Anonymous
Post 07/15/2014 22:15     Subject: MCPS and Starr will probably need to change boundaries
Anonymous wrote:They should divide the county in thirds. Bethesda/Rockville/Potomac in one third; the way out boonies (Clarksburg, Poolsville, Gaithersburg and that ilk) and The Other Area (Wheaton, Silver Spring and everywhere else). Works for me, and helps out with weather closings. Make it happen, Starr.


Could probably get more state aid that way too...
MoCo has over 220 schools. That is one of the largest (in # schools and # of square miles) counties in the country. Totally unwieldily. To make matters worst is has 3 demographic cohorts:
1) unskilled immigrants, low income, broken families, gov't dependent (increasing in numbers)
2) middle class, two-parent families, decent jobs, high taxes (getting squeezed - no handouts, no high income, decreasing in numbers)
3) upper middle class, two-parent families, high income jobs, v high taxes (can afford most housing and can afford to leave area/public schools, decreasing in numbers)
Anonymous
Post 07/15/2014 22:09     Subject: Re:MCPS and Starr will probably need to change boundaries
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I was just stating a fact of life. I don't think it's fair either, so I guess I should have said it was good news for anyone who doesn't want a big change. Because wealth has its advantages. It may not be fair, but it doesn't help to pretend it's not true. Look at how fast Starr was to put out a press release telling everyone boundary changes aren't happening. I'm not sure what the answers are, but I just think the powers that be in the W zones would put up a pretty successful fight.


don't confuse wealth with solid income. people with real wealth aren't in public schools in the first place.


Again, wrong.
- tons of family wealth, big 3 alum, going public


what are you doing on DCUM then? Shouldn't you be traveling internationally this summer while the public school kiddies are on vacay, living off the interest on your interest?

I think the PP was referring to the fact that a lot of people in MoC are dual income families in solid white collar jobs, with decent income but not $$millions in assets. And inherited wealth that is mandatorily dripped out annually is not the same as totally accessible millions. That's like my neighbors, trust fund income but not trust fund wealth. Big difference in behaviors.
Anonymous
Post 07/15/2014 22:01     Subject: MCPS and Starr will probably need to change boundaries
Starr is an abomination. He has let certain clusters become way overcrowded while allowing others, like Wootton and Churchill, to be undersubscribed. Starr runs the MCPS like Marion Barry ran DC - bestowing favors and benefits on his selected few to the detriment of everyone else.
Anonymous
Post 07/15/2014 22:00     Subject: MCPS and Starr will probably need to change boundaries
Anonymous wrote:As a red zone family I am happy MCPS admitted they do not have the guts to redistrict. This will avoid "studying" the option while those in wealthy school areas lobby ferociously to ensure it does not occur.

Can we now focus on what might actually be doable - making the red zone schools more attractive to the still many middle class families that live in that area? Has MCPS talked to them, including those that went private, to try to determine how to lure those currently living in the area and opting out back into their local school?


+1

I was horrified to find out that not a single child in my immediate neighborhood goes to the MCPS elementary school we are zoned for. Being attractive to UMC DC residents seems to be improving their schools (at least in the early elementary years). How to get me and my neighbors to send our current and future kids to the poor performing school seems to be the question.
Anonymous
Post 07/15/2014 22:00     Subject: MCPS and Starr will probably need to change boundaries
They should divide the county in thirds. Bethesda/Rockville/Potomac in one third; the way out boonies (Clarksburg, Poolsville, Gaithersburg and that ilk) and The Other Area (Wheaton, Silver Spring and everywhere else). Works for me, and helps out with weather closings. Make it happen, Starr.
Anonymous
Post 07/15/2014 21:47     Subject: MCPS and Starr will probably need to change boundaries
As a red zone family I am happy MCPS admitted they do not have the guts to redistrict. This will avoid "studying" the option while those in wealthy school areas lobby ferociously to ensure it does not occur.

