B-CC MS number 2

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Westland will become 99 percent white and like 99 percent 1 perceneter. All the economic diversity and racial diversity will be at middle school number 2. It will make a difference in resources, in teachers, in classroom supplies,,,,,,, Westland will be a racially identifiable school (white). Maybe not enough to be completely off the rails unequal - but widely different experience between the two middle schools. If u analyze the school bus times, traffic to both sites is about the same difference. Kiids close to Westland have as long a ride as kids far away due to variable density. Look at the schedules and do the math. The choice is coming down to convenience of parents of middle school kids who do not go to school on a daily basis. I think rcf parents and kids will be shocked when they learn what extras the Westland PTA provides to that school that middle school number 2 won't be getting.

The supplies that Westland has and middle school number 2 won't get. Artist in residence and other pluses thatwestland will have and middle school does not. The free tutoring that Westland will have and middle school number 2 will not. The furled trips that Westland will have and middle school number two won't have because the PTA will lack the funds to pay for the kids who can't afford not to go. The deeper academic offerings that Westland will have and middle school number 2 will not.

I'll give middle school number 2 a shot but just in case will also tour some private schools this winter. And yeah - I am a parent that gives about 400 dollars a year in direct donations to the PTA and about 400 in supplies to teachers and books for staff during the book drive, holiday gifts to staff, teacher appreciation...., If I walk to private school that annual 1000 annual donation walks with along with my family.

Finally - federal dollars are going to evaporate during the next 4 years - so if families think equivalent PTA dollars fonts matter you are soooo very very naive.

Many people are in favor of forming a B-CC Cluster Middle School PTA that shares fundraising and shares resulting funds so that kids at both schools are able to have an equal per-capita amount of PTA support. I think it's a great idea, and I'm from Somerset.

[Anonymous]

Many people are in favor of forming a B-CC Cluster Middle School PTA that shares fundraising and shares resulting funds so that kids at both schools are able to have an equal per-capita amount of PTA support. I think it's a great idea, and I'm from Somerset.

Excellent idea! I'd support this too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They went after Ortman-fouse again... I coined the word Triad and even I'm embarrassed for you all... shameful!

I actually laughed at this, thinking that otherwise normal people are getting radicalized on this website and then going out into the real world.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Many people are in favor of forming a B-CC Cluster Middle School PTA that shares fundraising and shares resulting funds so that kids at both schools are able to have an equal per-capita amount of PTA support. I think it's a great idea, and I'm from Somerset.

Excellent idea! I'd support this too.

Good idea in theory, in practice though I think it would depress overall giving. People are more willing to give if their kid directly benefits. People are also more willing to give if they believe that most people are also giving. It's a bit of game theory. Start suspecting free riders and then giving drops off. I think my ES is starting to hit that threshold. The number of parents that even paid to "join" the PTA this year dropped off dramatically.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They went after Ortman-fouse again... I coined the word Triad and even I'm embarrassed for you all... shameful!

I actually laughed at this, thinking that otherwise normal people are getting radicalized on this website and then going out into the real world.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So all of you RCF parents think it is ok to have an empty white priveledged school and a an over crowded brown school? A school with abundant resources and a school without. Segregated schools? All because of proximity?

Proximity to a school most parents will never set foot in because it is a middle school. Parents don't volunteer in middle school.

People with means will drive a long way and pay a lot of money to get to private schools with small enrollment and class sizes for a quailty education. RCF clearly doesn't understand this concept and is shooting themselves in the foot. In 5 years the new middle will be an old overcrowded disaster with portables. That's when RCF and everyone else will want out.

You RCF people are insane!!!

Not an RCF parent, but your presumptions about Westland demographics and especially capacity will probably not bear themselves out over time.

It will take years, maybe decades for the demographics and capacity at Westland to go above 85%. I know because I have seen the projected numbers. In the meantime, thousands of children will be subjected to inequity and segregation in schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And yeah - I am a parent that gives about 400 dollars a year in direct donations to the PTA and about 400 in supplies to teachers and books for staff during the book drive, holiday gifts to staff, teacher appreciation....,

Oh my word, those are not exceptional donation levels.

