Anonymous wrote:I agree with much of what the overutilization poster is saying, but agree that the discussion here has gone off the rails. I understand why RCF supports Option 7, I understand why it had appeal for the superintendent -- but I still think it was the wrong choice. And I think it's creating a backlash within the communities that have largely supported the unique arrangements for RHPS.
But our kids, our neighborhoods, deserve equitable treatment by the County. If the Superintendent doesn't want to bus RCF to achieve diversity, then he is going to face significantly greater opposition to busing our K-2 kids for that reason.
Maybe that's not accidental. I've heard people wondering about the prospect for reverting to neighborhood schools; NCC was just expanded and as of next year it will shrink by losing the 6th grade to the new middle school. Maybe the plan all along is to shift CCES & NCC back to K-5 as with every other Bethesda elementary school?
Anonymous wrote:I agree with much of what the overutilization poster is saying, but agree that the discussion here has gone off the rails. I understand why RCF supports Option 7, I understand why it had appeal for the superintendent -- but I still think it was the wrong choice. And I think it's creating a backlash within the communities that have largely supported the unique arrangements for RHPS.
But our kids, our neighborhoods, deserve equitable treatment by the County. If the Superintendent doesn't want to bus RCF to achieve diversity, then he is going to face significantly greater opposition to busing our K-2 kids for that reason.
Maybe that's not accidental. I've heard people wondering about the prospect for reverting to neighborhood schools; NCC was just expanded and as of next year it will shrink by losing the 6th grade to the new middle school. Maybe the plan all along is to shift CCES & NCC back to K-5 as with every other Bethesda elementary school?
Anonymous wrote:I agree with much of what the overutilization poster is saying, but agree that the discussion here has gone off the rails. I understand why RCF supports Option 7, I understand why it had appeal for the superintendent -- but I still think it was the wrong choice. And I think it's creating a backlash within the communities that have largely supported the unique arrangements for RHPS.
But our kids, our neighborhoods, deserve equitable treatment by the County. If the Superintendent doesn't want to bus RCF to achieve diversity, then he is going to face significantly greater opposition to busing our K-2 kids for that reason.
Maybe that's not accidental. I've heard people wondering about the prospect for reverting to neighborhood schools; NCC was just expanded and as of next year it will shrink by losing the 6th grade to the new middle school. Maybe the plan all along is to shift CCES & NCC back to K-5 as with every other Bethesda elementary school?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I am confused about why one poster is obsessed with the idea that the brand new school building is the "lesser" facility. It's a brand new building full of brand new things. The argument over "utilization" is one that is hard to get all riled up about for most people. One group will get a new building and shorter commutes, but the building will be closer to capacity initially. The other group will get an older building and short commutes and be less close to capacity initially. Both groups will get less overcrowding since they currently share the same building, meaning everyone will be able to spread out by 50%.
No plan is perfect and people can be disappointed that their favorite plan isn't the front runner, but the argument that there is massive inequality between these two schools over "utilization" under Option 7 is not going to get traction with most people. Most people are fine with Option 1 and the utilization balance is similar but reversed in terms of which school is nearer capacity.
I agree. It seems like the premise for most of the angst is that the new school will be significantly worse than Westland, but that seems to be based on FUD from the NIMBYs who didn't want the school in the first place.
Also, there's a sizeable difference between RCF saying they'd prefer not to be bused to Westland and Chevy Chase saying they'd prefer not to be bused to Rosemary Hills (although we were about as far as you can be from RHPS and the bus worked great for us).
I agree there is a sizable difference. In fact, there is a HUGE difference in busing 5 year olds several miles away from home and busing 12 year olds who can fend for themselves to the new middle. RHPS lost my 5 year old and couldn't find him for 30 minutes because they didn't know what bus he accidentally got on. Thankfully, he had the sense to stay on the bus and not get off at a random stop miles away from home in a strange neighborhood. The bus driver didn't even know he was there. And the school thought is was no big deal because nothing happened to him except that he was terrified to go school. Or what about the time 4 years ago, when a RHPS bus dropped 15 Kindergarteners and first graders off at the wrong stop and they were spotted walking down the Highway in a group looking for help. Yeah, you're right, busing little kids out of their neighborhood is no big deal as long as it is for social equity!
