Reply to Sign Petition Asking for Boundaries Now, Programs Later

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I don't understand how the DCC makes it a lot easier to access high-level STEM classes than the proposed new model. As far as I can tell, the 2 schools in the DCC that have a lot of STEM classes are Blair and Wheaton- is that right? Now these 2 schools will be in different regions, but there will be other schools in those regions with strong STEM offerings.

Also the DCC doesn't mean you can choose whichever school you want; you have to be selected from the lottery.[/quote]

Location and with the new model less kids will have the opportunity to go.  Bussing kids to Whitman is a nightmare.  You have to get them back and forth to their home school and for when they go late or early you are fully responsible for transportation regardless of your job, other kids, and going cross county in traffic.  Wheaton and Whitman are much closer.  Plus, the culture is very different.  We could afford to live in a w school area and choose not to. [/quote]

And, if you don’t get into the magnets you can try to lottery or cosa in and still take stem.  Wheaton and Blair are 10-15 one way, Whitman could easily be 30 minutes driving directly. More either way traffic. [/quote]

The time complaints ring hollow when many of the DCC kids already choose 45+ minute bus rides.[/quote]

The regional model only provides bus service from the home schools - that means your child has to get there by either walking or you (and we are talking about kids getting there at 6-6:30 AM across dangerous roads).  The DCC has centralized bus stops to pick up kids, especially at local elementary schools, which is a safer walk.  Some of these communities don't have sidewalks and other safety measures in place.

There is a big difference from a 45-minute bus ride that has multiple stops to a 15-minute car ride.

You also need to factor in kids staying late or go in early for sports, activities, and extra assistance from teachers, and it requires parent transportation to those schools and that's not realistic for most families.

Many of the DCC families are lower income so when kids are driving age, they cannot afford to buy the kids a car, insurance, gas, maintenance and many schools don't have parking.

It's also a big cultural difference between Whitman and the other W schools and the DCC schools.

It's great if you can make all that driving work, on top of outside activities and sports but many cannot.

The other issue is friendships.  Given the distance, it's very hard for kids to maintain friendships out of school and would you allow your child to visit a friend in their community that you would never live in and spend hours on here bashing?  Of course not.

DCC schools are nice as there isn't the same culture in terms of material things, how kids dress, expensive sneakers and everyone outdoing each other. 
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