MCPS suggests postponing Crown High School opening for use as holding school

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The big questions I have with Crown being a holding school are:

1. How often are holding schools needed for high schools? they've mentioned 3, Damascus, Magruder and Wootton - not in that order. That is 6-9 years, but there are probably other high schools and MSs on the list afterward)

2. Can the building be used to house two middle schools simultaneously to speed up renovations at that level? unlikely - there's a reason not to have that many middle schoolers in one place, not to mention 2 sets of everything from Building Service workers to Principals and APs to Cohnselors - it's built to be a HS, not 2 schools in one

3. What are the plans for the building in the event there are no school renovations on deck for a year? unlikely - there's always one on deck, usually many, esp given the age and size of MCPS

4. Will the county pay for extra contract time for teachers who have to completely set up and tear down their classrooms and move them across the county. It feels unfair and like a violation of union agreements to make these staffs do everything during the 2-3 days of designated classroom prep during inservice week and the end of the year.I have no idea, but you could ask a Northwood teacher of they were awarded this extra time to set up a classroom 9 miles from their school while they are at Woodward for 3 years. I suspect you box up your classroom at the end of the year and show up at your new temporary location and unpack - they just move your boxes and you hope none gets lost in the move

5. What happens in the event repairs and renovations at a school get completed in less than a school year? lol, you haven't been around MCPS very long, have you? See Northwood at Woodward, and the building of Woodward, which each took an extra year. When you project plan, you plan for the time you are given and it isually takes longer, not shorter to complete the project

This project seems way too big and expensive for the building to ever be empty

Which HS is going to be renovated in 2027? Right now it looks like there are 2 year gap between crown opening and Damascus renovation

They will delay construction on Crown. They will probably also delay the renovation on Damascus, because they are completely incompetent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The big questions I have with Crown being a holding school are:

1. How often are holding schools needed for high schools? they've mentioned 3, Damascus, Magruder and Wootton - not in that order. That is 6-9 years, but there are probably other high schools and MSs on the list afterward)

2. Can the building be used to house two middle schools simultaneously to speed up renovations at that level? unlikely - there's a reason not to have that many middle schoolers in one place, not to mention 2 sets of everything from Building Service workers to Principals and APs to Cohnselors - it's built to be a HS, not 2 schools in one

3. What are the plans for the building in the event there are no school renovations on deck for a year? unlikely - there's always one on deck, usually many, esp given the age and size of MCPS

4. Will the county pay for extra contract time for teachers who have to completely set up and tear down their classrooms and move them across the county. It feels unfair and like a violation of union agreements to make these staffs do everything during the 2-3 days of designated classroom prep during inservice week and the end of the year.I have no idea, but you could ask a Northwood teacher of they were awarded this extra time to set up a classroom 9 miles from their school while they are at Woodward for 3 years. I suspect you box up your classroom at the end of the year and show up at your new temporary location and unpack - they just move your boxes and you hope none gets lost in the move

5. What happens in the event repairs and renovations at a school get completed in less than a school year? lol, you haven't been around MCPS very long, have you? See Northwood at Woodward, and the building of Woodward, which each took an extra year. When you project plan, you plan for the time you are given and it isually takes longer, not shorter to complete the project

This project seems way too big and expensive for the building to ever be empty

Which HS is going to be renovated in 2027? Right now it looks like there are 2 year gap between crown opening and Damascus renovation

They will delay construction on Crown. They will probably also delay the renovation on Damascus, because they are completely incompetent.

Crown construction is already 40% complete.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The big questions I have with Crown being a holding school are:

1. How often are holding schools needed for high schools? they've mentioned 3, Damascus, Magruder and Wootton - not in that order. That is 6-9 years, but there are probably other high schools and MSs on the list afterward)

2. Can the building be used to house two middle schools simultaneously to speed up renovations at that level? unlikely - there's a reason not to have that many middle schoolers in one place, not to mention 2 sets of everything from Building Service workers to Principals and APs to Cohnselors - it's built to be a HS, not 2 schools in one

3. What are the plans for the building in the event there are no school renovations on deck for a year? unlikely - there's always one on deck, usually many, esp given the age and size of MCPS

