Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Btw an equity mindset would mean placing programs in schools that have gaps. Like if there are zero advanced science classes at a school, put a science program there.

They are doing the opposite. They are putting programs at schools that already have the classes. Then they proposing having certain kids from other schools get driven by their parents to their home school to take a bus to this school that already has these classes to take them.

Highlighted sentence is exactly the reason why SMCS was originally established at Blair. Wootton and Churchill kids sacrifice long bus ride for an excellent education, and kids living in DCC area also benefits from (Blair kids can freely take any magnet class as long as prerequisite is met and counselor approves). CO can move this program to Kennedy or Gaithersburg. It’ll still be excellent and filled with majority of W kids. They can add one more closer to Ws so to allow more access. Dismantling it completely and make 6…… that’s as crazy as it sounds like.

No.
Keep repeating that same lie, doesn't make it true.
The magnet was placed there to stem white flight.

DP I don't personally know the history of Blair's SMCS. That being said, if what you are saying is true, isn't putting criteria based academic programs at Whitman and BCC that are only reasonably accessible to families with their own transportation a way to promote White flight?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Btw an equity mindset would mean placing programs in schools that have gaps. Like if there are zero advanced science classes at a school, put a science program there.

They are doing the opposite. They are putting programs at schools that already have the classes. Then they proposing having certain kids from other schools get driven by their parents to their home school to take a bus to this school that already has these classes to take them.

Highlighted sentence is exactly the reason why SMCS was originally established at Blair. Wootton and Churchill kids sacrifice long bus ride for an excellent education, and kids living in DCC area also benefits from (Blair kids can freely take any magnet class as long as prerequisite is met and counselor approves). CO can move this program to Kennedy or Gaithersburg. It’ll still be excellent and filled with majority of W kids. They can add one more closer to Ws so to allow more access. Dismantling it completely and make 6…… that’s as crazy as it sounds like.

No.
Keep repeating that same lie, doesn't make it true.
The magnet was placed there to stem white flight.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Btw an equity mindset would mean placing programs in schools that have gaps. Like if there are zero advanced science classes at a school, put a science program there.

They are doing the opposite. They are putting programs at schools that already have the classes. Then they proposing having certain kids from other schools get driven by their parents to their home school to take a bus to this school that already has these classes to take them.

Highlighted sentence is exactly the reason why SMCS was originally established at Blair. Wootton and Churchill kids sacrifice long bus ride for an excellent education, and kids living in DCC area also benefits from (Blair kids can freely take any magnet class as long as prerequisite is met and counselor approves). CO can move this program to Kennedy or Gaithersburg. It’ll still be excellent and filled with majority of W kids. They can add one more closer to Ws so to allow more access. Dismantling it completely and make 6…… that’s as crazy as it sounds like.

No.
Keep repeating that same lie, doesn't make it true.
The magnet was placed there to stem white flight.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Btw an equity mindset would mean placing programs in schools that have gaps. Like if there are zero advanced science classes at a school, put a science program there.

They are doing the opposite. They are putting programs at schools that already have the classes. Then they proposing having certain kids from other schools get driven by their parents to their home school to take a bus to this school that already has these classes to take them.

Highlighted sentence is exactly the reason why SMCS was originally established at Blair. Wootton and Churchill kids sacrifice long bus ride for an excellent education, and kids living in DCC area also benefits from (Blair kids can freely take any magnet class as long as prerequisite is met and counselor approves). CO can move this program to Kennedy or Gaithersburg. It’ll still be excellent and filled with majority of W kids. They can add one more closer to Ws so to allow more access. Dismantling it completely and make 6…… that’s as crazy as it sounds like.

Anonymous wrote:I have this same thought. Why not make one more SMCS program over in Bethesda/Potomac and keep the other two as-is. It’s a much more reasonable, doable idea and would add more seats and reduce commutes while hopefully not stripping away the benefits that the east county currently has.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Btw an equity mindset would mean placing programs in schools that have gaps. Like if there are zero advanced science classes at a school, put a science program there.

