MCPS Redisricting - offshoot from open enrollment/busing thread

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

This is what I am saying about BFES. When they increased the capacity, did they not have this same plan to redistrict if the other schools became over-crowded? In this case, a nearby school is already overcrowded. Is it because RP is in a different cluster? Again, why not just take a neighborhood and redistrict that area to BFES or somewhere else? They did years ago, and seems that they are willing to do it for Seneca Valley. RP was renovated in 1997. It probably won't get renovated/added new classrooms for a while. CS ES will probably be renovated soon (since it never has been), and if the renovation includes increased capacity without redistricting, I think I will have to agree with the poster about the conspiracy theory.

Maybe because there's no "just" about it.

Keep in mind that there are people in the Northwest zone who are already panicking about possibly someday maybe being moved to Seneca Valley.

I don't think many parents would complain about being redistricted from the RM to either the Churchill or Wootton cluster, though. Personally, I would be thrilled.

People in the Churchill or Wootton clusters might complain, though.

When Clarksburg High School was going to open, there were arguments about how geographic proximity and compactness were important for communities. Translation: we don't want people from Germantown at our high school.

I mentioned in a previous post that my neighborhood (Fallsgrove) gets bused to RP even though it's closer to Lakewood, Fallsmead, and Stone Mill. Re-districting would actually create more compactness and closer proximity of communities. Single family homes in the neighborhood sell for over $1M, so SES isn't a factor, either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

This is what I am saying about BFES. When they increased the capacity, did they not have this same plan to redistrict if the other schools became over-crowded? In this case, a nearby school is already overcrowded. Is it because RP is in a different cluster? Again, why not just take a neighborhood and redistrict that area to BFES or somewhere else? They did years ago, and seems that they are willing to do it for Seneca Valley. RP was renovated in 1997. It probably won't get renovated/added new classrooms for a while. CS ES will probably be renovated soon (since it never has been), and if the renovation includes increased capacity without redistricting, I think I will have to agree with the poster about the conspiracy theory.

Maybe because there's no "just" about it.

Keep in mind that there are people in the Northwest zone who are already panicking about possibly someday maybe being moved to Seneca Valley.

I don't think many parents would complain about being redistricted from the RM to either the Churchill or Wootton cluster, though. Personally, I would be thrilled.

People in the Churchill or Wootton clusters might complain, though.

When Clarksburg High School was going to open, there were arguments about how geographic proximity and compactness were important for communities. Translation: we don't want people from Germantown at our high school.

I mentioned in a previous post that my neighborhood (Fallsgrove) gets bused to RP even though it's closer to Lakewood, Fallsmead, and Stone Mill. Re-districting would actually create more compactness and closer proximity of communities. Single family homes in the neighborhood sell for over $1M, so SES isn't a factor, either.

PP - this is *exactly* what I am referring to. It makes no sense to me why they don't take this area and redistrict to somewhere closer where it's under capacity. And obviously, there's no classism or racism about this since, as you noted, that is an expensive area, more so than some Wootton neighborhoods.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

This is what I am saying about BFES. When they increased the capacity, did they not have this same plan to redistrict if the other schools became over-crowded? In this case, a nearby school is already overcrowded. Is it because RP is in a different cluster? Again, why not just take a neighborhood and redistrict that area to BFES or somewhere else? They did years ago, and seems that they are willing to do it for Seneca Valley. RP was renovated in 1997. It probably won't get renovated/added new classrooms for a while. CS ES will probably be renovated soon (since it never has been), and if the renovation includes increased capacity without redistricting, I think I will have to agree with the poster about the conspiracy theory.

Maybe because there's no "just" about it.

Keep in mind that there are people in the Northwest zone who are already panicking about possibly someday maybe being moved to Seneca Valley.

well, I assume MCPS new at least a year or two in advance that BFES was going to be remodeled, and from what I can see, in 2011-2012 school year, RP was over capacity. So they had at least a year to plan for it, minimum. So the "just" was at least a year. Redistricting a neighborhood can't take that long. There was just no foresight, plan or will to do it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

well, I assume MCPS new at least a year or two in advance that BFES was going to be remodeled, and from what I can see, in 2011-2012 school year, RP was over capacity. So they had at least a year to plan for it, minimum. So the "just" was at least a year. Redistricting a neighborhood can't take that long. There was just no foresight, plan or will to do it.

Actually, it can, and it does.

[Anonymous]

MCPS chose to ignore the overcrowding at RP in order to fund and construct the BFES boondoggle. It stuck a finger in the eye of the RP community.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

well, I assume MCPS new at least a year or two in advance that BFES was going to be remodeled, and from what I can see, in 2011-2012 school year, RP was over capacity. So they had at least a year to plan for it, minimum. So the "just" was at least a year. Redistricting a neighborhood can't take that long. There was just no foresight, plan or will to do it.

Actually, it can, and it does.

Do tell. Please educate us all.

[Anonymous]

I mentioned in a previous post that my neighborhood (Fallsgrove) gets bused to RP even though it's closer to Lakewood, Fallsmead, and Stone Mill. Re-districting would actually create more compactness and closer proximity of communities. Single family homes in the neighborhood sell for over $1M, so SES isn't a factor, either.

PP - this is *exactly* what I am referring to. It makes no sense to me why they don't take this area and redistrict to somewhere closer where it's under capacity. And obviously, there's no classism or racism about this since, as you noted, that is an expensive area, more so than some Wootton neighborhoods.