4. Will the county pay for extra contract time for teachers who have to completely set up and tear down their classrooms and move them across the county. It feels unfair and like a violation of union agreements to make these staffs do everything during the 2-3 days of designated classroom prep during inservice week and the end of the year.I have no idea, but you could ask a Northwood teacher of they were awarded this extra time to set up a classroom 9 miles from their school while they are at Woodward for 3 years. I suspect you box up your classroom at the end of the year and show up at your new temporary location and unpack - they just move your boxes and you hope none gets lost in the move

5. What happens in the event repairs and renovations at a school get completed in less than a school year? lol, you haven't been around MCPS very long, have you? See Northwood at Woodward, and the building of Woodward, which each took an extra year. When you project plan, you plan for the time you are given and it isually takes longer, not shorter to complete the project

This project seems way too big and expensive for the building to ever be empty

Which HS is going to be renovated in 2027? Right now it looks like there are 2 year gap between crown opening and Damascus renovation

They will delay construction on Crown. They will probably also delay the renovation on Damascus, because they are completely incompetent.

Talking about incompetent. LOL

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can someone in the know tell us if this is a done deal -- that Crown HS will be a holding school for Wootton starting 2027?

And what happens to the new regions? Is that going to be postponed, too?

They are still insisting on being full steam ahead on the regional model, no matter how many people tell them to slow down.

My understanding is that Sup needs a couple weeks to sort out whether Crown being a holding school can actually be feasible, due to some funding restrictions. So we the public get to wait and see what the outcome will be (not nice of them to leave us hanging).

How does Crown (possibly/likely) becoming a holding school affect regional model? It won't overall. MCPS still pushing forward. If Crown does become a holding school, MCPS will simply rework Region 5 program offerings, but won't rework anything else. They said this on one of their info presentations earlier this week.

How does Crown becoming a holding school affect boundary study? I'd love to know. After all, one of the main reasons why a boundary study even started was because... Crown was going to open.

This is the most critical question left unanswered at every BOE and community engagement session MCPS has had.

They have said that if Crown becomes a holding school that they would need to redo the scope and/or timeline of that boundary study.

That answers nothing. Redo what specific parts of the boundaries? Only the boundaries directly related to Crown? Boundaries related to DHS too? They should give more information.

Agree- what does it mean for the regions? Why would those go forward without Crown?

There's a scheduled discussion about this at Thursday evening's board meeting:

Proposed Change in Boundary Study Scope to Determine the Service Area for the new Crown High School and the Expansion of Damascus High School

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can someone in the know tell us if this is a done deal -- that Crown HS will be a holding school for Wootton starting 2027?

And what happens to the new regions? Is that going to be postponed, too?

They are still insisting on being full steam ahead on the regional model, no matter how many people tell them to slow down.

My understanding is that Sup needs a couple weeks to sort out whether Crown being a holding school can actually be feasible, due to some funding restrictions. So we the public get to wait and see what the outcome will be (not nice of them to leave us hanging).

How does Crown (possibly/likely) becoming a holding school affect regional model? It won't overall. MCPS still pushing forward. If Crown does become a holding school, MCPS will simply rework Region 5 program offerings, but won't rework anything else. They said this on one of their info presentations earlier this week.

How does Crown becoming a holding school affect boundary study? I'd love to know. After all, one of the main reasons why a boundary study even started was because... Crown was going to open.

This is the most critical question left unanswered at every BOE and community engagement session MCPS has had.

They have said that if Crown becomes a holding school that they would need to redo the scope and/or timeline of that boundary study.

That answers nothing. Redo what specific parts of the boundaries? Only the boundaries directly related to Crown? Boundaries related to DHS too? They should give more information.

Agree- what does it mean for the regions? Why would those go forward without Crown?

There's a scheduled discussion about this at Thursday evening's board meeting:

Proposed Change in Boundary Study Scope to Determine the Service Area for the new Crown High School and the Expansion of Damascus High School

Thanks for sharing

[Anonymous]

If they make Crown HS as a holding school, can families living within walking distances attend Crown HS ( does not matter which HS take over)? Using COSA or whatever? Crown HS is supposed to be their neighborhood school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If they make Crown HS as a holding school, can families living within walking distances attend Crown HS ( does not matter which HS take over)? Using COSA or whatever? Crown HS is supposed to be their neighborhood school.

