Did you ever stop to consider that Wootton is quite diverse already? And that there are low income students attending Wootton already?

Yes! That’s part of why we’re saying that it’s not common sense that “there will be a dip (potentially significant, depending on the past performance of the non-Wootton kids who get to go to Crown).” The rigorous research contradicts that and, as you’ve cleverly highlighted, the less rigorous but still valid case study of the 14% of kids receiving FARMs contradicts that as well.

Thanks for admitting this closure is based on DEI. Also, the academic research is clear that low performing kids, particularly disruptive ones, will cause a decline in the learning environment and overall school performance.

You’re welcome? MCPS’s mandate is to provide equitable opportunities for all kids that they serve - not to protect and segregate the Wootton kids who already come in with so much more than so many of their peers. If you’re coming to the table with an unshakable belief that DEI is an evil rather than a mechanism to improve outcomes for all kids, then you are starting in a place where there isn’t any credible research that is going to help you. But the research I shared shows that it might just help make sure your kid isn’t back on this board 20 years from now carrying on your legacy of yelling about DEI.

MCPS is in no way equitable or other schools would have the same courses, clubs, and activities Wootton has. They are being moved to a new school due to parent concerns over the condition of the building. Parents had a fit, MCPS listened.

Incorrect. Taylor is closing Wootton to fill a school building that should have never been built. MCPS built Crown using wildly inaccurate pre-Covid enrollment projections to avoid losing land that had been set aside in 2006 on the condition MCPS build a school there within 20 years. Wootton was taken off the CIP 3 separate times over the years. If MCPS really cared about what Wootton parents thought, it wouldn’t have done so.

Both things can be true. Accepting that Wootton should not have been built and that Wootton should have been on the CIP and improved years ago, we are where we are. And that is with overall under-enrollment, a brand new building, and an old building in dire need of repair/replacement. And therefore the choice that meets the needs of most students in the most fiscally sound manner is to move Wootton to Crown.

Many schools need to be repaired or replaced and aren't getting it. Wootton is being offered a great solution that most of us would gladly accept. Is the school not as bad as those advocating are saying?

Wootton didn’t ask for nor does it want Crown, so it’s not a gift nor a great solution. Use Crown as a holding school until Gaithersburg grows again.

Given the demographic cliff, just when exactly do you think Gaithersburg will "grow again"? Keeping both Wootton and Crown is a waste of taxpayer money, now and in the future.

MCPS is already looking at closing ES due to declining enrollment. In 10 years, we will see further declining enrollment at the HS level. MCPS will probably have to close one of the HS. Logically, it makes sense to close a school that needs a ton of renovation and won't be renovated anytime in the near future.

I get it. It sucks for the Parkway families, but logically and fiscally, H makes the most sense.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:i really dont understand the "save wootton" people. the "school" will still exist with the teachers and the programs. why do you cling to a crumbling building?

Because it isn't about the school or the education. It is about the property values.

That and the relatively normal human instinct to reflexively reject change of any kind. Which, while understandable, is not persuasive.

Their property values will not change over school boundaries. It may change because of what is going on in the country right now.

Not only will the property values change, but a huge draw for the county will be gone. High income earners that are looking to put down roots are looking at the ratio of home price to academic cluster success. Wootton clears that hurdle for many, and the resulting Crown will not. Taylor has no skin in the game and will not feel the effects, but the County will.

1. There is no (research-backed) reason to believe that Wootton at Crown will be meaningfully less "successful" than the current location.
2. The county will not lose high income earners because of this move. There are plenty of other locations within the county with the same "ratio" that you describe.

Of course there isn’t any Crown specific research. It’s not open yet. But it’s common sense that there will be a dip (potentially significant, depending on the past performance of the non-Wootton kids who get to go to Crown). Wootton at Crown may recover in 5-10 years, but the damage will be done.

Yes, the county will lose high income earners, likely to Virginia, as there will be one less “W” school.

There is research, cited multiple times on this thread, that contradicts your "common sense."

Feel free to share the research. I’d like to read it.

There is a LOT of great research on this, but here’s one of my favorite summaries. It breaks down the positive benefits both for kids from lower-income backgrounds and those from the higher-resourced communities:

https://tcf.org/content/report/how-racially-diverse-schools-and-classrooms-can-benefit-all-students/

So DEI, got it. Did you ever stop to consider that Wootton is quite diverse already? And that there are low income students attending Wootton already?

Yes! That’s part of why we’re saying that it’s not common sense that “there will be a dip (potentially significant, depending on the past performance of the non-Wootton kids who get to go to Crown).” The rigorous research contradicts that and, as you’ve cleverly highlighted, the less rigorous but still valid case study of the 14% of kids receiving FARMs contradicts that as well.

Thanks for admitting this closure is based on DEI. Also, the academic research is clear that low performing kids, particularly disruptive ones, will cause a decline in the learning environment and overall school performance.

You’re welcome? MCPS’s mandate is to provide equitable opportunities for all kids that they serve - not to protect and segregate the Wootton kids who already come in with so much more than so many of their peers. If you’re coming to the table with an unshakable belief that DEI is an evil rather than a mechanism to improve outcomes for all kids, then you are starting in a place where there isn’t any credible research that is going to help you. But the research I shared shows that it might just help make sure your kid isn’t back on this board 20 years from now carrying on your legacy of yelling about DEI.

