Boundary Review Meetings

[Anonymous]

It's an anonymous forum, kind of doubt FCPS has the wherewithal to track someone from BRAC down if they post here given the rest of the mess they're dealing with. I say post away!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can someone on BRAC just share what the changes are at this point? They know what the changes are, just not in map form.

I don't think anyone from BRAC will share this information, since they haven't seen the revised maps and don't have any idea of the real reasons behind the delay.

It could very well be that the delay is because the maps being released are delayed because the school board made changes that are very different than what BRAC was told at their last meeting.

Then they are JUST as bad as Gatehouse. All certain BRAC members do is go on Facebook and NextDoor and complain, complain, complain without sharing any helpful information.

F off. They were forced to sign NDAs and are volunteering to try to make the process better. You want them to be sued by FCPS? Gtfoh, you are a shit human being.

Yes, I suspect FCPS hasn’t met their legal spending quota yet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can someone on BRAC just share what the changes are at this point? They know what the changes are, just not in map form.

I don't think anyone from BRAC will share this information, since they haven't seen the revised maps and don't have any idea of the real reasons behind the delay.

It could very well be that the delay is because the maps being released are delayed because the school board made changes that are very different than what BRAC was told at their last meeting.

Then they are JUST as bad as Gatehouse. All certain BRAC members do is go on Facebook and NextDoor and complain, complain, complain without sharing any helpful information.

You know, they had to sign non disclosures to even be on the committee.

BRAC pyramid volunteers are just other parents doing a thankless job, with zero information or support from FCPS, at a scope much larger than they were told at the beginning.

If you feel you are getting a runaround from FCPS, the BRAC volunteers are experiencing this almost weekly, several times over what you feel.

No same person in their right mind would publicly release any half baked information from FCPS of what they *think* might be the plan, because they will upset prople unnecessary, especially if FCPS pulls a bait and switch, and the information that BRAC shares ends up being wrong. There have been mistakes by FCPS and Thru thoughout this process, and evasive runaround by the school board and Reid.

Why would any of the BRAC members release information on maps before they know it is accurate?

Do you trust Reid and the school board to be transparent? I suspect the answer is no. So why should BRAC volunteers, especially since they have seen up close and on a regular basis at every BRAC meeting how evasive and dishonest FCPS can be.

I have attended several rezoning meetings.

At the last one just a week ago, FCPS was openly throwing the BRAC volunteers attending the meeting under the bus. When parents brought up very legitimate complaints about their neighborhoods getting rezoned, FCPS response was they should bring their complaints to the BRAC members. When parents asked for information that FCPS was not sharing, FCPS told them they needed to ask the BRAC members (who also did not have the information and have been asking the same questions for over a year.)

After the meeting, the BRAC members stayed for 30 minutes, trying to answer questions that they had no answers for.

The meeting had no superintendent and no school board reps in attendance.

The 2 employees knew nothing about rezoning. They were not high level employees.

One was there to read the slides to us, with no answers to the questions we asked.

The other was working on the start time changes, and was there to read the start time slides to us. He didn't have any knowlege or answers to any rezoning questions.

The entire meeting was a farce. The only people there trying to sincerely answer questions were the BRAC parent volunteers.

The meeting was not videotaped.

A parent tried to video tape the Q&A for their spouse who couldn't make it to watch.

A FCPS employee came over and loudly made the parent stop.

When the parent explained why they were videptaping and pointed out that it was a public meeting so they were allowed to videotape, the FCPS employee told her no, that the rezoning meetings could not be videotaped and if a parent was unable to come in person or watch it live on zoom, they were just out of luck.

How is that even legal?

This is what the BRAC members have been dealing with.

Cut them some slack.

FCPS is showing that they are going to try to push parent anger about rezoning away from the school board and superintendent, to the parent volunteers on BRAC. They are not even trying to be transparent about this.

