Anonymous wrote:It’s not just space, my WJ kid told me they run out of food and he sometimes he has to eat a PB&J sandwich because that’s all they have left. If he didn’t have the option to go next door, he would go hungry.

I mean you have the option to pack him a lunch as well. Don't act as if McDonalds is the only ones capable of feeding your child.

It’s not just space, my WJ kid told me they run out of food and he sometimes he has to eat a PB&J sandwich because that’s all they have left. If he didn’t have the option to go next door, he would go hungry.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is there any evidence this is even under consideration, other than an anonymous poster saying they heard something?

I know MCCPTA is collecting feedback on open lunch. I am guessing it is because they have heard MCPS is considering changing it.

They are reviewing it. The Open Lunch policy is the only agenda item on the BOE's Policy Committee meeting this week: https://go.boarddocs.com/mabe/mcpsmd/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=DTVMQR5B9B1F

Anonymous wrote:Is there any evidence this is even under consideration, other than an anonymous poster saying they heard something?

I know MCCPTA is collecting feedback on open lunch. I am guessing it is because they have heard MCPS is considering changing it.

WJ launched a poll this morning for parents to weigh in on their thoughts about Open Lunch.

The super large FCPS HSes do NOT have open lunch, but they have staggered lunch times, like four different lunch "shifts".

There seems to be some truth to this. Northwood had been undergoing a bell schedule study in preparation for the new building and the 2027–28 school year, but that study has since been canceled. MCPS is now conducting a systemwide bell schedule study to better align with the upcoming program and boundary study. From what I’m hearing, it seems the district may be moving toward a model where all schools follow the same bell schedule.

Is there any evidence this is even under consideration, other than an anonymous poster saying they heard something?

Anonymous wrote:I have kids who are in an open lunch school. I don’t have strong opinions either way. What I do have issues with is that Thomas Taylor keeps deciding that his personal opinion on every single topic is the only opinion that matters. I’m so over making big changes that affect lots of people with no regard for anyone’s perspective except Thomas Taylor’s.

Agreed. He has zero consideration for community input. I have heard him barking orders at CO staff. What he personally wants is what goes.

Anonymous wrote:Open lunch is a safety issue in what way? We had it back in the 1980s at our middle/high school. (Yes, some districts still had them combined back then.) We went out daily, as the school was smack center of town. You could eat anywhere. (And, no, there was not enough space in the cafeteria.)

I have watched WJ students walk against the stoplight, weaving between cars on busy Old Georgetown Road in order to get to Wildwood Shopping Center at lunchtime. I understand that this is the adolescent brain at work, However, that a student hasn't been seriously hurt there is a wonder.

Blair doesn't have open lunch, but the students go to the nearby shopping and restaurant areas anyway. A Blair student did receive minor injury when hit by a car at the intersection of University Ave and Colesville Rd. this year.

Local businesses rely on the kids coming in too...despite the hassles at times.

Anonymous wrote:Blair has closed lunch and it’s really nbd. Kids sit all over and some play volleyball in the gym, etc.

And still leave campus as well because there is no way to really monitor

Anonymous wrote:I have kids who are in an open lunch school. I don’t have strong opinions either way. What I do have issues with is that Thomas Taylor keeps deciding that his personal opinion on every single topic is the only opinion that matters. I’m so over making big changes that affect lots of people with no regard for anyone’s perspective except Thomas Taylor’s.

This +1!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:He won't be able to, kids will revolt. There is literally no space for every high schooler to eat inside, unless you want to do it East Asian style, where every kid eats at his desk!

How tiny are HS cafeterias that they can't fit 400ish kids at a time?

At 400 kids per lunch period, it would take 8 lunch periods to feed all the kids at WJ

I have kids who are in an open lunch school. I don’t have strong opinions either way. What I do have issues with is that Thomas Taylor keeps deciding that his personal opinion on every single topic is the only opinion that matters. I’m so over making big changes that affect lots of people with no regard for anyone’s perspective except Thomas Taylor’s.