So my dear snob, what is an exceptional donation level to you? I give around four thousand between two schools thanks to the RHPS split. Is that enough? I appreciate the PP posters contributions and the contributions of every involved parent out there who gives either in TIME or FUNDING. They make the difference for every child, not just their own. So PP, thank you for being involved!

We are looking at privates now and will most definitely go private because of the capacity and equity issues with Option 7. Since I am in the school so often (volunteer 4 hours a week), I have seen first hand the negative impact of overcrowding on all of the students at both of my kid's schools. It is hard to watch, kids are suffering and the teachers are maxed out. The schools are way too large. The PP poster is 100% correct. Under Option 7, Westland has an abundance of resources, including 1%er parents and an established PTA and established Principal/staff. The new school will start off with an inexperienced staff and zero PTA dollars and fewer parents with disposable income . The PP is right, this means no tutoring for at risk kids, no extracurricular activities, no scholarships for disadvantaged families for said activities or field trips. These two schools will be in no way equal or fair and it will become even more apparent over time.

It is obvious that the BOE doesn't care about people like me or my kids or the disadvantaged kids at our school (whose parents are afraid to speak up, even more so now with Trump), they have a preferred audience and that is RCF. But that's OK, just watch, the RCF parents posting here won't be so smug in 5 years when the new middle is a mess of portables with no extras.

[Anonymous]

I completely agree with PP, I know many CCES and NCC parents looking into private school options. I really hope the RCF community understands the magnitude of what they are doing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So all of you RCF parents think it is ok to have an empty white priveledged school and a an over crowded brown school? A school with abundant resources and a school without. Segregated schools? All because of proximity?

Proximity to a school most parents will never set foot in because it is a middle school. Parents don't volunteer in middle school.

People with means will drive a long way and pay a lot of money to get to private schools with small enrollment and class sizes for a quailty education. RCF clearly doesn't understand this concept and is shooting themselves in the foot. In 5 years the new middle will be an old overcrowded disaster with portables. That's when RCF and everyone else will want out.

You RCF people are insane!!!

Not an RCF parent, but your presumptions about Westland demographics and especially capacity will probably not bear themselves out over time.

It will take years, maybe decades for the demographics and capacity at Westland to go above 85%. I know because I have seen the projected numbers. In the meantime, thousands of children will be subjected to inequity and segregation in schools.

The MCPS projections used in the boundary study are garbage. When the Chevy Chase Lake sector plan was approved, MCPS estimated that enrollment at BE would level off at 517. BE is at 599 today and will probably finish the year around 610 or more. The student population of BE is increasing at least 15% a year. It is currently the 2nd largest ES in the BCC cluster and if current growth and development holds, it will probably surpass RCF in size in four years.

The current CIP now expects BE to hit 120% capacity in just four years, but it will certainly be over enrolled faster than that. As we all know from experience, their projections are garbage and always err on the low side. Add to that the fact that Somerset is also over capacity and I can assure you that Westland will be right at MS#2 utilization in just a few years. In terms of FARMS, 15% of all new multifamily housing in the BE boundary are mandated MDPUs. About 2,000 or more new apartments have been built in just the last two years, adding to the plethora of affordable apartments on Battery Lane. This doesn't even count the condos, which are not at price points targeted to families. Although the county thinks they are attracting young people, these units are all being occupied by families in large numbers.

I think it is important to gain some perspective and understand what is going on all around you before making strong claims. This cluster is changing dramatically. This area is changing dramatically. It is not just issues with the new MS#2. You may want to consider that there are additional needs and considerations beyond what you are facing. I can guarantee you that Westland enrollment will not be what you think it will be within 5 years. Because they cannot do boundary studies every year, they need to make decisions on a longer time horizon. Your kids are not going to suffer at a brand new school with 95% capacity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And yeah - I am a parent that gives about 400 dollars a year in direct donations to the PTA and about 400 in supplies to teachers and books for staff during the book drive, holiday gifts to staff, teacher appreciation....,

Oh my word, those are not exceptional donation levels.

So my dear snob, what is an exceptional donation level to you? I give around four thousand between two schools thanks to the RHPS split. Is that enough? I appreciate the PP posters contributions and the contributions of every involved parent out there who gives either in TIME or FUNDING. They make the difference for every child, not just their own. So PP, thank you for being involved!