Very good point. Look, for this community, the debate isn't about coming to a reasonable conclusion. It's not about the overcrowding of schools being an environmental microagression. It's about shortening their commute, and they don't care what inconvenience or diminution in educational quality they cause for anyone else, let alone their kids. Look at all the postings today. They all center around this point: I don't want to commute the same way I commute now, and if that means that I stuff children from three other communities into an overcrowded facility while allowing the creation of an affluent, less diverse facility operating under capacity, that's fine. Disagree with them, and they'll insult you, but they'll never give you a cogent substantive response because they haven't any. There isn't any. I wouldn't waste my time here, but we live in MoCo, where we have no voice.
Look, overutilization poster, we can tell by your writing style and your constant quoting of your own single quote that you are the only person posting on this topic. We get it, overcrowding is your thing. But, there are lots of very reasobable positions and concerns at play here and no one position is of singular importance. Sure, transportation got a slight finger on the scale by the Superintendent, but Option 7 is a perfectly reasonable outcome. None of the 10 proposed options were crazy and all had a basis in balancing the different competing concerns. Your righteous indignation is unwarranted and your child will get a wonderful education at either school.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I am confused about why one poster is obsessed with the idea that the brand new school building is the "lesser" facility. It's a brand new building full of brand new things. The argument over "utilization" is one that is hard to get all riled up about for most people. One group will get a new building and shorter commutes, but the building will be closer to capacity initially. The other group will get an older building and short commutes and be less close to capacity initially. Both groups will get less overcrowding since they currently share the same building, meaning everyone will be able to spread out by 50%.
No plan is perfect and people can be disappointed that their favorite plan isn't the front runner, but the argument that there is massive inequality between these two schools over "utilization" under Option 7 is not going to get traction with most people. Most people are fine with Option 1 and the utilization balance is similar but reversed in terms of which school is nearer capacity.
I agree. It seems like the premise for most of the angst is that the new school will be significantly worse than Westland, but that seems to be based on FUD from the NIMBYs who didn't want the school in the first place.
Also, there's a sizeable difference between RCF saying they'd prefer not to be bused to Westland and Chevy Chase saying they'd prefer not to be bused to Rosemary Hills (although we were about as far as you can be from RHPS and the bus worked great for us).
I agree there is a sizable difference. In fact, there is a HUGE difference in busing 5 year olds several miles away from home and busing 12 year olds who can fend for themselves to the new middle. RHPS lost my 5 year old and couldn't find him for 30 minutes because they didn't know what bus he accidentally got on. Thankfully, he had the sense to stay on the bus and not get off at a random stop miles away from home in a strange neighborhood. The bus driver didn't even know he was there. And the school thought is was no big deal because nothing happened to him except that he was terrified to go school. Or what about the time 4 years ago, when a RHPS bus dropped 15 Kindergarteners and first graders off at the wrong stop and they were spotted walking down the Highway in a group looking for help. Yeah, you're right, busing little kids out of their neighborhood is no big deal as long as it is for social equity!
Very good point. Look, for this community, the debate isn't about coming to a reasonable conclusion. It's not about the overcrowding of schools being an environmental microagression. It's about shortening their commute, and they don't care what inconvenience or diminution in educational quality they cause for anyone else, let alone their kids. Look at all the postings today. They all center around this point: I don't want to commute the same way I commute now, and if that means that I stuff children from three other communities into an overcrowded facility while allowing the creation of an affluent, less diverse facility operating under capacity, that's fine. Disagree with them, and they'll insult you, but they'll never give you a cogent substantive response because they haven't any. There isn't any. I wouldn't waste my time here, but we live in MoCo, where we have no voice.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I am confused about why one poster is obsessed with the idea that the brand new school building is the "lesser" facility. It's a brand new building full of brand new things. The argument over "utilization" is one that is hard to get all riled up about for most people. One group will get a new building and shorter commutes, but the building will be closer to capacity initially. The other group will get an older building and short commutes and be less close to capacity initially. Both groups will get less overcrowding since they currently share the same building, meaning everyone will be able to spread out by 50%.
No plan is perfect and people can be disappointed that their favorite plan isn't the front runner, but the argument that there is massive inequality between these two schools over "utilization" under Option 7 is not going to get traction with most people. Most people are fine with Option 1 and the utilization balance is similar but reversed in terms of which school is nearer capacity.
I agree. It seems like the premise for most of the angst is that the new school will be significantly worse than Westland, but that seems to be based on FUD from the NIMBYs who didn't want the school in the first place.
Also, there's a sizeable difference between RCF saying they'd prefer not to be bused to Westland and Chevy Chase saying they'd prefer not to be bused to Rosemary Hills (although we were about as far as you can be from RHPS and the bus worked great for us).