They are doing the opposite. They are putting programs at schools that already have the classes. Then they proposing having certain kids from other schools get driven by their parents to their home school to take a bus to this school that already has these classes to take them.

Highlighted sentence is exactly the reason why SMCS was originally established at Blair. Wootton and Churchill kids sacrifice long bus ride for an excellent education, and kids living in DCC area also benefits from (Blair kids can freely take any magnet class as long as prerequisite is met and counselor approves). CO can move this program to Kennedy or Gaithersburg. It’ll still be excellent and filled with majority of W kids. They can add one more closer to Ws so to allow more access. Dismantling it completely and make 6…… that’s as crazy as it sounds like.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Btw an equity mindset would mean placing programs in schools that have gaps. Like if there are zero advanced science classes at a school, put a science program there.

They are doing the opposite. They are putting programs at schools that already have the classes. Then they proposing having certain kids from other schools get driven by their parents to their home school to take a bus to this school that already has these classes to take them.

Highlighted sentence is exactly the reason why SMCS was originally established at Blair. Wootton and Churchill kids sacrifice long bus ride for an excellent education, and kids living in DCC area also benefits from (Blair kids can freely take any magnet class as long as prerequisite is met and counselor approves). CO can move this program to Kennedy or Gaithersburg. It’ll still be excellent and filled with majority of W kids. They can add one more closer to Ws so to allow more access. Dismantling it completely and make 6…… that’s as crazy as it sounds like.

Anonymous wrote:I don't like 6 regions program, too many programs, too many buses rides, and probably most of them won't be run well. I still don't understand why art has to be broken down in music, performing art and dramas, 3 separate programs and spread over 2-3 different high schools. Are those kids taking that speciality interest in high school have any advantages seend by college admission office/recruiter or not if they plan to major in those areas in college?

Anonymous wrote:Btw an equity mindset would mean placing programs in schools that have gaps. Like if there are zero advanced science classes at a school, put a science program there.

They are doing the opposite. They are putting programs at schools that already have the classes. Then they proposing having certain kids from other schools get driven by their parents to their home school to take a bus to this school that already has these classes to take them.

Anonymous wrote:The new plan will need more busses, and create more traffic for everyone, while destroying well-established programs. It should be stopped by those able to do so

Anonymous wrote:Is there goal just to destroy the magnet programs because they are “inequitable”? Serious question. It’s being done so haphazardly thats the only reason I can think

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The problem is that even at Northwood no one is interested in CASE. The counselors keep stuffing the CASE classes with random kids who need an elective or CTE credit. Why would they elevate Case to a regional program. They are determined to shove it down peoples throats but they would never dare do that at Whitman or Churchill

If not even enough kids at one school are interested in it, how can they plan for it to be a criteria-based program?

This is exactly why a regional program could be a good idea. There are interested kids, but not enough to have it at all the schools in a region, so you bring those kids together.

The new proposal is a mind shift- more access to programs for more kids. What the current structure has is a few programs with great reputations that many compete to be a part of. I think they may be going overboard with the number of programs, but in theory think they are truly trying to provide more opportunities and more access to the majority of kids, rather than serving a few.

In some ways the community input has helped, but in others, it has spread things too thin. Schools/communities get upset that they won't have something, so they add another program. Rather than bringing together the programs that need specialized resources, they are spreading them across a region to avoid hurt feelings.

My personal two cents is that the premise is good, but they've gone too far. I would gladly support of 4 region model, doubling the number of the "most competitive" programs (SMACS, IB, Humanities) available and adding some interest based pathways and/or less common languages hubs to bring together kids interested in courses that are hard to offer due to numbers.

The problem is that their version of community input has been to put out half-baked proposals publicly (e.g. "let's put an education program at Einstein" "Um... we were actually planning on dissolving that due to lack of interest") and then respond to whomever they have upset the most. They really needed more time to internally develop a stronger proposal with principal input before putting out something public. Now they are just running around adding programs like chickens with their heads cut off.