Can we now focus on what might actually be doable - making the red zone schools more attractive to the still many middle class families that live in that area? Has MCPS talked to them, including those that went private, to try to determine how to lure those currently living in the area and opting out back into their local school?
Anonymous
Post 07/15/2014 21:01     Subject: Re:MCPS and Starr will probably need to change boundaries
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I was just stating a fact of life. I don't think it's fair either, so I guess I should have said it was good news for anyone who doesn't want a big change. Because wealth has its advantages. It may not be fair, but it doesn't help to pretend it's not true. Look at how fast Starr was to put out a press release telling everyone boundary changes aren't happening. I'm not sure what the answers are, but I just think the powers that be in the W zones would put up a pretty successful fight.


don't confuse wealth with solid income. people with real wealth aren't in public schools in the first place.


Again, wrong.
- tons of family wealth, big 3 alum, going public
Anonymous
Post 07/15/2014 21:00     Subject: MCPS and Starr will probably need to change boundaries
We are discussing how MCPS improve the low performing schools, if busing the w school kids to the red zone will make the kids in the red zone better students, or if busing students from red zone to schools in green zone will lift their academic performance.
MCPS is already spending a lot more per student in schools in red zone, smaller classes, community out-reach, service for parents, et al.
Will busing work? It may make change the test score for a school, but for the low performing students, they will still receive the same low score.
If the W school lost their lust, the property value will tank, many families may have to sell, and the tax revenue will drop significantly. The green zone will disappear. Finally, everyone in montgomery county will be equal.
Anonymous
Post 07/15/2014 20:54     Subject: Re:MCPS and Starr will probably need to change boundaries
Anonymous wrote:I was just stating a fact of life. I don't think it's fair either, so I guess I should have said it was good news for anyone who doesn't want a big change. Because wealth has its advantages. It may not be fair, but it doesn't help to pretend it's not true. Look at how fast Starr was to put out a press release telling everyone boundary changes aren't happening. I'm not sure what the answers are, but I just think the powers that be in the W zones would put up a pretty successful fight.


don't confuse wealth with solid income. people with real wealth aren't in public schools in the first place.
Anonymous
Post 07/15/2014 20:54     Subject: Re:MCPS and Starr will probably need to change boundaries
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Enlighten me! I thought my property tax bill depended on the county's assessment of my home's market value. We moved from a dcc zoned home to a "W" home and I can tell you we pay significantly higher taxes. I was also under the impression that property tax revenue is used to fund the school system. Perhaps I'm wrong- let me know.


Property taxes are not user fees. You don't get access to more/better education because you pay more in property taxes.


dude, stop it! I hope you aren't this annoying to your colleagues. You know exactly what the PP is saying: buy a house by a high performing school costs more per sq foot. costlier houses generate more property taxes than less costly houses. straight line math.

Know what's more interesting: the royal redistribution of property tax 'revenues'.
We all know the ESOL and problem schools get more $$$$ per pupil than schools with high performing students. It was one of the reason we left DC - Janney got $8k per student and then the PTA nickel and dimmed us for $2.5k per student VERSUS the low performing schools getting $16k per pupil from the property tax pool.

So, two way swing for those people who bought a costly house in a good school zone: Pay more property taxes, Get it redistributed mainly to the underperforming schools, Pay more PTA fees since funding was low, Be in a better school (albeit largest classes in all of DC and chronic overcrowding).


Yes. This pp is incredibly annoying and delusional.

Anonymous
Post 07/15/2014 20:51     Subject: Re:MCPS and Starr will probably need to change boundaries
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Enlighten me! I thought my property tax bill depended on the county's assessment of my home's market value. We moved from a dcc zoned home to a "W" home and I can tell you we pay significantly higher taxes. I was also under the impression that property tax revenue is used to fund the school system. Perhaps I'm wrong- let me know.


Property taxes are not user fees. You don't get access to more/better education because you pay more in property taxes.


This is like saying "you don't get a better car because you pay for a Lexus."

Actually, you do. Right or wrong, you do. Why do you think one of the first questions parents ask when considering a home is "how/what are the schools?"


No. You may (or may not) get access to more/better education as a result of buying a residence in a certain neighborhood that is more expensive because people are bidding up the prices because they think the schools for that neighborhood are good. That still doesn't mean that paying more in property taxes entitles you to more/better education. Because property taxes are not user fees.


we went and sat in on elementary school classes in Bethesda, Gaithersburg, and Silver Spring before buying our long-term house. It was enlightening and the value was readily apparent to my wife and I. You could see the disruptions, class sizes, student interaction and abilities, language abilities, lunch situation, and facilities first hand.