MCPS is in no way equitable or other schools would have the same courses, clubs, and activities Wootton has. They are being moved to a new school due to parent concerns over the condition of the building. Parents had a fit, MCPS listened.

Incorrect. Taylor is closing Wootton to fill a school building that should have never been built. MCPS built Crown using wildly inaccurate pre-Covid enrollment projections to avoid losing land that had been set aside in 2006 on the condition MCPS build a school there within 20 years. Wootton was taken off the CIP 3 separate times over the years. If MCPS really cared about what Wootton parents thought, it wouldn’t have done so.

Both things can be true. Accepting that Wootton should not have been built and that Wootton should have been on the CIP and improved years ago, we are where we are. And that is with overall under-enrollment, a brand new building, and an old building in dire need of repair/replacement. And therefore the choice that meets the needs of most students in the most fiscally sound manner is to move Wootton to Crown.

Many schools need to be repaired or replaced and aren't getting it. Wootton is being offered a great solution that most of us would gladly accept. Is the school not as bad as those advocating are saying?

Wootton didn’t ask for nor does it want Crown, so it’s not a gift nor a great solution. Use Crown as a holding school until Gaithersburg grows again.

SOME of Wootton doesn't want Crown. Many love this option.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:i really dont understand the "save wootton" people. the "school" will still exist with the teachers and the programs. why do you cling to a crumbling building?

Because it isn't about the school or the education. It is about the property values.

That and the relatively normal human instinct to reflexively reject change of any kind. Which, while understandable, is not persuasive.

Their property values will not change over school boundaries. It may change because of what is going on in the country right now.

Not only will the property values change, but a huge draw for the county will be gone. High income earners that are looking to put down roots are looking at the ratio of home price to academic cluster success. Wootton clears that hurdle for many, and the resulting Crown will not. Taylor has no skin in the game and will not feel the effects, but the County will.

1. There is no (research-backed) reason to believe that Wootton at Crown will be meaningfully less "successful" than the current location.
2. The county will not lose high income earners because of this move. There are plenty of other locations within the county with the same "ratio" that you describe.

Of course there isn’t any Crown specific research. It’s not open yet. But it’s common sense that there will be a dip (potentially significant, depending on the past performance of the non-Wootton kids who get to go to Crown). Wootton at Crown may recover in 5-10 years, but the damage will be done.

Yes, the county will lose high income earners, likely to Virginia, as there will be one less “W” school.

There is research, cited multiple times on this thread, that contradicts your "common sense."

Feel free to share the research. I’d like to read it.

There is a LOT of great research on this, but here’s one of my favorite summaries. It breaks down the positive benefits both for kids from lower-income backgrounds and those from the higher-resourced communities:

https://tcf.org/content/report/how-racially-diverse-schools-and-classrooms-can-benefit-all-students/

So DEI, got it. Did you ever stop to consider that Wootton is quite diverse already? And that there are low income students attending Wootton already?

Yes! That’s part of why we’re saying that it’s not common sense that “there will be a dip (potentially significant, depending on the past performance of the non-Wootton kids who get to go to Crown).” The rigorous research contradicts that and, as you’ve cleverly highlighted, the less rigorous but still valid case study of the 14% of kids receiving FARMs contradicts that as well.

Thanks for admitting this closure is based on DEI. Also, the academic research is clear that low performing kids, particularly disruptive ones, will cause a decline in the learning environment and overall school performance.

You’re welcome? MCPS’s mandate is to provide equitable opportunities for all kids that they serve - not to protect and segregate the Wootton kids who already come in with so much more than so many of their peers. If you’re coming to the table with an unshakable belief that DEI is an evil rather than a mechanism to improve outcomes for all kids, then you are starting in a place where there isn’t any credible research that is going to help you. But the research I shared shows that it might just help make sure your kid isn’t back on this board 20 years from now carrying on your legacy of yelling about DEI.

MCPS is in no way equitable or other schools would have the same courses, clubs, and activities Wootton has. They are being moved to a new school due to parent concerns over the condition of the building. Parents had a fit, MCPS listened.

Incorrect. Taylor is closing Wootton to fill a school building that should have never been built. MCPS built Crown using wildly inaccurate pre-Covid enrollment projections to avoid losing land that had been set aside in 2006 on the condition MCPS build a school there within 20 years. Wootton was taken off the CIP 3 separate times over the years. If MCPS really cared about what Wootton parents thought, it wouldn’t have done so.

Both things can be true. Accepting that Wootton should not have been built and that Wootton should have been on the CIP and improved years ago, we are where we are. And that is with overall under-enrollment, a brand new building, and an old building in dire need of repair/replacement. And therefore the choice that meets the needs of most students in the most fiscally sound manner is to move Wootton to Crown.

Many schools need to be repaired or replaced and aren't getting it. Wootton is being offered a great solution that most of us would gladly accept. Is the school not as bad as those advocating are saying?

Wootton didn’t ask for nor does it want Crown, so it’s not a gift nor a great solution. Use Crown as a holding school until Gaithersburg grows again.

Where do the Wootton kids and teachers go in your suggestion? Into the building with black mold, power outages, and gas leaks with no money to fix it?

The Rockville City Council and Mayor already see the writing on the wall: the kids at Wootton are going to Crown for the foreseeable future starting in 2027.

It's not the solution anyone envisioned or wanted 5 years ago, but this is the situation we have now.