Option H is permanent and the old Wootton HS campus will be closed for good?

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:For those in the Wootton Cluster advocating for Option "W," it's not clear to me what their option means with regard to which building becomes a holding school for MCPS, which is absolutely needed.

Is Option W advocating for Crown to be that holding school, as Taylor proposed? Is it not taking a stance on that?

If it's the latter, I think that sinks Option W because a secondary holding school is absolutely necessary for all of the schools currently in and likely to be moved into the CIP.

Also, if Wootton is advocating to be included in the CIP, who are they advocating be bumped out? I'm not seeing how they're creating leverage with Option W. It just basically seems like the Wootton Cluster wants its cake and to eat it too.

Wootton does not want to serve as a holding school. That position is independent of whether MCPS ultimately designates Crown as a holding school. Framing this as a black-and-white choice oversimplifies the situation. Taylor is already exploring a P3 model for school renovations, which makes it possible for two or even three schools to be renovated at the same time

You are kidding yourself if you think the choice is independent of the Crown decision. In order for Wootton to be added to the CIP as advocated, SOMETHING needs to be removed to add Wootton to the CIP.

MCPS already stated there would be serious savings in time and money if Damascus, which is the only high school currently in the CIP, was able to use Crown as a holding school. It sounds like they might have been willing, based on the Wootton community's advocacy for a safe and modern building, to shift them into Crown and use Wootton as the holding school, but it appears the Wootton community is rejecting that too.

The only other alternative to make Option W happen would be for Wootton to ask for Damascus to be bumped from the current CIP and added in its place. Is that what Option W is asking for? Again, Option W wants to wave a magic wand without making any difficult decisions or tradeoffs but doesn't explain how or why that would be feasible.

Wootton isn’t even included in the CIP, and the boundary study isn’t going to put Wootton into the CIP either, so I don’t see your point. Framing Crown as a holding school as if it’s Wootton’s problem only muddies the water. If Damascus needs a holding school, that’s something Damascus should advocate for. It’s not Wootton’s responsibility to advocate on Damascus’s behalf. Wootton is simply asking to remain where it is and receive an emergency fix for failing components of the building.

You might want to talk to your colleague. The PP who I was going back and forth with said Wootton wants emergency fixes AND to be put into the queue for a renovation in the CIP.

You're saying you don't want to get into the CIP. Which one is it?

I thought Wootton was already in the CIP for 2035+? https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/OMB/Resources/Files/omb/pdfs/fy25/cip_pdf/P652115.pdf

What's wrong with performing emergency fixes now, and then Wootton waiting 10+ years for a full renovation? Has anyone done a financial assessment for the costs of the emergency fixes Wootton is requesting? Maybe some of the FY26 amount of $1.456M includes this (see above link)? One would think that emergency fixes wouldn't bump anyone down in the CIP, which I thought only included full renovations (hence the name "Capital Improvement Plan")? Emergency fixes could be done over the summer of 2027, obviating the need for any holding school for Wootton, thereby causing the least amount of disruption.

No, that’s not CIP. CIP only covers 6 years. That slide is only MCPS projection and nobody will guarantee it’ll be on CIP at this point

There are schools in much worse condition like Magruder and Sherwood. Schools flooding constantly or having ceilings falling down should get priority.

MCPS uses the CFI as its official, objective measure of building condition. Under this metric, Wootton has the second-worst CFI of all high schools in the system. The only reason Wootton moved from #2 to #3 in the renovation queue is its low FARMS rate. Therefore, claiming that other schools are “worse” than Wootton without any objective measurement is inaccurate and not supported by MCPS’s own data.

Buildings change day to day. Wootton is not getting regular flooding or having ceilings fall down that could KILL someone. Put it in perspective.

Wootton gets several gas leaks within a few weeks. You think continuous gas leak will not kill someone?

You do realize that happens at multiple schools. We've had it a few times a year. Yes, we realize that. But, get out of your bubble. Wootton is on the schedule, unlike other schools that are older and have had fewer updates.

I swear it’s like the same 4 people making all the comments. You say “get out of your bubble in every comment” it’s annoying AF.

We have these 4 posters:

“Get out of your bubble”
“Wait your turn”
“Option H makes the most fiscal sense”
“Other schools are worse off”

None seem to want to hear anything except confirmation of their own viewpoints. My guess is none of them live in Wootton, but rather Crown or East MoCo.

What else do you want people to say? Your school has gotten painted, repairs, new bathrooms and more. Your school is having the same issues as every other school. You were offered a new school and said no. You are in line for repairs. That's not good enough. We ask what solutions do you suggest and you say none or its not your responsibility to come up with anything. So, you are complaining to complain.

What solutions do you offer?

And we forgot about the “what solutions do you offer poster?”

At this point, I’d settle for option H to just go away. As well as all of you who don’t live in the cluster and are just being combative acting like it’s no big deal for all this ridiculousness to happen. And that we are wrong for not accepting a school we don’t want, never asked for and was never meant to be ours anyway.

I forgot about that one, but was trying to stick with 4. Maybe they’re one of those 4 but adding a little twist?

The sad part is that there ARE other solutions beyond Option H - and that poster knows it - but won’t accept any of those solutions that doesn’t screw over Wootton.

Not only that but it’s not our job to come up with solutions. We pay so much in taxes and it’s unbelievable that we even have schools in the condition they are in. H is so out of left field we are absolutely allowed to say no way but that shouldn’t mean we have to all come together as taxpayers/parents and troubleshoot solutions. That is ridiculous-it’s MCPS and county council’s job to fix these problems-not ours. The leaders in MCPS get paid excellent salaries-it’s not so crazy to think that they should be spending time coming up with other better options that don’t involve permanently displacing an entire community.