Why would any of the BRAC volunteers stick out their necks at this point? They went into this in good faith, have been completely railroaded and unsupported by FCPS, and are now going to get thrown under the bus when the maps come out and people are naturally upset.

FCPS is going to tell people who are upset about their neighborhoods getting rezoned that the BRAC members picked them to get rezoned. They are already starting to lay the groundwork for passing the blame to the volunteers.

Nevermind that it has bedn implied to the BRAC members that if they can't come up with enough recommendations to rezone, that Reid will pick. The BRAC members are trying their best to find the smallest number of houses to recommend for rezoning, to the most equivalent schools academically, with the most community overlap, similar sports teams, programs, and closest distance. They are trying to save as many neighborhoods as they can from rezoning, trying to lessen the sting of rezoning, and trying to prevent an outcome where Reid picks winners and losers.

Parents should be united in their support of the BRAC community volunteers, even if you don't like the outcome. They are being horribly used by FCPS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow, I can’t believe people don’t see that this is intentional. You are all being played. No advance notice, it all comes down to what Reid wants. Thru is a scapegoat. Reid played a masterful game of divide and conquer. She even got the dolts on the SB to get her a team of bodyguards to protect her when you finally realize the whole process was a sham from day one.

I’ve been saying all along that Reid had a plan and this was all for show.

You really believe Reid has no bigger part in this than hiring Thru?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can someone on BRAC just share what the changes are at this point? They know what the changes are, just not in map form.

I don't think anyone from BRAC will share this information, since they haven't seen the revised maps and don't have any idea of the real reasons behind the delay.

It could very well be that the delay is because the maps being released are delayed because the school board made changes that are very different than what BRAC was told at their last meeting.

Then they are JUST as bad as Gatehouse. All certain BRAC members do is go on Facebook and NextDoor and complain, complain, complain without sharing any helpful information.

You know, they had to sign non disclosures to even be on the committee.

BRAC pyramid volunteers are just other parents doing a thankless job, with zero information or support from FCPS, at a scope much larger than they were told at the beginning.

If you feel you are getting a runaround from FCPS, the BRAC volunteers are experiencing this almost weekly, several times over what you feel.

No same person in their right mind would publicly release any half baked information from FCPS of what they *think* might be the plan, because they will upset prople unnecessary, especially if FCPS pulls a bait and switch, and the information that BRAC shares ends up being wrong. There have been mistakes by FCPS and Thru thoughout this process, and evasive runaround by the school board and Reid.

Why would any of the BRAC members release information on maps before they know it is accurate?

Do you trust Reid and the school board to be transparent? I suspect the answer is no. So why should BRAC volunteers, especially since they have seen up close and on a regular basis at every BRAC meeting how evasive and dishonest FCPS can be.

I have attended several rezoning meetings.

At the last one just a week ago, FCPS was openly throwing the BRAC volunteers attending the meeting under the bus. When parents brought up very legitimate complaints about their neighborhoods getting rezoned, FCPS response was they should bring their complaints to the BRAC members. When parents asked for information that FCPS was not sharing, FCPS told them they needed to ask the BRAC members (who also did not have the information and have been asking the same questions for over a year.)

After the meeting, the BRAC members stayed for 30 minutes, trying to answer questions that they had no answers for.

The meeting had no superintendent and no school board reps in attendance.

The 2 employees knew nothing about rezoning. They were not high level employees.

One was there to read the slides to us, with no answers to the questions we asked.

The other was working on the start time changes, and was there to read the start time slides to us. He didn't have any knowlege or answers to any rezoning questions.

The entire meeting was a farce. The only people there trying to sincerely answer questions were the BRAC parent volunteers.

The meeting was not videotaped.

A parent tried to video tape the Q&A for their spouse who couldn't make it to watch.

A FCPS employee came over and loudly made the parent stop.

When the parent explained why they were videptaping and pointed out that it was a public meeting so they were allowed to videotape, the FCPS employee told her no, that the rezoning meetings could not be videotaped and if a parent was unable to come in person or watch it live on zoom, they were just out of luck.