The answer would most likely be no, since again, if it's a holding school, it's not actually a neighborhood school.

It would be Wootton @ Crown, Damascus @ Crown, etc. That's how they handled Northwood while it's been housed at its holding school, Woodward.

Northwood @ Woodward: https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/northwoodhs/homepage/northwood--woodward/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If they make Crown HS as a holding school, can families living within walking distances attend Crown HS ( does not matter which HS take over)? Using COSA or whatever? Crown HS is supposed to be their neighborhood school.

The answer would most likely be no, since again, if it's a holding school, it's not actually a neighborhood school.

It would be Wootton @ Crown, Damascus @ Crown, etc. That's how they handled Northwood while it's been housed at its holding school, Woodward.

Northwood @ Woodward: https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/northwoodhs/homepage/northwood--woodward/

Not to mention that a student on a COSA to whatever school is @Crown based on PP's idea could wind up being part of multiple schools across their 4 years. I think the renovations or rebuilds often take 2-3 years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If they make Crown HS as a holding school, can families living within walking distances attend Crown HS ( does not matter which HS take over)? Using COSA or whatever? Crown HS is supposed to be their neighborhood school.

The answer would most likely be no, since again, if it's a holding school, it's not actually a neighborhood school.

It would be Wootton @ Crown, Damascus @ Crown, etc. That's how they handled Northwood while it's been housed at its holding school, Woodward.

Northwood @ Woodward: https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/northwoodhs/homepage/northwood--woodward/

Not to mention that a student on a COSA to whatever school is @Crown based on PP's idea could wind up being part of multiple schools across their 4 years. I think the renovations or rebuilds often take 2-3 years.

What is the point of buying to live within Crown HS neighborhood? Those families with kids must be really regrettable and upset if Crown HS turns into a holding school which they can't even attend at all. Each school takes at least 2-3 years or more to renovated, and you are talking about a minimum 6-9 years or longer depends on renovation budgets for all 3 aging high schools talking about here. Or does Crown HS is decided and built to be completed only to serve Wootton HS as a temporary holding school because it is closer in distances and they are privileged?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If they make Crown HS as a holding school, can families living within walking distances attend Crown HS ( does not matter which HS take over)? Using COSA or whatever? Crown HS is supposed to be their neighborhood school.

The answer would most likely be no, since again, if it's a holding school, it's not actually a neighborhood school.

It would be Wootton @ Crown, Damascus @ Crown, etc. That's how they handled Northwood while it's been housed at its holding school, Woodward.

Northwood @ Woodward: https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/northwoodhs/homepage/northwood--woodward/

Not to mention that a student on a COSA to whatever school is @Crown based on PP's idea could wind up being part of multiple schools across their 4 years. I think the renovations or rebuilds often take 2-3 years.

What is the point of buying to live within Crown HS neighborhood? Those families with kids must be really regrettable and upset if Crown HS turns into a holding school which they can't even attend at all. Each school takes at least 2-3 years or more to renovated, and you are talking about a minimum 6-9 years or longer depends on renovation budgets for all 3 aging high schools talking about here. Or does Crown HS is decided and built to be completed only to serve Wootton HS as a temporary holding school because it is closer in distances and they are privileged?

They bought in the Gaithersburg High School district, lured by the builder’s sweet promise that a new high school would be built and would take a portion of the Wootton area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If they make Crown HS as a holding school, can families living within walking distances attend Crown HS ( does not matter which HS take over)? Using COSA or whatever? Crown HS is supposed to be their neighborhood school.

The answer would most likely be no, since again, if it's a holding school, it's not actually a neighborhood school.

It would be Wootton @ Crown, Damascus @ Crown, etc. That's how they handled Northwood while it's been housed at its holding school, Woodward.

Northwood @ Woodward: https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/northwoodhs/homepage/northwood--woodward/

Not to mention that a student on a COSA to whatever school is @Crown based on PP's idea could wind up being part of multiple schools across their 4 years. I think the renovations or rebuilds often take 2-3 years.