But there are solutions that keep Wootton in place. The trolls don't want those options because they either: (a) live in Crown and want their real estate to appreciate and have "Wootton" in their backyard; or (b) don't even live in Wootton or Crown, but want to stick it to those rich, white or Asian families that do live in Wootton and are successful. They probably don't even live in Damascus or other high school areas with crumbling buildings, but they're playing "savior" for the people that do (and probably don't even have school age kids - if they ever did).

Nah, we could have easily bought in the Wootton cluster but chose not to. I'm not jealous at all. Option H just makes the most financial sense. That's it.

I'll grant you, it would suck to become a bus rider when you were once a walker, though it does have advantages, like when the weather is awful. That's a valid argument. However, MCPs has turned once walkers into bus riders before. It's not unprecedented.

But, the argument about the poors from GHS being part of Wootton at Crown is really off putting. It makes me want to support H even more when I hear Wootton parents talk this way.

-signed an Asian American

It has nothing to do with poors! Dufief is not rich by any means nor are parts of stone bridge or travillah. Lots of wannabe s but not rich.

Has everything to do with not having my kids go to school with MAGA .yep u says it maga is a larger part of Gaithersburg than wootton and hell no to those dummies

Seriously even most of Fallsmead is not rich. Their houses are built in 70s as old as Wootton. Some don’t even have garages. Just walk around there. Gaithersburg is probably richer.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:For those in the Wootton Cluster advocating for Option "W," it's not clear to me what their option means with regard to which building becomes a holding school for MCPS, which is absolutely needed.

Is Option W advocating for Crown to be that holding school, as Taylor proposed? Is it not taking a stance on that?

If it's the latter, I think that sinks Option W because a secondary holding school is absolutely necessary for all of the schools currently in and likely to be moved into the CIP.

Also, if Wootton is advocating to be included in the CIP, who are they advocating be bumped out? I'm not seeing how they're creating leverage with Option W. It just basically seems like the Wootton Cluster wants its cake and to eat it too.

Wootton does not want to serve as a holding school. That position is independent of whether MCPS ultimately designates Crown as a holding school. Framing this as a black-and-white choice oversimplifies the situation. Taylor is already exploring a P3 model for school renovations, which makes it possible for two or even three schools to be renovated at the same time

You are kidding yourself if you think the choice is independent of the Crown decision. In order for Wootton to be added to the CIP as advocated, SOMETHING needs to be removed to add Wootton to the CIP.

MCPS already stated there would be serious savings in time and money if Damascus, which is the only high school currently in the CIP, was able to use Crown as a holding school. It sounds like they might have been willing, based on the Wootton community's advocacy for a safe and modern building, to shift them into Crown and use Wootton as the holding school, but it appears the Wootton community is rejecting that too.

The only other alternative to make Option W happen would be for Wootton to ask for Damascus to be bumped from the current CIP and added in its place. Is that what Option W is asking for? Again, Option W wants to wave a magic wand without making any difficult decisions or tradeoffs but doesn't explain how or why that would be feasible.

Wootton isn’t even included in the CIP, and the boundary study isn’t going to put Wootton into the CIP either, so I don’t see your point. Framing Crown as a holding school as if it’s Wootton’s problem only muddies the water. If Damascus needs a holding school, that’s something Damascus should advocate for. It’s not Wootton’s responsibility to advocate on Damascus’s behalf. Wootton is simply asking to remain where it is and receive an emergency fix for failing components of the building.

You might want to talk to your colleague. The PP who I was going back and forth with said Wootton wants emergency fixes AND to be put into the queue for a renovation in the CIP.

You're saying you don't want to get into the CIP. Which one is it?

I thought Wootton was already in the CIP for 2035+? https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/OMB/Resources/Files/omb/pdfs/fy25/cip_pdf/P652115.pdf

What's wrong with performing emergency fixes now, and then Wootton waiting 10+ years for a full renovation? Has anyone done a financial assessment for the costs of the emergency fixes Wootton is requesting? Maybe some of the FY26 amount of $1.456M includes this (see above link)? One would think that emergency fixes wouldn't bump anyone down in the CIP, which I thought only included full renovations (hence the name "Capital Improvement Plan")? Emergency fixes could be done over the summer of 2027, obviating the need for any holding school for Wootton, thereby causing the least amount of disruption.

No, that’s not CIP. CIP only covers 6 years. That slide is only MCPS projection and nobody will guarantee it’ll be on CIP at this point

There are schools in much worse condition like Magruder and Sherwood. Schools flooding constantly or having ceilings falling down should get priority.

MCPS uses the CFI as its official, objective measure of building condition. Under this metric, Wootton has the second-worst CFI of all high schools in the system. The only reason Wootton moved from #2 to #3 in the renovation queue is its low FARMS rate. Therefore, claiming that other schools are “worse” than Wootton without any objective measurement is inaccurate and not supported by MCPS’s own data.

Buildings change day to day. Wootton is not getting regular flooding or having ceilings fall down that could KILL someone. Put it in perspective.

Wootton gets several gas leaks within a few weeks. You think continuous gas leak will not kill someone?

You do realize that happens at multiple schools. We've had it a few times a year. Yes, we realize that. But, get out of your bubble. Wootton is on the schedule, unlike other schools that are older and have had fewer updates.

I swear it’s like the same 4 people making all the comments. You say “get out of your bubble in every comment” it’s annoying AF.

We have these 4 posters:

“Get out of your bubble”
“Wait your turn”
“Option H makes the most fiscal sense”
“Other schools are worse off”

None seem to want to hear anything except confirmation of their own viewpoints. My guess is none of them live in Wootton, but rather Crown or East MoCo.