Our goal was to get the best education we could for our kids. If that meant living in PG county and going to private schools, we'd do it. If that meant paying for an older, smaller house in bethesda, we'd do it. School quality was absolutely reflected by property values.
Anonymous
Post 07/15/2014 20:45     Subject: Re:MCPS and Starr will probably need to change boundaries
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Enlighten me! I thought my property tax bill depended on the county's assessment of my home's market value. We moved from a dcc zoned home to a "W" home and I can tell you we pay significantly higher taxes. I was also under the impression that property tax revenue is used to fund the school system. Perhaps I'm wrong- let me know.


Property taxes are not user fees. You don't get access to more/better education because you pay more in property taxes.


dude, stop it! I hope you aren't this annoying to your colleagues. You know exactly what the PP is saying: buy a house by a high performing school costs more per sq foot. costlier houses generate more property taxes than less costly houses. straight line math.

Know what's more interesting: the royal redistribution of property tax 'revenues'.
We all know the ESOL and problem schools get more $$$$ per pupil than schools with high performing students. It was one of the reason we left DC - Janney got $8k per student and then the PTA nickel and dimmed us for $2.5k per student VERSUS the low performing schools getting $16k per pupil from the property tax pool.

So, two way swing for those people who bought a costly house in a good school zone: Pay more property taxes, Get it redistributed mainly to the underperforming schools, Pay more PTA fees since funding was low, Be in a better school (albeit largest classes in all of DC and chronic overcrowding).
Anonymous
Post 07/15/2014 20:32     Subject: MCPS and Starr will probably need to change boundaries
Anonymous wrote:Everyone pays the same rate based on their assessed value. If your Wheaton zoned house is assessed at $100 and the tax rate is 5%, you contribute $5 to the education funds. If you live in Whitman and your house is assessed at $200, you contribute $10 to the education fund pool.


Stop this nonsense and silly semantics.
Drivers of property value are School Quality, Commute Time, Crime rates, Size of land, Quality of build/renovations, Garage, Square Footage, etc.
Number 1 driver of property value in the USA is school zoning.

That's why there will be no major boundary changes.

Stop talking about property taxes = assessment * tax rate per $100 value of assessment. Grow up and keep your eye on the ball. People in America buy the best house they can afford for the schools (if they have/want kids).
Anonymous
Post 07/15/2014 20:18     Subject: Re:MCPS and Starr will probably need to change boundaries
I was just stating a fact of life. I don't think it's fair either, so I guess I should have said it was good news for anyone who doesn't want a big change. Because wealth has its advantages. It may not be fair, but it doesn't help to pretend it's not true. Look at how fast Starr was to put out a press release telling everyone boundary changes aren't happening. I'm not sure what the answers are, but I just think the powers that be in the W zones would put up a pretty successful fight.
Anonymous
Post 07/15/2014 20:03     Subject: Re:MCPS and Starr will probably need to change boundaries
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Enlighten me! I thought my property tax bill depended on the county's assessment of my home's market value. We moved from a dcc zoned home to a "W" home and I can tell you we pay significantly higher taxes. I was also under the impression that property tax revenue is used to fund the school system. Perhaps I'm wrong- let me know.


Property taxes are not user fees. You don't get access to more/better education because you pay more in property taxes.


This is like saying "you don't get a better car because you pay for a Lexus."

Actually, you do. Right or wrong, you do. Why do you think one of the first questions parents ask when considering a home is "how/what are the schools?"


Schools are definitely what keep property values so high near the W schools. Many of us decide it makes more sense to pay obscene amounts for a house to avoid the expense of private school, expecting that the property will hold its value because future buyers will also want good schools. But there are never any guarantees. It would be a pretty crappy deal for property owners, but it wouldn't be the first time boundary changes caught property ownersby surprise. The good news is that the privilege of having sufficient resources to buy into the good schools also tends to carry political influence, making it extraordinarily unlikely that MCPS would just ignore the interests of the wealthy contingent that has helped give the school system the reputation of being excellent.


The "good news." Gross.