The mayor of Gaithersburg proposed a hybrid model tonight, where Crown could serve as a holding school while also serving as a walkable school for the neighborhood students. I think that would mean those neighborhood students would be considered students of Damascus @Crown, for example.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can someone in the know tell us if this is a done deal -- that Crown HS will be a holding school for Wootton starting 2027?

And what happens to the new regions? Is that going to be postponed, too?

They are still insisting on being full steam ahead on the regional model, no matter how many people tell them to slow down.

My understanding is that Sup needs a couple weeks to sort out whether Crown being a holding school can actually be feasible, due to some funding restrictions. So we the public get to wait and see what the outcome will be (not nice of them to leave us hanging).

How does Crown (possibly/likely) becoming a holding school affect regional model? It won't overall. MCPS still pushing forward. If Crown does become a holding school, MCPS will simply rework Region 5 program offerings, but won't rework anything else. They said this on one of their info presentations earlier this week.

How does Crown becoming a holding school affect boundary study? I'd love to know. After all, one of the main reasons why a boundary study even started was because... Crown was going to open.

This is the most critical question left unanswered at every BOE and community engagement session MCPS has had.

They have said that if Crown becomes a holding school that they would need to redo the scope and/or timeline of that boundary study.

That answers nothing. Redo what specific parts of the boundaries? Only the boundaries directly related to Crown? Boundaries related to DHS too? They should give more information.

Agree- what does it mean for the regions? Why would those go forward without Crown?

There's a scheduled discussion about this at Thursday evening's board meeting:

Proposed Change in Boundary Study Scope to Determine the Service Area for the new Crown High School and the Expansion of Damascus High School

There's only 10 minutes on the agenda for this and it is paired with "Revised Boundary Study Scope to Determine the Service Area for the Reopening of Charles W. Woodward High School' so I doubt there is any substantive discussion planned.

[Anonymous]

They will make Wotton renovation last and by the time they will be “ready” to renovate it, some other glorious amazing project will take priority. Wootton kids will continue going to school with water dripping from the ceiling and doors not closing in the bathrooms.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If they make Crown HS as a holding school, can families living within walking distances attend Crown HS ( does not matter which HS take over)? Using COSA or whatever? Crown HS is supposed to be their neighborhood school.

The answer would most likely be no, since again, if it's a holding school, it's not actually a neighborhood school.

It would be Wootton @ Crown, Damascus @ Crown, etc. That's how they handled Northwood while it's been housed at its holding school, Woodward.

Northwood @ Woodward: https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/northwoodhs/homepage/northwood--woodward/

Not to mention that a student on a COSA to whatever school is @Crown based on PP's idea could wind up being part of multiple schools across their 4 years. I think the renovations or rebuilds often take 2-3 years.

The mayor of Gaithersburg proposed a hybrid model tonight, where Crown could serve as a holding school while also serving as a walkable school for the neighborhood students. I think that would mean those neighborhood students would be considered students of Damascus @Crown, for example.

That makes fair to walkable to Crown HS families if they decide to turn Crown HS into a holding school. That

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If they make Crown HS as a holding school, can families living within walking distances attend Crown HS ( does not matter which HS take over)? Using COSA or whatever? Crown HS is supposed to be their neighborhood school.

The answer would most likely be no, since again, if it's a holding school, it's not actually a neighborhood school.

It would be Wootton @ Crown, Damascus @ Crown, etc. That's how they handled Northwood while it's been housed at its holding school, Woodward.

Northwood @ Woodward: https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/schools/northwoodhs/homepage/northwood--woodward/

Not to mention that a student on a COSA to whatever school is @Crown based on PP's idea could wind up being part of multiple schools across their 4 years. I think the renovations or rebuilds often take 2-3 years.

The mayor of Gaithersburg proposed a hybrid model tonight, where Crown could serve as a holding school while also serving as a walkable school for the neighborhood students. I think that would mean those neighborhood students would be considered students of Damascus @Crown, for example.

I am confused as to how this would work. The renovations cant possibly take 4 years so its highly improbable that Damascus for example would be using the Crown building for 4 years. Would those nearby, walking families just essentially attend multiple high schools over 4 years with no say as to who moves into the building? What would their transcripts look like? How would they be expected to have working professional relationships with staff, counseling, and admin? What would athletics look like? Would their walking COSA automatically expire and force the students to finish school at Damascus?