How is that even legal?

This is what the BRAC members have been dealing with.

Cut them some slack.

FCPS is showing that they are going to try to push parent anger about rezoning away from the school board and superintendent, to the parent volunteers on BRAC. They are not even trying to be transparent about this.

Why would any of the BRAC volunteers stick out their necks at this point? They went into this in good faith, have been completely railroaded and unsupported by FCPS, and are now going to get thrown under the bus when the maps come out and people are naturally upset.

FCPS is going to tell people who are upset about their neighborhoods getting rezoned that the BRAC members picked them to get rezoned. They are already starting to lay the groundwork for passing the blame to the volunteers.

Nevermind that it has bedn implied to the BRAC members that if they can't come up with enough recommendations to rezone, that Reid will pick. The BRAC members are trying their best to find the smallest number of houses to recommend for rezoning, to the most equivalent schools academically, with the most community overlap, similar sports teams, programs, and closest distance. They are trying to save as many neighborhoods as they can from rezoning, trying to lessen the sting of rezoning, and trying to prevent an outcome where Reid picks winners and losers.

Parents should be united in their support of the BRAC community volunteers, even if you don't like the outcome. They are being horribly used by FCPS.

The bolded is what I think is leading to this delay. If you look at the feedback BRAC had earlier this fall, a lot of it was that they didn’t agree with a particular change. And the slides that went over effects of Scenario 4 on transportation suggested that some of the Scenario 3 changes weren’t included in Scenario 4. I think Reid is unhappy that they told everyone they were doing a big boundary review and that BRAC and Thru backed off a lot of changes. She wants more.

[Anonymous]

The problem with the whole BRAC thing is that people likely volunteered to look out for their own neighborhoods. That is not to slam them, but to be realistic.
Now, think about this. There are around 30 pyramids. That means 60 BRAC members (plus, of course the "extra" parent from Woodson.)

Add in all the reps from the special interest groups.

There is NO one from my area on BRAC. They both come from the other end of the boundary. I'm sure every pyramid has a similar situation.

Some schools are smaller and others are very big. Some elementary neighborhoods are not in the same pyramid with their high school--so they really get NO representation.
So, you have Chantilly BRAC representing 3000 kids and then you have Lewis which would represent about 1600.

Then, you have Madison, which represents a relatively confined area and then you have Oakton and Langley--who have lengthy boundaries.

What I am trying to say is the the idea that the BRAC members really represent and can speak for their own pyramid is unrealistic. It was always unrealistic--just "lipstick on a pig" to look like it was transparent.

This was doomed to fail.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can someone on BRAC just share what the changes are at this point? They know what the changes are, just not in map form.

I don't think anyone from BRAC will share this information, since they haven't seen the revised maps and don't have any idea of the real reasons behind the delay.

It could very well be that the delay is because the maps being released are delayed because the school board made changes that are very different than what BRAC was told at their last meeting.

Then they are JUST as bad as Gatehouse. All certain BRAC members do is go on Facebook and NextDoor and complain, complain, complain without sharing any helpful information.

F off. They were forced to sign NDAs and are volunteering to try to make the process better. You want them to be sued by FCPS? Gtfoh, you are a shit human being.

Is your mommy on the BRAC?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can someone on BRAC just share what the changes are at this point? They know what the changes are, just not in map form.

I don't think anyone from BRAC will share this information, since they haven't seen the revised maps and don't have any idea of the real reasons behind the delay.

It could very well be that the delay is because the maps being released are delayed because the school board made changes that are very different than what BRAC was told at their last meeting.

Then they are JUST as bad as Gatehouse. All certain BRAC members do is go on Facebook and NextDoor and complain, complain, complain without sharing any helpful information.

You know, they had to sign non disclosures to even be on the committee.