I agree there is a sizable difference. In fact, there is a HUGE difference in busing 5 year olds several miles away from home and busing 12 year olds who can fend for themselves to the new middle. RHPS lost my 5 year old and couldn't find him for 30 minutes because they didn't know what bus he accidentally got on. Thankfully, he had the sense to stay on the bus and not get off at a random stop miles away from home in a strange neighborhood. The bus driver didn't even know he was there. And the school thought is was no big deal because nothing happened to him except that he was terrified to go school. Or what about the time 4 years ago, when a RHPS bus dropped 15 Kindergarteners and first graders off at the wrong stop and they were spotted walking down the Highway in a group looking for help. Yeah, you're right, busing little kids out of their neighborhood is no big deal as long as it is for social equity!
Very good point. Look, for this community, the debate isn't about coming to a reasonable conclusion. It's not about the overcrowding of schools being an environmental microagression. It's about shortening their commute, and they don't care what inconvenience or diminution in educational quality they cause for anyone else, let alone their kids. Look at all the postings today. They all center around this point: I don't want to commute the same way I commute now, and if that means that I stuff children from three other communities into an overcrowded facility while allowing the creation of an affluent, less diverse facility operating under capacity, that's fine. Disagree with them, and they'll insult you, but they'll never give you a cogent substantive response because they haven't any. There isn't any. I wouldn't waste my time here, but we live in MoCo, where we have no voice.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I am confused about why one poster is obsessed with the idea that the brand new school building is the "lesser" facility. It's a brand new building full of brand new things. The argument over "utilization" is one that is hard to get all riled up about for most people. One group will get a new building and shorter commutes, but the building will be closer to capacity initially. The other group will get an older building and short commutes and be less close to capacity initially. Both groups will get less overcrowding since they currently share the same building, meaning everyone will be able to spread out by 50%.
No plan is perfect and people can be disappointed that their favorite plan isn't the front runner, but the argument that there is massive inequality between these two schools over "utilization" under Option 7 is not going to get traction with most people. Most people are fine with Option 1 and the utilization balance is similar but reversed in terms of which school is nearer capacity.
I agree. It seems like the premise for most of the angst is that the new school will be significantly worse than Westland, but that seems to be based on FUD from the NIMBYs who didn't want the school in the first place.
Also, there's a sizeable difference between RCF saying they'd prefer not to be bused to Westland and Chevy Chase saying they'd prefer not to be bused to Rosemary Hills (although we were about as far as you can be from RHPS and the bus worked great for us).
I agree there is a sizable difference. In fact, there is a HUGE difference in busing 5 year olds several miles away from home and busing 12 year olds who can fend for themselves to the new middle. RHPS lost my 5 year old and couldn't find him for 30 minutes because they didn't know what bus he accidentally got on. Thankfully, he had the sense to stay on the bus and not get off at a random stop miles away from home in a strange neighborhood. The bus driver didn't even know he was there. And the school thought is was no big deal because nothing happened to him except that he was terrified to go school. Or what about the time 4 years ago, when a RHPS bus dropped 15 Kindergarteners and first graders off at the wrong stop and they were spotted walking down the Highway in a group looking for help. Yeah, you're right, busing little kids out of their neighborhood is no big deal as long as it is for social equity!
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I am confused about why one poster is obsessed with the idea that the brand new school building is the "lesser" facility. It's a brand new building full of brand new things. The argument over "utilization" is one that is hard to get all riled up about for most people. One group will get a new building and shorter commutes, but the building will be closer to capacity initially. The other group will get an older building and short commutes and be less close to capacity initially. Both groups will get less overcrowding since they currently share the same building, meaning everyone will be able to spread out by 50%.
No plan is perfect and people can be disappointed that their favorite plan isn't the front runner, but the argument that there is massive inequality between these two schools over "utilization" under Option 7 is not going to get traction with most people. Most people are fine with Option 1 and the utilization balance is similar but reversed in terms of which school is nearer capacity.
I agree. It seems like the premise for most of the angst is that the new school will be significantly worse than Westland, but that seems to be based on FUD from the NIMBYs who didn't want the school in the first place.
Also, there's a sizeable difference between RCF saying they'd prefer not to be bused to Westland and Chevy Chase saying they'd prefer not to be bused to Rosemary Hills (although we were about as far as you can be from RHPS and the bus worked great for us).
