The RFP in MCPS - are they going to gut the magnet and immersion programs or enhance them?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:1. it doesn't matter. the system can make the numbers any way they want - remember the word "fuzzy math"?

2. that was my point about middle class asian/white parents - they carry min political influence.

3. re-channel the money to influx of new kids moving in.

I don't think anyone "hates" anybody. it's just the question of what makes better business sense for the MCPS and BOE.

i guess time will tell. i hope they don't touch it. i am also very glad my last kid is about to graduate from mcps.

No, the system can't make the numbers any way they want. And middle-class Asian and white parents have a whole lot of political influence, when they get organized, show up at meetings, and write e-mails and make phone calls.

Naive!

[Anonymous]

Yes, people "spin" the numbers all the time. Consultants are experts on spinning numbers and packaging messages.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, people "spin" the numbers all the time. Consultants are experts on spinning numbers and packaging messages.

Well, people certainly try to spin the numbers all the time. But they don't necessarily succeed. If you are a supporter of the magnet programs, and MCPS decides to get rid of the magnet programs (which I think is unlikely), here are the options:

1. Study the budget, check their numbers, come up with your own numbers, go to public meetings, meet with the BOE, organize the parents, write letters, pass out flyers -- basically, work for what you believe.
2. Tell yourself, "It's pointless, the fix is in," and complain on DCUM about how other people oughta do things.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes, people "spin" the numbers all the time. Consultants are experts on spinning numbers and packaging messages.

Well, people certainly try to spin the numbers all the time. But they don't necessarily succeed. If you are a supporter of the magnet programs, and MCPS decides to get rid of the magnet programs (which I think is unlikely), here are the options:

1. Study the budget, check their numbers, come up with your own numbers, go to public meetings, meet with the BOE, organize the parents, write letters, pass out flyers -- basically, work for what you believe.
2. Tell yourself, "It's pointless, the fix is in," and complain on DCUM about how other people oughta do things.

Just be prepared for profound disappointment if you decide to throw yourself into the fight. In my experience, MCPS is very comfortable ignoring common sense and credible data. So you'll be sitting there with piles of data supporting the premise that the magnet programs are awesome and necessary and not overly cumbersome from a financial standpoint, and they'll say "look, squirrel," and the next thing you know the programs will be gone and they'll say thank you have a nice day. At which point even if you went route one, in the next standoff you'll find yourself choosing to resort to DCUM as a better use of your time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Just be prepared for profound disappointment if you decide to throw yourself into the fight. In my experience, MCPS is very comfortable ignoring common sense and credible data. So you'll be sitting there with piles of data supporting the premise that the magnet programs are awesome and necessary and not overly cumbersome from a financial standpoint, and they'll say "look, squirrel," and the next thing you know the programs will be gone and they'll say thank you have a nice day. At which point even if you went route one, in the next standoff you'll find yourself choosing to resort to DCUM as a better use of your time.

What are the odds of winning, if you fight?

What are the odds of winning, if you don't fight?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Just be prepared for profound disappointment if you decide to throw yourself into the fight. In my experience, MCPS is very comfortable ignoring common sense and credible data. So you'll be sitting there with piles of data supporting the premise that the magnet programs are awesome and necessary and not overly cumbersome from a financial standpoint, and they'll say "look, squirrel," and the next thing you know the programs will be gone and they'll say thank you have a nice day. At which point even if you went route one, in the next standoff you'll find yourself choosing to resort to DCUM as a better use of your time.

What are the odds of winning, if you fight?

What are the odds of winning, if you don't fight?

In this case, the odds are equal. It only depends on what MCPS already wants to do. That's what I'm saying.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Just be prepared for profound disappointment if you decide to throw yourself into the fight. In my experience, MCPS is very comfortable ignoring common sense and credible data. So you'll be sitting there with piles of data supporting the premise that the magnet programs are awesome and necessary and not overly cumbersome from a financial standpoint, and they'll say "look, squirrel," and the next thing you know the programs will be gone and they'll say thank you have a nice day. At which point even if you went route one, in the next standoff you'll find yourself choosing to resort to DCUM as a better use of your time.

What are the odds of winning, if you fight?

What are the odds of winning, if you don't fight?

In this case, the odds are equal. It only depends on what MCPS already wants to do. That's what I'm saying.

You're saying it's impossible to stop MCPS from doing something MCPS wants to do? History shows otherwise. But I guess it's a good excuse for not even bothering to try.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Just be prepared for profound disappointment if you decide to throw yourself into the fight. In my experience, MCPS is very comfortable ignoring common sense and credible data. So you'll be sitting there with piles of data supporting the premise that the magnet programs are awesome and necessary and not overly cumbersome from a financial standpoint, and they'll say "look, squirrel," and the next thing you know the programs will be gone and they'll say thank you have a nice day. At which point even if you went route one, in the next standoff you'll find yourself choosing to resort to DCUM as a better use of your time.

