I agree that MCPS should address the overcrowding and the portable situation at Einstein is ridiculous. My understanding is the new projection is that Einstein would lose far more students than our current level of overcrowding making Einstein under-enrolled, and teacher allocations are based on enrollment. |
Northwood already has performing arts as one of its academies, same as Einstein. Since they're going to have a brand new and larger building with good facilities, it makes sense to have the new program there. |
Where is that new projection? |
Better would be to replace Einstein. The problem with less enrollment is less funding and then they will not have a lot of course offerings. |
Then, where does that leave Einstein? New facilities are nice but for me it’s the staff and admin that’s far more important. I’d rather have strong engaged admin and teachers than a shinny new building (with the exceptions of the schools with mild and falling down ceilings as there is no excuse for that). |
This, but ultimately it’s not up to the parents. |
Einstein has already built a reputable reputation with VAPA and Einstein. It has a whole floor dedicated for Dance. Are these resources suppose to collect dust? |
I’m not sure where to find it but it was discussed in the cluster meeting yesterday. I believe they said Einstein enrollment is just under 2K, capacity is 1800 and projection is to go down to (or under) 1500. |
My understanding is Einstein will focus on visual arts, while Northwood will focus on performing arts. |
“ A design team, made up of families, community members, and school-based staff are meeting now and will recommend what programs should be offered within a reasonable geographic area and what programs should be offered at all schools. ” I would be surprised if the Einstein community didn’t fight for VAPA and VAC. |
Einstein's capacity is 1600. |
The Einstein community very much identifies these programs as theirs and it gives Einstein their identity. If Northwood is test in, then it’s only going to serve a select group of kids which is good as it will offer higher level opportunities to them but not to the great kids who haven’t had the same opportunities or exposure but thrive in the program. |
Agreed. Einstein biggest academy is VAPA. |
I want to be clear about this: I am on the program design team as a parent. The members of the team outside of MCPS central office staff have absolutely no power. We regularly bring up concerns, and they are ignored. It is for show only. All decisions are made by central office staff. It is a sham of a process. |
It is Einsteins identity. If anything they could use a few more arts teachers as the current staff is stretched thin and beef up academics with a few more stem teachers. It wouldn’t take that much to really do right by Einstein. And, some funding for the arts to buy more supplies and equipment as much of it is very old. The current teachers simply don’t have the time to add classes some of the students and families want that other schools have. Many of the kids are dual with the academies but it also produces a lot of kids who major in the arts in college and beyond. Fund it properly. Also properly fund the special education programs they have there. They divert a lot of money to those programs to ensure they are properly staff, as they should as it’s an important need but then it’s a juggling act to fund all the other needs. |