Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:C'mon folks - as long as we have geographically based high school clusters -the current model other than the consortia - we'll have middle schools that won't be closest to the students just because the MS that were somewhat randomly placed on available land.

Tell that to the upcounty folks who are suing MCPS over it.

For some of the upcounty folks who are suing MCPS, the middle school they want to stay at is not their closest middle school. The distances are about 6.5 miles to Rocky Hill MS (the one they want to stay at) vs. about 4.5 miles to Kingsview MS, less than 6.5 miles to MLK MS, about 7.5 miles to Clemente MS, more than 7.5 miles to Hallie Wells MS, and about 8 miles to Neelsville MS (the one they don't want to go to). Which one is their "neighborhood school"?

For the high schools, it's about 6 miles to Clarksburg HS (the one they want to stay at, even if it's not part of the lawsuit) AND Seneca Valley HS (the one they don't want to go to, ditto) AND Northwest HS. Again, which one is their "neighborhood school"?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

So why is it that economic diversity seems to be the primary factor ("especially") that the current BOE is pushing? It has also disregarded proximity at countless BOE meetings where hundreds of parents spoke about the importance of attending neighborhood schools.

No, it doesn't, and no, it hasn't.

I'd like PP to come and tell us exactly which BoE decision disregarded the parents' feedback. Yes, people said neighborhood schools were important to them, to which MCPS said "Great, because they are important to us as well."

It's just that folks don't believe MCPS, but there's no facts behind that lack of belief, just feelings.

I think it was the BOE meetings where parents (by the hundreds) attended and spoke against using economic diversity as a reason for a boundary study. Those parents seriously question the BOE's "feeling" that economic diversity will improve student performance. The BOE also disregarded those same parents' feeling about a significant increase in busing and the effect that would have on all sorts of things, like traffic, student safety, bus/fuel expenditure, extracurricular activities, etc...

I'm still wondering why the BOE thinks that moving the school boundaries is the least disruptive solution for its perceived lack of economic diversity problem. If school overcrowding is the real issue, then drop economic diversity.

P.S. Folks don't believe MCPS because it's shaded things so much over the past couple of decades to cover up its mismanagement of over $2.8 billion annually, and folks don't believe the BOE because it's taken what the MCPS says at face value.

Diversity has been part of the FAA policy for several years now. There are four factors that they look at when drawing boundaries, and capacity is one of the other factors.

Diversity, yes. Economic diversity, no.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If Steve Austin is someone you are considering voting for check out his social media. Some of his followers are quite intense and believe politics ie bringing very conservative views back into schools is a good thing.

Personally I will not vote for someone who can not explain their previous experience and how they are right for the job. I get he's running on a neighborhood school platform, but he still should be able to do a job interview with out flying off the handle, which his social media suggests.

I am actually voting for Steve Austin because I believe it important for those who don't trust the BOE to have a member on the Board. And it would be good for Austin to have to work on the nitty gritty of being a Board member. As Michael Corleone said, "Keep your friends close and your enemies closer."

That might be a good idea. Let him experience what it feels like to be yelled at by parents, and see how he responds. It will be entertaining.

I won't find it entertaining. I think it will be awful. This is real life, not Netflix.

To be sure.. PP, but elections have consequences. If he wins, it will be entertaining to see how he deals with irate parents. "Walk a mile in their shoes".. and all that.

Anonymous wrote:C'mon folks - as long as we have geographically based high school clusters -the current model other than the consortia - we'll have middle schools that won't be closest to the students just because the MS that were somewhat randomly placed on available land.

Tell that to the upcounty folks who are suing MCPS over it.

Anonymous wrote:If Steve Austin is someone you are considering voting for check out his social media. Some of his followers are quite intense and believe politics ie bringing very conservative views back into schools is a good thing.

Personally I will not vote for someone who can not explain their previous experience and how they are right for the job. I get he's running on a neighborhood school platform, but he still should be able to do a job interview with out flying off the handle, which his social media suggests.

Would you vote for the professor who did not get tenure?

C'mon folks - as long as we have geographically based high school clusters -the current model other than the consortia - we'll have middle schools that won't be closest to the students just because the MS that were somewhat randomly placed on available land.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If Steve Austin is someone you are considering voting for check out his social media. Some of his followers are quite intense and believe politics ie bringing very conservative views back into schools is a good thing.

Personally I will not vote for someone who can not explain their previous experience and how they are right for the job. I get he's running on a neighborhood school platform, but he still should be able to do a job interview with out flying off the handle, which his social media suggests.

I am actually voting for Steve Austin because I believe it important for those who don't trust the BOE to have a member on the Board. And it would be good for Austin to have to work on the nitty gritty of being a Board member. As Michael Corleone said, "Keep your friends close and your enemies closer."

That might be a good idea. Let him experience what it feels like to be yelled at by parents, and see how he responds. It will be entertaining.

I won't find it entertaining. I think it will be awful. This is real life, not Netflix.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If Steve Austin is someone you are considering voting for check out his social media. Some of his followers are quite intense and believe politics ie bringing very conservative views back into schools is a good thing.

Personally I will not vote for someone who can not explain their previous experience and how they are right for the job. I get he's running on a neighborhood school platform, but he still should be able to do a job interview with out flying off the handle, which his social media suggests.

I am actually voting for Steve Austin because I believe it important for those who don't trust the BOE to have a member on the Board. And it would be good for Austin to have to work on the nitty gritty of being a Board member. As Michael Corleone said, "Keep your friends close and your enemies closer."

