BOE to pave over $790,000 in Athletic Fields

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

yeah

MCPS land is rare. Sadly, you have a solidly middle class neighborhood who will lose, as the money and prestige in Aspen Hill are simply not there. Can you imagine if this were presented as an option in Potomac or Bethesda?

would never happen!

And correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't Patricia O'Neill (BOE) live in Bethesda? It's easy to give up property to MCPS when it's not in your immediate area.

love the hypocrisy

I hope the residents of Aspen Hill win!

What hypocrisy? Is Patricia O'Neill only allowed to vote on school matters in Bethesda, otherwise it's hypocrisy?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

yeah

MCPS land is rare. Sadly, you have a solidly middle class neighborhood who will lose, as the money and prestige in Aspen Hill are simply not there. Can you imagine if this were presented as an option in Potomac or Bethesda?

would never happen!

And correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't Patricia O'Neill (BOE) live in Bethesda? It's easy to give up property to MCPS when it's not in your immediate area.

love the hypocrisy

I hope the residents of Aspen Hill win!

What hypocrisy? Is Patricia O'Neill only allowed to vote on school matters in Bethesda, otherwise it's hypocrisy?

If they wanted to shift Alt to her neck of the woods, let's see how supportive she'd be.

Placing an alternative school in any neighborhood will lower property values. fact

fights on a daily basis
kids skipping school

I'm sure you'd want this school in your area then, eh?

- one who worked at an alternative school

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

What hypocrisy? Is Patricia O'Neill only allowed to vote on school matters in Bethesda, otherwise it's hypocrisy?

If they wanted to shift Alt to her neck of the woods, let's see how supportive she'd be.

Placing an alternative school in any neighborhood will lower property values. fact

fights on a daily basis
kids skipping school

I'm sure you'd want this school in your area then, eh?

- one who worked at an alternative school

But, as it happens, they are proposing to put the alternative school in Aspen Hill. Do you think that only people who live in Aspen Hill should be allowed to vote about this? Do you think that the Board of Education should make its decisions about school location based on the possible effects on people's property values? (Do you think that "We don't want this school in our neighborhood; you should put it in somebody else's neighborhood instead" is going to persuade many people?)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I think so! I'd love to hear about some close in suburbs that are within an hour commute of DC that are middle class. Can you think of any?

The single family houses in the area of the English Manor site are under $400K. Way more affordable than Potomac or Bethesda.

That depends on how you define "middle class" and also how you define "within an hour commute" (e.g., door to door? by any mode?).

We live in Manor Woods, which is near the English Manor school. It is definitely a working class/middle class neighborhood. The people living here don't have the money like those in Chevy Chase. It's teachers, government employees, etc. When we looked for a house, there were either million dollar houses or their were houses in not-so-great areas for much less. Not much in between for SFHs.

I commute to DC by Metro (red line) and it an hour door to door. I can drive and it's about the same if I leave early enough.

If you don't consider Aspen Hill middle class, what parts of MoCo do YOU consider middle class?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

yeah

MCPS land is rare. Sadly, you have a solidly middle class neighborhood who will lose, as the money and prestige in Aspen Hill are simply not there. Can you imagine if this were presented as an option in Potomac or Bethesda?

would never happen!

And correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't Patricia O'Neill (BOE) live in Bethesda? It's easy to give up property to MCPS when it's not in your immediate area.

love the hypocrisy

I hope the residents of Aspen Hill win!

What hypocrisy? Is Patricia O'Neill only allowed to vote on school matters in Bethesda, otherwise it's hypocrisy?

Actually in one of the articles, I feel like I remember reading that she's from Chevy Chase? Fairly certain this school would never be relocated to CC or Bethesda.

The school is located right in the middle of a totally residential neighborhood. It was the neighborhood elementary school. Surrounded by houses, nowhere near a main road. Having an alternative ed school at the same location is not the same thing. The kids will all be bused in, and the amount of bus traffic in the neighborhood will be ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I think so! I'd love to hear about some close in suburbs that are within an hour commute of DC that are middle class. Can you think of any?

The single family houses in the area of the English Manor site are under $400K. Way more affordable than Potomac or Bethesda.

That depends on how you define "middle class" and also how you define "within an hour commute" (e.g., door to door? by any mode?).

We live in Manor Woods, which is near the English Manor school. It is definitely a working class/middle class neighborhood. The people living here don't have the money like those in Chevy Chase. It's teachers, government employees, etc. When we looked for a house, there were either million dollar houses or their were houses in not-so-great areas for much less. Not much in between for SFHs.

I commute to DC by Metro (red line) and it an hour door to door. I can drive and it's about the same if I leave early enough.

If you don't consider Aspen Hill middle class, what parts of MoCo do YOU consider middle class?