What else do you want people to say? Your school has gotten painted, repairs, new bathrooms and more. Your school is having the same issues as every other school. You were offered a new school and said no. You are in line for repairs. That's not good enough. We ask what solutions do you suggest and you say none or its not your responsibility to come up with anything. So, you are complaining to complain.

What solutions do you offer?

And we forgot about the “what solutions do you offer poster?”

At this point, I’d settle for option H to just go away. As well as all of you who don’t live in the cluster and are just being combative acting like it’s no big deal for all this ridiculousness to happen. And that we are wrong for not accepting a school we don’t want, never asked for and was never meant to be ours anyway.

I forgot about that one, but was trying to stick with 4. Maybe they’re one of those 4 but adding a little twist?

The sad part is that there ARE other solutions beyond Option H - and that poster knows it - but won’t accept any of those solutions that doesn’t screw over Wootton.

Not only that but it’s not our job to come up with solutions. We pay so much in taxes and it’s unbelievable that we even have schools in the condition they are in. H is so out of left field we are absolutely allowed to say no way but that shouldn’t mean we have to all come together as taxpayers/parents and troubleshoot solutions. That is ridiculous-it’s MCPS and county council’s job to fix these problems-not ours. The leaders in MCPS get paid excellent salaries-it’s not so crazy to think that they should be spending time coming up with other better options that don’t involve permanently displacing an entire community.

But there are solutions that keep Wootton in place. The trolls don't want those options because they either: (a) live in Crown and want their real estate to appreciate and have "Wootton" in their backyard; or (b) don't even live in Wootton or Crown, but want to stick it to those rich, white or Asian families that do live in Wootton and are successful. They probably don't even live in Damascus or other high school areas with crumbling buildings, but they're playing "savior" for the people that do (and probably don't even have school age kids - if they ever did).

Nah, we could have easily bought in the Wootton cluster but chose not to. I'm not jealous at all. Option H just makes the most financial sense. That's it.

I'll grant you, it would suck to become a bus rider when you were once a walker, though it does have advantages, like when the weather is awful. That's a valid argument. However, MCPs has turned once walkers into bus riders before. It's not unprecedented.

But, the argument about the poors from GHS being part of Wootton at Crown is really off putting. It makes me want to support H even more when I hear Wootton parents talk this way.

-signed an Asian American

I truly don’t understand this whole “I could buy in Wootton but didn’t want to” rhetoric that has been all over this thread. I bought in the best cluster we could afford for our children. We couldn’t afford Whitman-which is what we really wanted. I can’t imagine going on a thread that was talking about Whitman being destroyed being like “yeah, let’s go!”.

We bought twelve+ years ago. We toured real estate in the Wootton area. Our realtor told us about the new school. We didn't buy there and bought a better house somewhere else instead, because we could get better value for an average school.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:For those in the Wootton Cluster advocating for Option "W," it's not clear to me what their option means with regard to which building becomes a holding school for MCPS, which is absolutely needed.

Is Option W advocating for Crown to be that holding school, as Taylor proposed? Is it not taking a stance on that?

If it's the latter, I think that sinks Option W because a secondary holding school is absolutely necessary for all of the schools currently in and likely to be moved into the CIP.

Also, if Wootton is advocating to be included in the CIP, who are they advocating be bumped out? I'm not seeing how they're creating leverage with Option W. It just basically seems like the Wootton Cluster wants its cake and to eat it too.

Wootton does not want to serve as a holding school. That position is independent of whether MCPS ultimately designates Crown as a holding school. Framing this as a black-and-white choice oversimplifies the situation. Taylor is already exploring a P3 model for school renovations, which makes it possible for two or even three schools to be renovated at the same time

You are kidding yourself if you think the choice is independent of the Crown decision. In order for Wootton to be added to the CIP as advocated, SOMETHING needs to be removed to add Wootton to the CIP.

MCPS already stated there would be serious savings in time and money if Damascus, which is the only high school currently in the CIP, was able to use Crown as a holding school. It sounds like they might have been willing, based on the Wootton community's advocacy for a safe and modern building, to shift them into Crown and use Wootton as the holding school, but it appears the Wootton community is rejecting that too.

The only other alternative to make Option W happen would be for Wootton to ask for Damascus to be bumped from the current CIP and added in its place. Is that what Option W is asking for? Again, Option W wants to wave a magic wand without making any difficult decisions or tradeoffs but doesn't explain how or why that would be feasible.

Wootton isn’t even included in the CIP, and the boundary study isn’t going to put Wootton into the CIP either, so I don’t see your point. Framing Crown as a holding school as if it’s Wootton’s problem only muddies the water. If Damascus needs a holding school, that’s something Damascus should advocate for. It’s not Wootton’s responsibility to advocate on Damascus’s behalf. Wootton is simply asking to remain where it is and receive an emergency fix for failing components of the building.

You might want to talk to your colleague. The PP who I was going back and forth with said Wootton wants emergency fixes AND to be put into the queue for a renovation in the CIP.

You're saying you don't want to get into the CIP. Which one is it?

I thought Wootton was already in the CIP for 2035+? https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/OMB/Resources/Files/omb/pdfs/fy25/cip_pdf/P652115.pdf

What's wrong with performing emergency fixes now, and then Wootton waiting 10+ years for a full renovation? Has anyone done a financial assessment for the costs of the emergency fixes Wootton is requesting? Maybe some of the FY26 amount of $1.456M includes this (see above link)? One would think that emergency fixes wouldn't bump anyone down in the CIP, which I thought only included full renovations (hence the name "Capital Improvement Plan")? Emergency fixes could be done over the summer of 2027, obviating the need for any holding school for Wootton, thereby causing the least amount of disruption.