That might be a good idea. Let him experience what it feels like to be yelled at by parents, and see how he responds. It will be entertaining.

Anonymous wrote:If Steve Austin is someone you are considering voting for check out his social media. Some of his followers are quite intense and believe politics ie bringing very conservative views back into schools is a good thing.

Personally I will not vote for someone who can not explain their previous experience and how they are right for the job. I get he's running on a neighborhood school platform, but he still should be able to do a job interview with out flying off the handle, which his social media suggests.

I am actually voting for Steve Austin because I believe it important for those who don't trust the BOE to have a member on the Board. And it would be good for Austin to have to work on the nitty gritty of being a Board member. As Michael Corleone said, "Keep your friends close and your enemies closer."

If Steve Austin is someone you are considering voting for check out his social media. Some of his followers are quite intense and believe politics ie bringing very conservative views back into schools is a good thing.

Personally I will not vote for someone who can not explain their previous experience and how they are right for the job. I get he's running on a neighborhood school platform, but he still should be able to do a job interview with out flying off the handle, which his social media suggests.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I think it was the BOE meetings where parents (by the hundreds) attended and spoke against using economic diversity as a reason for a boundary study. Those parents seriously question the BOE's "feeling" that economic diversity will improve student performance. The BOE also disregarded those same parents' feeling about a significant increase in busing and the effect that would have on all sorts of things, like traffic, student safety, bus/fuel expenditure, extracurricular activities, etc...

I'm still wondering why the BOE thinks that moving the school boundaries is the least disruptive solution for its perceived lack of economic diversity problem. If school overcrowding is the real issue, then drop economic diversity.

P.S. Folks don't believe MCPS because it's shaded things so much over the past couple of decades to cover up its mismanagement of over $2.8 billion annually, and folks don't believe the BOE because it's taken what the MCPS says at face value.

Diversity has been part of the FAA policy for several years now. There are four factors that they look at when drawing boundaries, and capacity is one of the other factors.

In fact, demographics has been a factor in MCPS boundary studies for decades.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

So why is it that economic diversity seems to be the primary factor ("especially") that the current BOE is pushing? It has also disregarded proximity at countless BOE meetings where hundreds of parents spoke about the importance of attending neighborhood schools.

No, it doesn't, and no, it hasn't.

I'd like PP to come and tell us exactly which BoE decision disregarded the parents' feedback. Yes, people said neighborhood schools were important to them, to which MCPS said "Great, because they are important to us as well."

It's just that folks don't believe MCPS, but there's no facts behind that lack of belief, just feelings.

I think it was the BOE meetings where parents (by the hundreds) attended and spoke against using economic diversity as a reason for a boundary study. Those parents seriously question the BOE's "feeling" that economic diversity will improve student performance. The BOE also disregarded those same parents' feeling about a significant increase in busing and the effect that would have on all sorts of things, like traffic, student safety, bus/fuel expenditure, extracurricular activities, etc...

I'm still wondering why the BOE thinks that moving the school boundaries is the least disruptive solution for its perceived lack of economic diversity problem. If school overcrowding is the real issue, then drop economic diversity.

P.S. Folks don't believe MCPS because it's shaded things so much over the past couple of decades to cover up its mismanagement of over $2.8 billion annually, and folks don't believe the BOE because it's taken what the MCPS says at face value.

Diversity has been part of the FAA policy for several years now. There are four factors that they look at when drawing boundaries, and capacity is one of the other factors.

Anonymous wrote:Austin was an astronaut. He now works for the OSI. His boss is named Oscar Goldman.

Wait..... the whole time I thought I voted for WWE Hall of Famer "Stone Cold" Steve Austin when really I voted for the 6 Million Dollar Man? I was totally expecting a barrage of Stone Cold Stunners at the first BOE meeting and now all I get is a guy with uncanny night vision and disproportionate arm strength. Sheesh. I guess it's still better than the alternatives!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

So why is it that economic diversity seems to be the primary factor ("especially") that the current BOE is pushing? It has also disregarded proximity at countless BOE meetings where hundreds of parents spoke about the importance of attending neighborhood schools.

No, it doesn't, and no, it hasn't.

I'd like PP to come and tell us exactly which BoE decision disregarded the parents' feedback. Yes, people said neighborhood schools were important to them, to which MCPS said "Great, because they are important to us as well."

It's just that folks don't believe MCPS, but there's no facts behind that lack of belief, just feelings.

I think it was the BOE meetings where parents (by the hundreds) attended and spoke against using economic diversity as a reason for a boundary study. Those parents seriously question the BOE's "feeling" that economic diversity will improve student performance. The BOE also disregarded those same parents' feeling about a significant increase in busing and the effect that would have on all sorts of things, like traffic, student safety, bus/fuel expenditure, extracurricular activities, etc...

I'm still wondering why the BOE thinks that moving the school boundaries is the least disruptive solution for its perceived lack of economic diversity problem. If school overcrowding is the real issue, then drop economic diversity.

P.S. Folks don't believe MCPS because it's shaded things so much over the past couple of decades to cover up its mismanagement of over $2.8 billion annually, and folks don't believe the BOE because it's taken what the MCPS says at face value.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Austin was an astronaut. He now works for the OSI. His boss is named Oscar Goldman.

We can rebuild him. We have the technology.

But is it a good use of MCPS budget to spend $6 million on rebuilding him? Where's the accountability and fiscal responsibility here?