I definitely do consider Aspen Hill middle class! But I also consider a lot of Rockville, Gaithersburg, Germantown, and Clarksburg middle class. I'm most familiar with the I-270 corridor, but I think that there are a lot of middle class neighborhoods in Montgomery County.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Actually in one of the articles, I feel like I remember reading that she's from Chevy Chase? Fairly certain this school would never be relocated to CC or Bethesda.

The school is located right in the middle of a totally residential neighborhood. It was the neighborhood elementary school. Surrounded by houses, nowhere near a main road. Having an alternative ed school at the same location is not the same thing. The kids will all be bused in, and the amount of bus traffic in the neighborhood will be ridiculous.

No, Patricia O'Neill is from Bethesda.

And the school is between Norbeck Road and Georgia Avenue -- I wouldn't call it "nowhere near a main road".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

What hypocrisy? Is Patricia O'Neill only allowed to vote on school matters in Bethesda, otherwise it's hypocrisy?

If they wanted to shift Alt to her neck of the woods, let's see how supportive she'd be.

Placing an alternative school in any neighborhood will lower property values. fact

fights on a daily basis
kids skipping school

I'm sure you'd want this school in your area then, eh?

- one who worked at an alternative school

But, as it happens, they are proposing to put the alternative school in Aspen Hill. Do you think that only people who live in Aspen Hill should be allowed to vote about this? Do you think that the Board of Education should make its decisions about school location based on the possible effects on people's property values? (Do you think that "We don't want this school in our neighborhood; you should put it in somebody else's neighborhood instead" is going to persuade many people?)

Alt Programs is currently located in a perfect spot. It's across from a golf course and close to a major road. Except for a few homes scattered about, there are no major residential areas close by.

So yes, I think the residents of Aspen Hill have a right to complain, especially after the county spent hundreds of thousands to redo the Ewing building during the redesign. poor planning, which now affects a fairly close-knit and quiet community and creates a headache for the School for Tomorrow

Look - I think kids at Alt deserve second chance (and a third, for that matter, as they are very challenging). But you don't disturb an entire community and uproot a small private school for 120 kids - if they even all show up, as attendance is often at an all-time low at Alternative Programs.

But the students sent to Alt can be dangerous and disruptive - inside of and outside of a school setting. Isn't it better to house them in a facility where there's land? where they can be escorted outside of the building to run off some energy? The grounds are lovely, btw, and should be used for the students. There was even a discussion around creating a greenhouse. Perhaps this can be done in Aspen Hill, but how many more years will it take before the county finally figures out a plan to stick to?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

What hypocrisy? Is Patricia O'Neill only allowed to vote on school matters in Bethesda, otherwise it's hypocrisy?

If they wanted to shift Alt to her neck of the woods, let's see how supportive she'd be.

Placing an alternative school in any neighborhood will lower property values. fact

fights on a daily basis
kids skipping school

I'm sure you'd want this school in your area then, eh?

- one who worked at an alternative school

But, as it happens, they are proposing to put the alternative school in Aspen Hill. Do you think that only people who live in Aspen Hill should be allowed to vote about this? Do you think that the Board of Education should make its decisions about school location based on the possible effects on people's property values? (Do you think that "We don't want this school in our neighborhood; you should put it in somebody else's neighborhood instead" is going to persuade many people?)

Alt Programs is currently located in a perfect spot. It's across from a golf course and close to a major road. Except for a few homes scattered about, there are no major residential areas close by.

So yes, I think the residents of Aspen Hill have a right to complain, especially after the county spent hundreds of thousands to redo the Ewing building during the redesign. poor planning, which now affects a fairly close-knit and quiet community and creates a headache for the School for Tomorrow

Look - I think kids at Alt deserve second chance (and a third, for that matter, as they are very challenging). But you don't disturb an entire community and uproot a small private school for 120 kids - if they even all show up, as attendance is often at an all-time low at Alternative Programs.

But the students sent to Alt can be dangerous and disruptive - inside of and outside of a school setting. Isn't it better to house them in a facility where there's land? where they can be escorted outside of the building to run off some energy? The grounds are lovely, btw, and should be used for the students. There was even a discussion around creating a greenhouse. Perhaps this can be done in Aspen Hill, but how many more years will it take before the county finally figures out a plan to stick to?

I agree with all of this.

Of course the Alt kids deserve a second chance. They are at a facility that provides them that chance. Nobody wants to take that away. The county has done some poor planning in this instance.

[Anonymous]

The website regarding this issue has been changed in case anyone is interested:

http://www.saveblairewing.org/

[Anonymous]

Recent article in the Gazette:

http://www.gazette.net/article/20150121/NEWS/150129816/1094/community-members-oppose-bus-depot-ewing-center-moves&template=gazette

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Recent article in the Gazette:

http://www.gazette.net/article/20150121/NEWS/150129816/1094/community-members-oppose-bus-depot-ewing-center-moves&template=gazette

interesting article
Thanks for posting.

Based on current enrollment, there are about 120 students. However, attendance and enrollment are not the same thing.