No, that’s not CIP. CIP only covers 6 years. That slide is only MCPS projection and nobody will guarantee it’ll be on CIP at this point

There are schools in much worse condition like Magruder and Sherwood. Schools flooding constantly or having ceilings falling down should get priority.

MCPS uses the CFI as its official, objective measure of building condition. Under this metric, Wootton has the second-worst CFI of all high schools in the system. The only reason Wootton moved from #2 to #3 in the renovation queue is its low FARMS rate. Therefore, claiming that other schools are “worse” than Wootton without any objective measurement is inaccurate and not supported by MCPS’s own data.

Buildings change day to day. Wootton is not getting regular flooding or having ceilings fall down that could KILL someone. Put it in perspective.

Wootton gets several gas leaks within a few weeks. You think continuous gas leak will not kill someone?

You do realize that happens at multiple schools. We've had it a few times a year. Yes, we realize that. But, get out of your bubble. Wootton is on the schedule, unlike other schools that are older and have had fewer updates.

I swear it’s like the same 4 people making all the comments. You say “get out of your bubble in every comment” it’s annoying AF.

We have these 4 posters:

“Get out of your bubble”
“Wait your turn”
“Option H makes the most fiscal sense”
“Other schools are worse off”

None seem to want to hear anything except confirmation of their own viewpoints. My guess is none of them live in Wootton, but rather Crown or East MoCo.

What else do you want people to say? Your school has gotten painted, repairs, new bathrooms and more. Your school is having the same issues as every other school. You were offered a new school and said no. You are in line for repairs. That's not good enough. We ask what solutions do you suggest and you say none or its not your responsibility to come up with anything. So, you are complaining to complain.

What solutions do you offer?

And we forgot about the “what solutions do you offer poster?”

At this point, I’d settle for option H to just go away. As well as all of you who don’t live in the cluster and are just being combative acting like it’s no big deal for all this ridiculousness to happen. And that we are wrong for not accepting a school we don’t want, never asked for and was never meant to be ours anyway.

I forgot about that one, but was trying to stick with 4. Maybe they’re one of those 4 but adding a little twist?

The sad part is that there ARE other solutions beyond Option H - and that poster knows it - but won’t accept any of those solutions that doesn’t screw over Wootton.

Not only that but it’s not our job to come up with solutions. We pay so much in taxes and it’s unbelievable that we even have schools in the condition they are in. H is so out of left field we are absolutely allowed to say no way but that shouldn’t mean we have to all come together as taxpayers/parents and troubleshoot solutions. That is ridiculous-it’s MCPS and county council’s job to fix these problems-not ours. The leaders in MCPS get paid excellent salaries-it’s not so crazy to think that they should be spending time coming up with other better options that don’t involve permanently displacing an entire community.

But there are solutions that keep Wootton in place. The trolls don't want those options because they either: (a) live in Crown and want their real estate to appreciate and have "Wootton" in their backyard; or (b) don't even live in Wootton or Crown, but want to stick it to those rich, white or Asian families that do live in Wootton and are successful. They probably don't even live in Damascus or other high school areas with crumbling buildings, but they're playing "savior" for the people that do (and probably don't even have school age kids - if they ever did).

Nah, we could have easily bought in the Wootton cluster but chose not to. I'm not jealous at all. Option H just makes the most financial sense. That's it.

I'll grant you, it would suck to become a bus rider when you were once a walker, though it does have advantages, like when the weather is awful. That's a valid argument. However, MCPs has turned once walkers into bus riders before. It's not unprecedented.

But, the argument about the poors from GHS being part of Wootton at Crown is really off putting. It makes me want to support H even more when I hear Wootton parents talk this way.

-signed an Asian American

I truly don’t understand this whole “I could buy in Wootton but didn’t want to” rhetoric that has been all over this thread. I bought in the best cluster we could afford for our children. We couldn’t afford Whitman-which is what we really wanted. I can’t imagine going on a thread that was talking about Whitman being destroyed being like “yeah, let’s go!”.

We bought twelve+ years ago. We toured real estate in the Wootton area. Our realtor told us about the new school. We didn't buy there and bought a better house somewhere else instead, because we could get better value for an average school.

at

cool story bro.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:when are they voting on this?

March 26th

[Anonymous]

Buckle up: with one testimonial online ahead of Thursday's meeting from someone who wants to provide the BOE with an "expert critique" of Option H, it's sure to be a wild ride. This gentleman, who apparently has a PhD in Educational Policy (kudos to him?) seems to not understand what is happening or how money works. He says, "My research shows that high school stability is a primary driver of postsecondary success." First of all, bruh, pretty sure all research says that. Second, Option H keeps your cluster fully intact just in a different building. Teachers are the same, although probably healthier and happier and all your kids are with their precious friends. He goes on to not understand, "why Wootton alone was selected for full-school relocation". Once again, my man, MCPS was trying to throw Wootton a bone here since y'alls aren't slated for meaningful renovation for at least 10+ years. Then comes my favorite, the money. He wants to know what the net difference is between closing Wootton ($0) and repairing (ranging from 40M for some "minor" repairs to 300M for a full rebuild). Thoughts an prayers for Thursday.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Buckle up: with one testimonial online ahead of Thursday's meeting from someone who wants to provide the BOE with an "expert critique" of Option H, it's sure to be a wild ride. This gentleman, who apparently has a PhD in Educational Policy (kudos to him?) seems to not understand what is happening or how money works. He says, "My research shows that high school stability is a primary driver of postsecondary success." First of all, bruh, pretty sure all research says that. Second, Option H keeps your cluster fully intact just in a different building. Teachers are the same, although probably healthier and happier and all your kids are with their precious friends. He goes on to not understand, "why Wootton alone was selected for full-school relocation". Once again, my man, MCPS was trying to throw Wootton a bone here since y'alls aren't slated for meaningful renovation for at least 10+ years. Then comes my favorite, the money. He wants to know what the net difference is between closing Wootton ($0) and repairing (ranging from 40M for some "minor" repairs to 300M for a full rebuild). Thoughts an prayers for Thursday.