This is probably just the result of whichever cluster was the least crowded when Fallsgrove was built, since it's a fairly new community.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

well, I assume MCPS new at least a year or two in advance that BFES was going to be remodeled, and from what I can see, in 2011-2012 school year, RP was over capacity. So they had at least a year to plan for it, minimum. So the "just" was at least a year. Redistricting a neighborhood can't take that long. There was just no foresight, plan or will to do it.

Actually, it can, and it does.

Do tell. Please educate us all.

Start reading here:

http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/planning/boundary.aspx

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

well, I assume MCPS new at least a year or two in advance that BFES was going to be remodeled, and from what I can see, in 2011-2012 school year, RP was over capacity. So they had at least a year to plan for it, minimum. So the "just" was at least a year. Redistricting a neighborhood can't take that long. There was just no foresight, plan or will to do it.

Actually, it can, and it does.

Do tell. Please educate us all.

Start reading here:

http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/planning/boundary.aspx

Thank you for sharing this. As expected, the Boundary Study Process doc shows that it's basically study after study and meeting after meetings. So, how long does all of this take? I don't think the doc shows this anywhere. I know it doesn't happen at the snap of a finger, but the study for a small area to be redistricted shouldn't take more than a year, maybe two.

RP has been over capacity for at least 2 yrs, if not more. As I stated before, when was the last redistricting around these clusters? 20+ yrs ago? How many new developments have been created since then? When they do the Capital Improvement Planning, do they even look at capacity and boundary for redistricting, or is it just strictly "which school's turn is it next" or is it "which school desperately needs renovating"?

I think it makes sense for the Fallsgrove neighborhood to be redistricted to a school that is closer to them. And FWIW, I am not in the Fallsgrove area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thank you for sharing this. As expected, the Boundary Study Process doc shows that it's basically study after study and meeting after meetings. So, how long does all of this take? I don't think the doc shows this anywhere. I know it doesn't happen at the snap of a finger, but the study for a small area to be redistricted shouldn't take more than a year, maybe two.

RP has been over capacity for at least 2 yrs, if not more. As I stated before, when was the last redistricting around these clusters? 20+ yrs ago? How many new developments have been created since then? When they do the Capital Improvement Planning, do they even look at capacity and boundary for redistricting, or is it just strictly "which school's turn is it next" or is it "which school desperately needs renovating"?

I think it makes sense for the Fallsgrove neighborhood to be redistricted to a school that is closer to them. And FWIW, I am not in the Fallsgrove area.

If it weren't study after study and meeting after meeting, people would yell about "process" and "transparency". Actually people yell about that no matter how many studies and meetings there are.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

This is what I am saying about BFES. When they increased the capacity, did they not have this same plan to redistrict if the other schools became over-crowded? In this case, a nearby school is already overcrowded. Is it because RP is in a different cluster? Again, why not just take a neighborhood and redistrict that area to BFES or somewhere else? They did years ago, and seems that they are willing to do it for Seneca Valley. RP was renovated in 1997. It probably won't get renovated/added new classrooms for a while. CS ES will probably be renovated soon (since it never has been), and if the renovation includes increased capacity without redistricting, I think I will have to agree with the poster about the conspiracy theory.

Maybe because there's no "just" about it.

Keep in mind that there are people in the Northwest zone who are already panicking about possibly someday maybe being moved to Seneca Valley.

I don't think many parents would complain about being redistricted from the RM to either the Churchill or Wootton cluster, though. Personally, I would be thrilled.

People in the Churchill or Wootton clusters might complain, though.

When Clarksburg High School was going to open, there were arguments about how geographic proximity and compactness were important for communities. Translation: we don't want people from Germantown at our high school.

Well they need a better reason than that. If youre school is under capacity and a nearby on is overcapacity, it makes sense to even them out. you weent guaranteed a certain enrollment when buying the house.

And anyway, you should always be aware when buying a house in a particular school district that redistricting is always a possibility.

[Anonymous]

If it weren't study after study and meeting after meeting, people would yell about "process" and "transparency". Actually people yell about that no matter how many studies and meetings there are.

Indeed.
- member of the SECOND site selection committee for the new B-CC Middle School

[Anonymous]

My neighborhood has been redistricted 3 times, according to neighbors. It happens. Starr just doesn't want to consider it because he is hostage to the Churchill/Whitman/Wootton parents who have successfully pushed for new schools in those clusters at the expense of the rest of the county. It's not just unfair, its a disgrace.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP - this is *exactly* what I am referring to. It makes no sense to me why they don't take this area and redistrict to somewhere closer where it's under capacity. And obviously, there's no classism or racism about this since, as you noted, that is an expensive area, more so than some Wootton neighborhoods.

They are currently building a 5th elementary school in the RM cluster, so the ES level overcrowding is already being dealt with. Similarly, JW MS has an addition being built. The JH Science Center property development will also add housing in this general area over time, which might be allocated to Wootton. Due to all of the foregoing, I doubt Fallsgrove will be redistricted, though the neighborhood is in fact closer to Lakewood, Frost & Wootton.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My neighborhood has been redistricted 3 times, according to neighbors. It happens. Starr just doesn't want to consider it because he is hostage to the Churchill/Whitman/Wootton parents who have successfully pushed for new schools in those clusters at the expense of the rest of the county. It's not just unfair, its a disgrace.

The decisions on the order of building takes so much time that all of the decisions you're referring to really occurred before Starr even arrived. Sure, the final budgets were approved on his watch, but when the planning commission has ordered the priority of which facilities need to be replaced or expanded, they aren't just going to reshuffle the deck because some of the outdated facilities happen to have lower capacities and strong demographics. All of the W district schools being replaced are deserving of replacement, even if it might suck for the rest of us that they now combine demographic advantages with new facilities in certain places.