We are looking at privates now and will most definitely go private because of the capacity and equity issues with Option 7. Since I am in the school so often (volunteer 4 hours a week), I have seen first hand the negative impact of overcrowding on all of the students at both of my kid's schools. It is hard to watch, kids are suffering and the teachers are maxed out. The schools are way too large. The PP poster is 100% correct. Under Option 7, Westland has an abundance of resources, including 1%er parents and an established PTA and established Principal/staff. The new school will start off with an inexperienced staff and zero PTA dollars and fewer parents with disposable income . The PP is right, this means no tutoring for at risk kids, no extracurricular activities, no scholarships for disadvantaged families for said activities or field trips. These two schools will be in no way equal or fair and it will become even more apparent over time.

It is obvious that the BOE doesn't care about people like me or my kids or the disadvantaged kids at our school (whose parents are afraid to speak up, even more so now with Trump), they have a preferred audience and that is RCF. But that's OK, just watch, the RCF parents posting here won't be so smug in 5 years when the new middle is a mess of portables with no extras.

Why wouldn't they transfer half of the Westland teachers to the new MS? They certainly won't be needed at Westland after all.

[Anonymous]

Anyone know when they are going to make a final decision on this?

[Anonymous]

RCF has zero idea how much PTA money goes into Westland and how it makes it an exceptional school. Middle school number 2 will have NO free tutoring, no amazing artist in residence, none of the lovely programs that make middle school in ncc good. No field trips. (You can't have field trips UNLESS very child has the opportunity to goes - e.g. PTA must pony up when kids can't afford to pay). It will be a completely different experience and when the kids meet up at BCC - guess what cohort will be better prepared. School boundary decisions based solely on parental travel time is insane. What matters is what happens during the School day.

It boggles the mind how in 3016 a school is asking for segregation - asking to put all the racial diversity and all the disadvantaged kids in one middle school, FEDERAL money is going to go bye bye. Forward thingking policies that require schools to put more money into schools with higher farms more & more diversity will go bye bye soon. And there will never be sharing of PTA funds because if you share between two schools - then why not throughout moco? Unless and until that is required by law fighting over scarce resources will keep PTA money at the home school aside from charitable giving to "sister" schools.

Dear RCF when your kid gets a lessor education as a result of this ridiculous parental travel time argument, I really hope you are happy.

[Anonymous]

Part of the issue here is that RCF does not know what it means to have folks flee. With the immersion program they have self selected upper middle class and downright wealthy who come to RCF and donate lots of money. (And occasionally move in boundary once their kid gets into immersion and like it).In bounds wealthy people who do not get into immersion frequently do private for k-5/6. A ton of inbound RCF residents go to Lowell or grace episcopal or another local private and only return to public mcps for the end of elementary, middle school and high school. So they probably don't really know what they will lose in the situation when people jump ship during middle school. RCF it boggles the mind that you are advocating for self segregation. Do you really think that the kids who go to the all white and all wealthy Westland will be ready for any diversity at bcc in high school? Cause the hateful graffiti found recently at Westland is only going to increase if it becomes the all white middle school. Yeah those first weeks at bcc when the kids who have gone to all white schools their entire k-8 public school experience suddenly have to sit next to and talk to kids who are not rich or are not white at bcc. Yeah that's going to be great. I'm sure they will have the skills and childhood memories to appreciate diversity - o except they won't. Yeah it will be so much fun for everyone. Puppies and sunshine. Thanks RCF thanks soooooo much.

[Anonymous]

Not everyone at RCF supports Option 7, in fact many do not but some on the PTA have decided to say to the community and the board that "the school" supports Option 7. When they send emails out to the parents asking them to write to the board, they don't mention that Option 7 splits the school. I guess they are hoping that we don't notice. In fact some parents have been shocked to learn that RCF is supporting the option that splits the school. They have assumed the best of the PTA, and only realized after it was too late that this was the direction the PTA was going.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Anyone know when they are going to make a final decision on this?

Nov 21.

If you have comments, get them to the board ASSP. This is doubly important if you disagree with the position that your school's PTA has taken.