I think you're showing a little bit too much bias against people who are against Option H.

Remember, the people who are saying this is the best option for Wootton families and financial sense for the county are taking things at face value.

It's very likely and should be that Fields Road ES should go to Crown too. And as the speaker noted with all of the development going on and proposed development, there's a good chance that Crown would be overcapacity in the next several years. So there will need to be realignment again and it's entirely possible that a current Wootton feeder gets squeezed out.

All options are on the table and there can be more new recommendations that come out in the next several weeks. So a lot of the people complaining, don't have faith that it's a simple pick up the entire Wootton population put them at the Crown location.

I do agree it will be a wild ride to see what goes on in the next couple of weeks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Buckle up: with one testimonial online ahead of Thursday's meeting from someone who wants to provide the BOE with an "expert critique" of Option H, it's sure to be a wild ride. This gentleman, who apparently has a PhD in Educational Policy (kudos to him?) seems to not understand what is happening or how money works. He says, "My research shows that high school stability is a primary driver of postsecondary success." First of all, bruh, pretty sure all research says that. Second, Option H keeps your cluster fully intact just in a different building. Teachers are the same, although probably healthier and happier and all your kids are with their precious friends. He goes on to not understand, "why Wootton alone was selected for full-school relocation". Once again, my man, MCPS was trying to throw Wootton a bone here since y'alls aren't slated for meaningful renovation for at least 10+ years. Then comes my favorite, the money. He wants to know what the net difference is between closing Wootton ($0) and repairing (ranging from 40M for some "minor" repairs to 300M for a full rebuild). Thoughts an prayers for Thursday.

Yeah how dare people ask questions or show any concern for their school. Why do you even care? You clearly don’t live in the cluster by the language you are using to describe what’s going on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Buckle up: with one testimonial online ahead of Thursday's meeting from someone who wants to provide the BOE with an "expert critique" of Option H, it's sure to be a wild ride. This gentleman, who apparently has a PhD in Educational Policy (kudos to him?) seems to not understand what is happening or how money works. He says, "My research shows that high school stability is a primary driver of postsecondary success." First of all, bruh, pretty sure all research says that. Second, Option H keeps your cluster fully intact just in a different building. Teachers are the same, although probably healthier and happier and all your kids are with their precious friends. He goes on to not understand, "why Wootton alone was selected for full-school relocation". Once again, my man, MCPS was trying to throw Wootton a bone here since y'alls aren't slated for meaningful renovation for at least 10+ years. Then comes my favorite, the money. He wants to know what the net difference is between closing Wootton ($0) and repairing (ranging from 40M for some "minor" repairs to 300M for a full rebuild). Thoughts an prayers for Thursday.

Yeah how dare people ask questions or show any concern for their school. Why do you even care? You clearly don’t live in the cluster by the language you are using to describe what’s going on.

Give us your solution as your hostility and negativity are a huge problem.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:For those in the Wootton Cluster advocating for Option "W," it's not clear to me what their option means with regard to which building becomes a holding school for MCPS, which is absolutely needed.

Is Option W advocating for Crown to be that holding school, as Taylor proposed? Is it not taking a stance on that?

If it's the latter, I think that sinks Option W because a secondary holding school is absolutely necessary for all of the schools currently in and likely to be moved into the CIP.

Also, if Wootton is advocating to be included in the CIP, who are they advocating be bumped out? I'm not seeing how they're creating leverage with Option W. It just basically seems like the Wootton Cluster wants its cake and to eat it too.

Wootton does not want to serve as a holding school. That position is independent of whether MCPS ultimately designates Crown as a holding school. Framing this as a black-and-white choice oversimplifies the situation. Taylor is already exploring a P3 model for school renovations, which makes it possible for two or even three schools to be renovated at the same time

You are kidding yourself if you think the choice is independent of the Crown decision. In order for Wootton to be added to the CIP as advocated, SOMETHING needs to be removed to add Wootton to the CIP.

MCPS already stated there would be serious savings in time and money if Damascus, which is the only high school currently in the CIP, was able to use Crown as a holding school. It sounds like they might have been willing, based on the Wootton community's advocacy for a safe and modern building, to shift them into Crown and use Wootton as the holding school, but it appears the Wootton community is rejecting that too.

The only other alternative to make Option W happen would be for Wootton to ask for Damascus to be bumped from the current CIP and added in its place. Is that what Option W is asking for? Again, Option W wants to wave a magic wand without making any difficult decisions or tradeoffs but doesn't explain how or why that would be feasible.

Wootton isn’t even included in the CIP, and the boundary study isn’t going to put Wootton into the CIP either, so I don’t see your point. Framing Crown as a holding school as if it’s Wootton’s problem only muddies the water. If Damascus needs a holding school, that’s something Damascus should advocate for. It’s not Wootton’s responsibility to advocate on Damascus’s behalf. Wootton is simply asking to remain where it is and receive an emergency fix for failing components of the building.

You might want to talk to your colleague. The PP who I was going back and forth with said Wootton wants emergency fixes AND to be put into the queue for a renovation in the CIP.