[Anonymous]

Only 120 students? Mr. Song is incorrect. I toured the Ewing Center, and the principal (Dr. Thomas) told me that the school's population is constantly in flux because of the 45-day Interim Placement Program. From Dr. Starr's CIP (Chapter 4, "Other Educational Facilities"):

"In addition to the middle and high school programs, the 45-day Interim Placement Program serves students in grades 6–12 receiving special education services. Students are placed in the program after a central office review and as a result of their involvement with controlled substances, serious bodily injury, and/or weapons. Students remain enrolled in their home school, and the home school provides daily assignments and assessments."

Dr. Thomas told me that there could be well over 300 students in the school at any one time. In addition, MCPS has already stated their intention to grow the Alternative Education Programs, so who knows how may students there will eventually be? 400? More?

Sadly, Dr. Starr and the Board of Education _still_ have not reached out to the affected communities to address their concerns... and talk of weapons and bodily injury is, of course, going to raise concerns. Instead, MCPS has resorted to a nasty PR campaign to try to smear area residents. That's just lame.

[Anonymous]

Attendance is low at Alt. 120 enrolled students may be the case, but about 50% will show up on any given day. And yes, there is rolling enrollment.

However, level two placements can only happen with parental permission. We had a parent recently refuse to sign off in fact.

Level three placements are basically acts of violence. However, with the new code of conduct being so gray, it's very difficult to place a kid at Alt. This requires administrative approval from central office. Sadly, we have many kids who have gotten into multiple fights and who have threatened teachers - physically and verbally - and yet they're still back with us. We've had to fight to have them removed and transferred to another class. And teachers are too afraid to make noise as they feel that admin will retaliate. Administrators take the easy route, IMO. Instead of fighting FOR their teachers, they place these kids back WITH them - even after multiple threat have been made. It's beyond disgusting.

So my point is this -Don't expect enrollment at Alt to ever reach 300. The code of conduct will be an obstacle from now now, as we're expelling too many minority students, which tarnishes the schools' records.

And while they wanted Alt to be an "opt in" school, smart kids would never think to transfer to there. These kids are volatile. Why do you think the school has its own psychologist, PPW, a lead social worker, and social workers on contract? Furthermore, they have behavioral support specialists who work specifically with kids who might pop at any minute. Our large high school SHARES mental health team members with other schools, and to be honest, b/c we're at about 1800, our needs are MUCH greater. After all, WE'RE the ones sending the kids TO Alt.

This entire process is a complete waste of money and time.

Anonymous wrote:Only 120 students? Mr. Song is incorrect. I toured the Ewing Center, and the principal (Dr. Thomas) told me that the school's population is constantly in flux because of the 45-day Interim Placement Program. From Dr. Starr's CIP (Chapter 4, "Other Educational Facilities"):

"In addition to the middle and high school programs, the 45-day Interim Placement Program serves students in grades 6–12 receiving special education services. Students are placed in the program after a central office review and as a result of their involvement with controlled substances, serious bodily injury, and/or weapons. Students remain enrolled in their home school, and the home school provides daily assignments and assessments."

Dr. Thomas told me that there could be well over 300 students in the school at any one time. In addition, MCPS has already stated their intention to grow the Alternative Education Programs, so who knows how may students there will eventually be? 400? More?

Sadly, Dr. Starr and the Board of Education _still_ have not reached out to the affected communities to address their concerns... and talk of weapons and bodily injury is, of course, going to raise concerns. Instead, MCPS has resorted to a nasty PR campaign to try to smear area residents. That's just lame.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Attendance is low at Alt. 120 enrolled students may be the case, but about 50% will show up on any given day. And yes, there is rolling enrollment.

However, level two placements can only happen with parental permission. We had a parent recently refuse to sign off in fact.

Level three placements are basically acts of violence. However, with the new code of conduct being so gray, it's very difficult to place a kid at Alt. This requires administrative approval from central office. Sadly, we have many kids who have gotten into multiple fights and who have threatened teachers - physically and verbally - and yet they're still back with us. We've had to fight to have them removed and transferred to another class. And teachers are too afraid to make noise as they feel that admin will retaliate. Administrators take the easy route, IMO. Instead of fighting FOR their teachers, they place these kids back WITH them - even after multiple threat have been made. It's beyond disgusting.

So my point is this -Don't expect enrollment at Alt to ever reach 300. The code of conduct will be an obstacle from now now, as we're expelling too many minority students, which tarnishes the schools' records.

And while they wanted Alt to be an "opt in" school, smart kids would never think to transfer to there. These kids are volatile. Why do you think the school has its own psychologist, PPW, a lead social worker, and social workers on contract? Furthermore, they have behavioral support specialists who work specifically with kids who might pop at any minute. Our large high school SHARES mental health team members with other schools, and to be honest, b/c we're at about 1800, our needs are MUCH greater. After all, WE'RE the ones sending the kids TO Alt.

This entire process is a complete waste of money and time.

Thanks for posting your experience. Interesting insight.