Reply to Thursday Nov 20 BOE Discussion on Boundaries and Regional Program Model

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I’m just not really clear what the Einstein families want to happen. They say they want a strong academic regional program located at Einstein. If they got IB or Humanities, it wouldn’t get them AP Physics or engineering. There isn’t even a criteria based engineering program on the table in region 1 for any school. The only one that would would be possible would be the SMCS program at Blair. Why would they relocate that to Einstein, which is also trying to reduce overcrowding, when they already have program and teaching  staff and grandfathered students finishing out the countywide version? And for which Einstein kids could apply/attend? That is inefficient and unnecessary. The programs aren’t the solution for your issue. Your own school is the solution for getting the classes you need. The programs are an additional set of options which come with a cost (commute, etc.) for everyone. [/quote]

I don’t see the point of Einstein having an IB program as few care or graduate with a degree.  The lack of offerings are the concern.  Other schools have a huge variety and Einstein doesn’t even have the basics. SMCS is not appealing to all and has limited spots.  Commute is a huge barrier for many, including us.  With a reduction of students, means a reduction of staff which means even less options, which will make things worse not better. These schools will not be getting these classes as it takes resources and funding they don’t have.  [/quote]

DP. If Einstein families as a whole (as opposed to those posting on DCUM) want high-level APs over IB, then they should lobby Einstein to end the IB program. Without IB, they will get the APs they desire. It was clear from the last Board meeting that the regional plan is going to sail through without changes, so the focus should be on improving offerings within Einstein itself.[/quote]

Why do you have the expectation that Einstein families should all speak as one? It's up to the principal to manage competing interests given the limited resources Einstein has to serve a high needs population. No amount of talking points or advocacy is going to change the math for Einstein.[/quote]

DP, we get it.  Einstein will always be the victim and cannot advocate for itself.[/quote]

We are advocating but you want us to be homogenous and we aren't.[/quote]

Einstein fighting an uphill battle. We're asking MCPS to sustain our current offerings, adequately staff and support the proposed new programs, and improve core curriculum so our course offerings are commensurate with other schools. Meanwhile, MCPS is looking to cut off DCC choice so they can use those bus routes for other regions. They'll reduce staff after they shrink our boundaries, making us a much smaller school, with a much higher FARMS rate. We'll have fewer families to get involved with parent support groups, which could limit our ability to support extracurricular activities.

Einstein happens to be one of the schools where the boundary and program changes are having the most dramatic effects. We're trying to insulate our students from the kind of unintended consequences that always occur with changes of this magnitude.

And yes, I know the boundary and program changes aren't that big a deal for other schools. I'm fully aware that most schools that are getting some new resources and more choice out of this process. It must feel great to be optimistic about how your kids' school will look in two years. Maybe that's something you can say you're thankful for around the dinner table on Thursday.

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