You're saying you don't want to get into the CIP. Which one is it?

I thought Wootton was already in the CIP for 2035+? https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/OMB/Resources/Files/omb/pdfs/fy25/cip_pdf/P652115.pdf

What's wrong with performing emergency fixes now, and then Wootton waiting 10+ years for a full renovation? Has anyone done a financial assessment for the costs of the emergency fixes Wootton is requesting? Maybe some of the FY26 amount of $1.456M includes this (see above link)? One would think that emergency fixes wouldn't bump anyone down in the CIP, which I thought only included full renovations (hence the name "Capital Improvement Plan")? Emergency fixes could be done over the summer of 2027, obviating the need for any holding school for Wootton, thereby causing the least amount of disruption.

No, that’s not CIP. CIP only covers 6 years. That slide is only MCPS projection and nobody will guarantee it’ll be on CIP at this point

There are schools in much worse condition like Magruder and Sherwood. Schools flooding constantly or having ceilings falling down should get priority.

MCPS uses the CFI as its official, objective measure of building condition. Under this metric, Wootton has the second-worst CFI of all high schools in the system. The only reason Wootton moved from #2 to #3 in the renovation queue is its low FARMS rate. Therefore, claiming that other schools are “worse” than Wootton without any objective measurement is inaccurate and not supported by MCPS’s own data.

Buildings change day to day. Wootton is not getting regular flooding or having ceilings fall down that could KILL someone. Put it in perspective.

Wootton gets several gas leaks within a few weeks. You think continuous gas leak will not kill someone?

You do realize that happens at multiple schools. We've had it a few times a year. Yes, we realize that. But, get out of your bubble. Wootton is on the schedule, unlike other schools that are older and have had fewer updates.

I swear it’s like the same 4 people making all the comments. You say “get out of your bubble in every comment” it’s annoying AF.

We have these 4 posters:

“Get out of your bubble”
“Wait your turn”
“Option H makes the most fiscal sense”
“Other schools are worse off”

None seem to want to hear anything except confirmation of their own viewpoints. My guess is none of them live in Wootton, but rather Crown or East MoCo.

What else do you want people to say? Your school has gotten painted, repairs, new bathrooms and more. Your school is having the same issues as every other school. You were offered a new school and said no. You are in line for repairs. That's not good enough. We ask what solutions do you suggest and you say none or its not your responsibility to come up with anything. So, you are complaining to complain.

What solutions do you offer?

And we forgot about the “what solutions do you offer poster?”

At this point, I’d settle for option H to just go away. As well as all of you who don’t live in the cluster and are just being combative acting like it’s no big deal for all this ridiculousness to happen. And that we are wrong for not accepting a school we don’t want, never asked for and was never meant to be ours anyway.

I forgot about that one, but was trying to stick with 4. Maybe they’re one of those 4 but adding a little twist?

The sad part is that there ARE other solutions beyond Option H - and that poster knows it - but won’t accept any of those solutions that doesn’t screw over Wootton.

Not only that but it’s not our job to come up with solutions. We pay so much in taxes and it’s unbelievable that we even have schools in the condition they are in. H is so out of left field we are absolutely allowed to say no way but that shouldn’t mean we have to all come together as taxpayers/parents and troubleshoot solutions. That is ridiculous-it’s MCPS and county council’s job to fix these problems-not ours. The leaders in MCPS get paid excellent salaries-it’s not so crazy to think that they should be spending time coming up with other better options that don’t involve permanently displacing an entire community.

But there are solutions that keep Wootton in place. The trolls don't want those options because they either: (a) live in Crown and want their real estate to appreciate and have "Wootton" in their backyard; or (b) don't even live in Wootton or Crown, but want to stick it to those rich, white or Asian families that do live in Wootton and are successful. They probably don't even live in Damascus or other high school areas with crumbling buildings, but they're playing "savior" for the people that do (and probably don't even have school age kids - if they ever did).

Nah, we could have easily bought in the Wootton cluster but chose not to. I'm not jealous at all. Option H just makes the most financial sense. That's it.

I'll grant you, it would suck to become a bus rider when you were once a walker, though it does have advantages, like when the weather is awful. That's a valid argument. However, MCPs has turned once walkers into bus riders before. It's not unprecedented.

But, the argument about the poors from GHS being part of Wootton at Crown is really off putting. It makes me want to support H even more when I hear Wootton parents talk this way.

-signed an Asian American

It has nothing to do with poors! Dufief is not rich by any means nor are parts of stone bridge or travillah. Lots of wannabe s but not rich.

Has everything to do with not having my kids go to school with MAGA .yep u says it maga is a larger part of Gaithersburg than wootton and hell no to those dummies

There are very few maga so you are just using that term as an insult. Don’t like it, move. What is wrong with you?

[Anonymous]

At some point people will think before they vote for local officials. People who want to save Wootton probably voted for the people trying to eliminate it. Go figure

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Buckle up: with one testimonial online ahead of Thursday's meeting from someone who wants to provide the BOE with an "expert critique" of Option H, it's sure to be a wild ride. This gentleman, who apparently has a PhD in Educational Policy (kudos to him?) seems to not understand what is happening or how money works. He says, "My research shows that high school stability is a primary driver of postsecondary success." First of all, bruh, pretty sure all research says that. Second, Option H keeps your cluster fully intact just in a different building. Teachers are the same, although probably healthier and happier and all your kids are with their precious friends. He goes on to not understand, "why Wootton alone was selected for full-school relocation". Once again, my man, MCPS was trying to throw Wootton a bone here since y'alls aren't slated for meaningful renovation for at least 10+ years. Then comes my favorite, the money. He wants to know what the net difference is between closing Wootton ($0) and repairing (ranging from 40M for some "minor" repairs to 300M for a full rebuild). Thoughts an prayers for Thursday.