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I am confused about why one poster is obsessed with the idea that the brand new school building is the "lesser" facility. It's a brand new building full of brand new things. The argument over "utilization" is one that is hard to get all riled up about for most people. One group will get a new building and shorter commutes, but the building will be closer to capacity initially. The other group will get an older building and short commutes and be less close to capacity initially. Both groups will get less overcrowding since they currently share the same building, meaning everyone will be able to spread out by 50%.
No plan is perfect and people can be disappointed that their favorite plan isn't the front runner, but the argument that there is massive inequality between these two schools over "utilization" under Option 7 is not going to get traction with most people. Most people are fine with Option 1 and the utilization balance is similar but reversed in terms of which school is nearer capacity.
I agree. It seems like the premise for most of the angst is that the new school will be significantly worse than Westland, but that seems to be based on FUD from the NIMBYs who didn't want the school in the first place.
Also, there's a sizeable difference between RCF saying they'd prefer not to be bused to Westland and Chevy Chase saying they'd prefer not to be bused to Rosemary Hills (although we were about as far as you can be from RHPS and the bus worked great for us).
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I am confused about why one poster is obsessed with the idea that the brand new school building is the "lesser" facility. It's a brand new building full of brand new things. The argument over "utilization" is one that is hard to get all riled up about for most people. One group will get a new building and shorter commutes, but the building will be closer to capacity initially. The other group will get an older building and short commutes and be less close to capacity initially. Both groups will get less overcrowding since they currently share the same building, meaning everyone will be able to spread out by 50%.
No plan is perfect and people can be disappointed that their favorite plan isn't the front runner, but the argument that there is massive inequality between these two schools over "utilization" under Option 7 is not going to get traction with most people. Most people are fine with Option 1 and the utilization balance is similar but reversed in terms of which school is nearer capacity.
I agree. It seems like the premise for most of the angst is that the new school will be significantly worse than Westland, but that seems to be based on FUD from the NIMBYs who didn't want the school in the first place.
Also, there's a sizeable difference between RCF saying they'd prefer not to be bused to Westland and Chevy Chase saying they'd prefer not to be bused to Rosemary Hills (although we were about as far as you can be from RHPS and the bus worked great for us).
Anonymous wrote:I am confused about why one poster is obsessed with the idea that the brand new school building is the "lesser" facility. It's a brand new building full of brand new things. The argument over "utilization" is one that is hard to get all riled up about for most people. One group will get a new building and shorter commutes, but the building will be closer to capacity initially. The other group will get an older building and short commutes and be less close to capacity initially. Both groups will get less overcrowding since they currently share the same building, meaning everyone will be able to spread out by 50%.
No plan is perfect and people can be disappointed that their favorite plan isn't the front runner, but the argument that there is massive inequality between these two schools over "utilization" under Option 7 is not going to get traction with most people. Most people are fine with Option 1 and the utilization balance is similar but reversed in terms of which school is nearer capacity.
Anonymous wrote:I am confused about why one poster is obsessed with the idea that the brand new school building is the "lesser" facility. It's a brand new building full of brand new things. The argument over "utilization" is one that is hard to get all riled up about for most people. One group will get a new building and shorter commutes, but the building will be closer to capacity initially. The other group will get an older building and short commutes and be less close to capacity initially. Both groups will get less overcrowding since they currently share the same building, meaning everyone will be able to spread out by 50%.
No plan is perfect and people can be disappointed that their favorite plan isn't the front runner, but the argument that there is massive inequality between these two schools over "utilization" under Option 7 is not going to get traction with most people. Most people are fine with Option 1 and the utilization balance is similar but reversed in terms of which school is nearer capacity.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:This is all so crazy. Both schools are going to be great and successful and majority wealthy (and white). The vast majority of the county would love to go to either one. It's stunning that people think they're somehow burdened by having something like 15% poor kids. Grow up and see how fortunate you all are.
I would pay good money to have my kids in a school with 15% poor kids.
People from less affluent areas (i.e.: not Bethesda, Chevy Chase, Potomac, etc) are so much easier to be with in so many ways...
You don't know what you're missing even.
Oy vey! Poor kids have nothing to do with it. It's the school that the poor kids are being sent to.
Reading Comprehension is your friend. Let's recap. It's not about Poor kids, it's about OVERCROWDING the new middle school as soon as the doors open which hurts both the well off and the Poor. No one wins! The new middle that doesn't have as many square feet as Westland, Westland has a bigger facility, more space, better grounds and Westland will be underutilized for decades to come at 82% capacity because some people value a shorter commute over the opportunity for a better educational experience for their kids and everyone elses. 15% Farms is not alarming, a school at 100% capacity from the moment its doors open with no room for growth IS!