What are the odds of winning, if you fight?

What are the odds of winning, if you don't fight?

In this case, the odds are equal. It only depends on what MCPS already wants to do. That's what I'm saying.

You're saying it's impossible to stop MCPS from doing something MCPS wants to do? History shows otherwise. But I guess it's a good excuse for not even bothering to try.

I'm open to examples of MCPS being persuaded to do something it didn't want to do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Just be prepared for profound disappointment if you decide to throw yourself into the fight. In my experience, MCPS is very comfortable ignoring common sense and credible data. So you'll be sitting there with piles of data supporting the premise that the magnet programs are awesome and necessary and not overly cumbersome from a financial standpoint, and they'll say "look, squirrel," and the next thing you know the programs will be gone and they'll say thank you have a nice day. At which point even if you went route one, in the next standoff you'll find yourself choosing to resort to DCUM as a better use of your time.

What are the odds of winning, if you fight?

What are the odds of winning, if you don't fight?

In this case, the odds are equal. It only depends on what MCPS already wants to do. That's what I'm saying.

You're saying it's impossible to stop MCPS from doing something MCPS wants to do? History shows otherwise. But I guess it's a good excuse for not even bothering to try.

I'm open to examples of MCPS being persuaded to do something it didn't want to do.

Monocacy Elementary School

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Just be prepared for profound disappointment if you decide to throw yourself into the fight. In my experience, MCPS is very comfortable ignoring common sense and credible data. So you'll be sitting there with piles of data supporting the premise that the magnet programs are awesome and necessary and not overly cumbersome from a financial standpoint, and they'll say "look, squirrel," and the next thing you know the programs will be gone and they'll say thank you have a nice day. At which point even if you went route one, in the next standoff you'll find yourself choosing to resort to DCUM as a better use of your time.

What are the odds of winning, if you fight?

What are the odds of winning, if you don't fight?

In this case, the odds are equal. It only depends on what MCPS already wants to do. That's what I'm saying.

You're saying it's impossible to stop MCPS from doing something MCPS wants to do? History shows otherwise. But I guess it's a good excuse for not even bothering to try.

I'm open to examples of MCPS being persuaded to do something it didn't want to do.

Adding the compacted math option.

[Anonymous]

A lot of speculating here over an RFP, but there's no harm in that, I suppose.

Can parents make a difference? Well, over decisions made at the school board level, a coordinated campaign of parents (aka, VOTERS) could make all the difference in the world. And if you are worried about the future of magnet and immersion programs, make them a litmus test for future school board candidates.

[Anonymous]

Hey - I'm all for this working out well and maybe I'm too pessimistic. I've seen MCPS at its worst when it mattered the most, making it hard to restore my faith in the system. I hope they aren't just using this study as a way to mess up the magnets. Honestly, if you can tolerate sitting through lots of BOE meetings and fighting the good fight, I genuinely wish you good luck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Just be prepared for profound disappointment if you decide to throw yourself into the fight. In my experience, MCPS is very comfortable ignoring common sense and credible data. So you'll be sitting there with piles of data supporting the premise that the magnet programs are awesome and necessary and not overly cumbersome from a financial standpoint, and they'll say "look, squirrel," and the next thing you know the programs will be gone and they'll say thank you have a nice day. At which point even if you went route one, in the next standoff you'll find yourself choosing to resort to DCUM as a better use of your time.

Why is nobody responding "Hi, MCPS administrator!" to these posts, instead of to posts from people who believe that Curriculum 2.0 is not The Worst Thing Ever In The Whole History Of Time? Surely MCPS would love for people to believe that fighting MCPS is futile.

[Anonymous]

None of the programs will be ended and there is not even a hint that this is being considered.

It not a budget issue at all.... It's is there a better way to set up the programs, can they be expanded or reduced and how can programs work alongside regular programs.

Immersion certainly won't be reduced as its bare bones now. It will stay the same or be expanded. Programs might be relocated/combined (need Spanish upcountry). And highschool may be considered. Also entrance lottery/ sibling preference could change.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:None of the programs will be ended and there is not even a hint that this is being considered.

It not a budget issue at all.... It's is there a better way to set up the programs, can they be expanded or reduced and how can programs work alongside regular programs.

Immersion certainly won't be reduced as its bare bones now. It will stay the same or be expanded. Programs might be relocated/combined (need Spanish upcountry). And highschool may be considered. Also entrance lottery/ sibling preference could change.

HOW.DO.YOU.KNOW.THIS?