Yeah how dare people ask questions or show any concern for their school. Why do you even care? You clearly don’t live in the cluster by the language you are using to describe what’s going on.

Because imma be mad when my taxes go up b/c you whined and convinced people to make us pay for a school we don't need. It's possible closing Wootton will prove to be a bad decision in 10+ years but it's also possible it won't. So what do we do--keep a school open in case it's a wrong projection? MCPS is a broke ass b and something needs to give. Unfortunately, it might be your community this time. Take it from someone who has been screwed by MCPS decisions before, you'll survive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Buckle up: with one testimonial online ahead of Thursday's meeting from someone who wants to provide the BOE with an "expert critique" of Option H, it's sure to be a wild ride. This gentleman, who apparently has a PhD in Educational Policy (kudos to him?) seems to not understand what is happening or how money works. He says, "My research shows that high school stability is a primary driver of postsecondary success." First of all, bruh, pretty sure all research says that. Second, Option H keeps your cluster fully intact just in a different building. Teachers are the same, although probably healthier and happier and all your kids are with their precious friends. He goes on to not understand, "why Wootton alone was selected for full-school relocation". Once again, my man, MCPS was trying to throw Wootton a bone here since y'alls aren't slated for meaningful renovation for at least 10+ years. Then comes my favorite, the money. He wants to know what the net difference is between closing Wootton ($0) and repairing (ranging from 40M for some "minor" repairs to 300M for a full rebuild). Thoughts an prayers for Thursday.

Yeah how dare people ask questions or show any concern for their school. Why do you even care? You clearly don’t live in the cluster by the language you are using to describe what’s going on.

Because imma be mad when my taxes go up b/c you whined and convinced people to make us pay for a school we don't need. It's possible closing Wootton will prove to be a bad decision in 10+ years but it's also possible it won't. So what do we do--keep a school open in case it's a wrong projection? MCPS is a broke ass b and something needs to give. Unfortunately, it might be your community this time. Take it from someone who has been screwed by MCPS decisions before, you'll survive.

You can always reopen if it numbers need it.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:For those in the Wootton Cluster advocating for Option "W," it's not clear to me what their option means with regard to which building becomes a holding school for MCPS, which is absolutely needed.

Is Option W advocating for Crown to be that holding school, as Taylor proposed? Is it not taking a stance on that?

If it's the latter, I think that sinks Option W because a secondary holding school is absolutely necessary for all of the schools currently in and likely to be moved into the CIP.

Also, if Wootton is advocating to be included in the CIP, who are they advocating be bumped out? I'm not seeing how they're creating leverage with Option W. It just basically seems like the Wootton Cluster wants its cake and to eat it too.

Wootton does not want to serve as a holding school. That position is independent of whether MCPS ultimately designates Crown as a holding school. Framing this as a black-and-white choice oversimplifies the situation. Taylor is already exploring a P3 model for school renovations, which makes it possible for two or even three schools to be renovated at the same time

You are kidding yourself if you think the choice is independent of the Crown decision. In order for Wootton to be added to the CIP as advocated, SOMETHING needs to be removed to add Wootton to the CIP.

MCPS already stated there would be serious savings in time and money if Damascus, which is the only high school currently in the CIP, was able to use Crown as a holding school. It sounds like they might have been willing, based on the Wootton community's advocacy for a safe and modern building, to shift them into Crown and use Wootton as the holding school, but it appears the Wootton community is rejecting that too.

The only other alternative to make Option W happen would be for Wootton to ask for Damascus to be bumped from the current CIP and added in its place. Is that what Option W is asking for? Again, Option W wants to wave a magic wand without making any difficult decisions or tradeoffs but doesn't explain how or why that would be feasible.

Wootton isn’t even included in the CIP, and the boundary study isn’t going to put Wootton into the CIP either, so I don’t see your point. Framing Crown as a holding school as if it’s Wootton’s problem only muddies the water. If Damascus needs a holding school, that’s something Damascus should advocate for. It’s not Wootton’s responsibility to advocate on Damascus’s behalf. Wootton is simply asking to remain where it is and receive an emergency fix for failing components of the building.

You might want to talk to your colleague. The PP who I was going back and forth with said Wootton wants emergency fixes AND to be put into the queue for a renovation in the CIP.

You're saying you don't want to get into the CIP. Which one is it?

I thought Wootton was already in the CIP for 2035+? https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/OMB/Resources/Files/omb/pdfs/fy25/cip_pdf/P652115.pdf

What's wrong with performing emergency fixes now, and then Wootton waiting 10+ years for a full renovation? Has anyone done a financial assessment for the costs of the emergency fixes Wootton is requesting? Maybe some of the FY26 amount of $1.456M includes this (see above link)? One would think that emergency fixes wouldn't bump anyone down in the CIP, which I thought only included full renovations (hence the name "Capital Improvement Plan")? Emergency fixes could be done over the summer of 2027, obviating the need for any holding school for Wootton, thereby causing the least amount of disruption.

No, that’s not CIP. CIP only covers 6 years. That slide is only MCPS projection and nobody will guarantee it’ll be on CIP at this point

There are schools in much worse condition like Magruder and Sherwood. Schools flooding constantly or having ceilings falling down should get priority.

MCPS uses the CFI as its official, objective measure of building condition. Under this metric, Wootton has the second-worst CFI of all high schools in the system. The only reason Wootton moved from #2 to #3 in the renovation queue is its low FARMS rate. Therefore, claiming that other schools are “worse” than Wootton without any objective measurement is inaccurate and not supported by MCPS’s own data.