BRAC pyramid volunteers are just other parents doing a thankless job, with zero information or support from FCPS, at a scope much larger than they were told at the beginning.

If you feel you are getting a runaround from FCPS, the BRAC volunteers are experiencing this almost weekly, several times over what you feel.

No same person in their right mind would publicly release any half baked information from FCPS of what they *think* might be the plan, because they will upset prople unnecessary, especially if FCPS pulls a bait and switch, and the information that BRAC shares ends up being wrong. There have been mistakes by FCPS and Thru thoughout this process, and evasive runaround by the school board and Reid.

Why would any of the BRAC members release information on maps before they know it is accurate?

Do you trust Reid and the school board to be transparent? I suspect the answer is no. So why should BRAC volunteers, especially since they have seen up close and on a regular basis at every BRAC meeting how evasive and dishonest FCPS can be.

I have attended several rezoning meetings.

At the last one just a week ago, FCPS was openly throwing the BRAC volunteers attending the meeting under the bus. When parents brought up very legitimate complaints about their neighborhoods getting rezoned, FCPS response was they should bring their complaints to the BRAC members. When parents asked for information that FCPS was not sharing, FCPS told them they needed to ask the BRAC members (who also did not have the information and have been asking the same questions for over a year.)

After the meeting, the BRAC members stayed for 30 minutes, trying to answer questions that they had no answers for.

The meeting had no superintendent and no school board reps in attendance.

The 2 employees knew nothing about rezoning. They were not high level employees.

One was there to read the slides to us, with no answers to the questions we asked.

The other was working on the start time changes, and was there to read the start time slides to us. He didn't have any knowlege or answers to any rezoning questions.

The entire meeting was a farce. The only people there trying to sincerely answer questions were the BRAC parent volunteers.

The meeting was not videotaped.

A parent tried to video tape the Q&A for their spouse who couldn't make it to watch.

A FCPS employee came over and loudly made the parent stop.

When the parent explained why they were videptaping and pointed out that it was a public meeting so they were allowed to videotape, the FCPS employee told her no, that the rezoning meetings could not be videotaped and if a parent was unable to come in person or watch it live on zoom, they were just out of luck.

How is that even legal?

This is what the BRAC members have been dealing with.

Cut them some slack.

FCPS is showing that they are going to try to push parent anger about rezoning away from the school board and superintendent, to the parent volunteers on BRAC. They are not even trying to be transparent about this.

Why would any of the BRAC volunteers stick out their necks at this point? They went into this in good faith, have been completely railroaded and unsupported by FCPS, and are now going to get thrown under the bus when the maps come out and people are naturally upset.

FCPS is going to tell people who are upset about their neighborhoods getting rezoned that the BRAC members picked them to get rezoned. They are already starting to lay the groundwork for passing the blame to the volunteers.

Nevermind that it has bedn implied to the BRAC members that if they can't come up with enough recommendations to rezone, that Reid will pick. The BRAC members are trying their best to find the smallest number of houses to recommend for rezoning, to the most equivalent schools academically, with the most community overlap, similar sports teams, programs, and closest distance. They are trying to save as many neighborhoods as they can from rezoning, trying to lessen the sting of rezoning, and trying to prevent an outcome where Reid picks winners and losers.

Parents should be united in their support of the BRAC community volunteers, even if you don't like the outcome. They are being horribly used by FCPS.

I see I touched a nerve. We know that most BRAC members volunteered as a way to keep their children in their schools or keep their home values up. I mean, look at Great Falls and look at the guy in Fairfax who is determined to stay zoned to Oakton. I'm not saying all of them, but many of them. However thank you for your service, BRAC Member whose child alerted them to this post. I do appreciate that you are volunteering and trying to your best for the community.

[Anonymous]

I don't live in region 4, so it doesn't effect me...but I heard that BOTH the West Springfield BRAC members are Hunt Valley parents and they did everything the could to keep Hunt Valley at West Springfield. I'm not saying the BRAC members aren't trying their best, but that's a huge bias.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't live in region 4, so it doesn't effect me...but I heard that BOTH the West Springfield BRAC members are Hunt Valley parents and they did everything the could to keep Hunt Valley at West Springfield. I'm not saying the BRAC members aren't trying their best, but that's a huge bias.

Well, they did a helluva job because HV became a split feeder in scenario 3 and several neighbors got sent to South County. I guess Thru didn’t care.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can someone on BRAC just share what the changes are at this point? They know what the changes are, just not in map form.

I don't think anyone from BRAC will share this information, since they haven't seen the revised maps and don't have any idea of the real reasons behind the delay.

It could very well be that the delay is because the maps being released are delayed because the school board made changes that are very different than what BRAC was told at their last meeting.

Then they are JUST as bad as Gatehouse. All certain BRAC members do is go on Facebook and NextDoor and complain, complain, complain without sharing any helpful information.

F off. They were forced to sign NDAs and are volunteering to try to make the process better. You want them to be sued by FCPS? Gtfoh, you are a shit human being.

Is your mommy on the BRAC?

Awh snap, crazy sick burn. We’re all amazed at your robust insult skills and your ability to felate the school board members and the superintendent no matter what harm they do to the schools.

Are the maps out yet?

[Anonymous]

Scenario 3 was not developed with BRAC input. If you read the Region 4 BRAC notes it looks like they tried to pick off smaller sections to be rezoned out of WS do they can stay as is. Some of the neighbors they offered to sacrifice to preserve look per the map closer to WS. The numbers are unclear, but it looks like they were trying to cobble together every small change they could--actually effecting more neighborhoods--they making a larger, logical change like moving Daventry back to Lewis??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The problem with the whole BRAC thing is that people likely volunteered to look out for their own neighborhoods. That is not to slam them, but to be realistic.
Now, think about this. There are around 30 pyramids. That means 60 BRAC members (plus, of course the "extra" parent from Woodson.)

Add in all the reps from the special interest groups.

There is NO one from my area on BRAC. They both come from the other end of the boundary. I'm sure every pyramid has a similar situation.

Some schools are smaller and others are very big. Some elementary neighborhoods are not in the same pyramid with their high school--so they really get NO representation.
So, you have Chantilly BRAC representing 3000 kids and then you have Lewis which would represent about 1600.

Then, you have Madison, which represents a relatively confined area and then you have Oakton and Langley--who have lengthy boundaries.

What I am trying to say is the the idea that the BRAC members really represent and can speak for their own pyramid is unrealistic. It was always unrealistic--just "lipstick on a pig" to look like it was transparent.

This was doomed to fail.

“ What I am trying to say is the the idea that the BRAC members really represent and can speak for their own pyramid is unrealistic. It was always unrealistic--just "lipstick on a pig" to look like it was transparent.”
This 1000%! Our BRAC members never replied to any of our inquires!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can someone on BRAC just share what the changes are at this point? They know what the changes are, just not in map form.

I don't think anyone from BRAC will share this information, since they haven't seen the revised maps and don't have any idea of the real reasons behind the delay.

It could very well be that the delay is because the maps being released are delayed because the school board made changes that are very different than what BRAC was told at their last meeting.

Then they are JUST as bad as Gatehouse. All certain BRAC members do is go on Facebook and NextDoor and complain, complain, complain without sharing any helpful information.

BRAC hasn’t even seen the updated maps they were supposed to receive on Tuesday of this week. and they were reiterated that they signed NDAs. Over the summer, FairFACTs matter shared some rumblings over Langley. The silence to even BRAC has me worried for scenario 4. I am no where close to Langley but it worries me for what else they could be moving around and delaying the release.

[Anonymous]

Just saw GF is still very active with this. I'm sure Fairfacts is playing hard in it, too. They had that meeting with Lady where she told them they would not move. Must be nice to get that support from your SB member,.