Buildings change day to day. Wootton is not getting regular flooding or having ceilings fall down that could KILL someone. Put it in perspective.

Wootton gets several gas leaks within a few weeks. You think continuous gas leak will not kill someone?

You do realize that happens at multiple schools. We've had it a few times a year. Yes, we realize that. But, get out of your bubble. Wootton is on the schedule, unlike other schools that are older and have had fewer updates.

I swear it’s like the same 4 people making all the comments. You say “get out of your bubble in every comment” it’s annoying AF.

We have these 4 posters:

“Get out of your bubble”
“Wait your turn”
“Option H makes the most fiscal sense”
“Other schools are worse off”

None seem to want to hear anything except confirmation of their own viewpoints. My guess is none of them live in Wootton, but rather Crown or East MoCo.

What else do you want people to say? Your school has gotten painted, repairs, new bathrooms and more. Your school is having the same issues as every other school. You were offered a new school and said no. You are in line for repairs. That's not good enough. We ask what solutions do you suggest and you say none or its not your responsibility to come up with anything. So, you are complaining to complain.

What solutions do you offer?

And we forgot about the “what solutions do you offer poster?”

At this point, I’d settle for option H to just go away. As well as all of you who don’t live in the cluster and are just being combative acting like it’s no big deal for all this ridiculousness to happen. And that we are wrong for not accepting a school we don’t want, never asked for and was never meant to be ours anyway.

I forgot about that one, but was trying to stick with 4. Maybe they’re one of those 4 but adding a little twist?

The sad part is that there ARE other solutions beyond Option H - and that poster knows it - but won’t accept any of those solutions that doesn’t screw over Wootton.

Not only that but it’s not our job to come up with solutions. We pay so much in taxes and it’s unbelievable that we even have schools in the condition they are in. H is so out of left field we are absolutely allowed to say no way but that shouldn’t mean we have to all come together as taxpayers/parents and troubleshoot solutions. That is ridiculous-it’s MCPS and county council’s job to fix these problems-not ours. The leaders in MCPS get paid excellent salaries-it’s not so crazy to think that they should be spending time coming up with other better options that don’t involve permanently displacing an entire community.

But there are solutions that keep Wootton in place. The trolls don't want those options because they either: (a) live in Crown and want their real estate to appreciate and have "Wootton" in their backyard; or (b) don't even live in Wootton or Crown, but want to stick it to those rich, white or Asian families that do live in Wootton and are successful. They probably don't even live in Damascus or other high school areas with crumbling buildings, but they're playing "savior" for the people that do (and probably don't even have school age kids - if they ever did).

Nah, we could have easily bought in the Wootton cluster but chose not to. I'm not jealous at all. Option H just makes the most financial sense. That's it.

I'll grant you, it would suck to become a bus rider when you were once a walker, though it does have advantages, like when the weather is awful. That's a valid argument. However, MCPs has turned once walkers into bus riders before. It's not unprecedented.

But, the argument about the poors from GHS being part of Wootton at Crown is really off putting. It makes me want to support H even more when I hear Wootton parents talk this way.

-signed an Asian American

It has nothing to do with poors! Dufief is not rich by any means nor are parts of stone bridge or travillah. Lots of wannabe s but not rich.

Has everything to do with not having my kids go to school with MAGA .yep u says it maga is a larger part of Gaithersburg than wootton and hell no to those dummies

Are you sure you live in the county? You clearly have no idea of the county make up.
There are lots more MAGA at Wootton than there would be at Gaithersburg .
If you don't want your kids to go to school with MAGA, Wootton is not the place.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At some point people will think before they vote for local officials. People who want to save Wootton probably voted for the people trying to eliminate it. Go figure

No one is eliminating it. They are offering to move it to a new building per the parents tantrums. Other schools are just as bad or worse.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Buckle up: with one testimonial online ahead of Thursday's meeting from someone who wants to provide the BOE with an "expert critique" of Option H, it's sure to be a wild ride. This gentleman, who apparently has a PhD in Educational Policy (kudos to him?) seems to not understand what is happening or how money works. He says, "My research shows that high school stability is a primary driver of postsecondary success." First of all, bruh, pretty sure all research says that. Second, Option H keeps your cluster fully intact just in a different building. Teachers are the same, although probably healthier and happier and all your kids are with their precious friends. He goes on to not understand, "why Wootton alone was selected for full-school relocation". Once again, my man, MCPS was trying to throw Wootton a bone here since y'alls aren't slated for meaningful renovation for at least 10+ years. Then comes my favorite, the money. He wants to know what the net difference is between closing Wootton ($0) and repairing (ranging from 40M for some "minor" repairs to 300M for a full rebuild). Thoughts an prayers for Thursday.

Yeah how dare people ask questions or show any concern for their school. Why do you even care? You clearly don’t live in the cluster by the language you are using to describe what’s going on.

Because imma be mad when my taxes go up b/c you whined and convinced people to make us pay for a school we don't need. It's possible closing Wootton will prove to be a bad decision in 10+ years but it's also possible it won't. So what do we do--keep a school open in case it's a wrong projection? MCPS is a broke ass b and something needs to give. Unfortunately, it might be your community this time. Take it from someone who has been screwed by MCPS decisions before, you'll survive.

With all due to respect, if this Joe Williams is the same one who is an executive director at the College Board or just the fact that he has a PhD in Educational Policy, they probably make more money than you and pay more taxes.

So he and other people like him should be mad that their tax dollars weren't used to fix up their local schools and being forced into changes that they didn't ask for.