This by far is the most compelling anti H recommendation speech:

My name is Kim Glassman, President of the Magruder PTSA. I have advocated for years as PTA
President and cluster coordinator, expecting it would lead to accountability, transparency, and
action. I am here again because sadly it has not.

Under the Superintendent’s recommendation, Wootton jumps the line, and Magruder is left behind.
Testimony in support of the Superintendent’s recommendation highlighted poor conditions at
Wootton. Mold, roof leaks, failing HVAC, and bad plumbing, are fine, so long as it’s for Magruder.
I have sent each of you our questions. Most remain unanswered. I will credit Dr. Taylor for one. The
projected cost to renovate Wootton as a holding school is $100 million.

Suggesting MCPS might even skip fixing Wootton before using it as a holding school signals that
poor facilities are acceptable — for some clusters — but not others. Wootton is bad. Bad enough to
move them to a brand new building immediately. As Ms. Stewart pointed out, Wootton has an ever
FARMS rate of 18%, compared to 65% at Magruder. Why are those conditions fine for our kids? We
are not asking to be relocated to Crown. We are asking for a reasonable holding school without
further delay. That exists at Crown, not Wootton.

The MCPS presentation showed system benefits, but offered no clarity for Magruder. A holding
school is a lot easier for you to use for short-term HVAC and roof work than committing $300 million
for a full scale renovation. This may leave Magruder untouched for another decade or more.
After decades of neglect and deferred maintenance, we are now being asked to wait longer, trust
the process, and be happy MCPS may get to Magruder one day eventually in the future.
Our cluster spans three Board of Ed districts. Not one of our elected officials has responded to me
or others. Your silence sends a message. President Rivera-Oven, my invitation for a tour stands.
You are welcome anytime.

Dr. Taylor originally proposed Crown opening briefly as a holding school, like Woodward has while
Northwood is renovated. That option is gone. However, under the amendment put forth by
Rockville, based on the original suggestion by Gaithersburg’s mayor, there is a path forward for all.
I again ask MCPS to answer basic “WH” questions:

-If Wootton is too unsafe for its students, why is it acceptable for ours?
-When will Wootton be renovated to be a holding school
-With what money?
-If there is a holding school, how will Magruder be prioritized?
-What is your actual plan for addressing Magruder’s long standing needs?

These are not rhetorical questions.
If equity is the standard, then Magruder should not continue as the most depleted high school
without a plan.
We deserve transparency. We deserve action.

Daniel Press gave the most compelling, thoughtful and persuasive argument for the Anti-H Wootton crowd. He brought facts, ideas, and analysis and called MCPS out really effectively.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^ Wootton is unsafe. Staff there don't want to remain at Wootton without major issues being fixed.

I can't believe parents would prioritize perceived prestige over keeping the environment where their kids are there for six hours, five days a week safe. You guys are basically prestige whores.

Is it safe or not? Parents are saying its unsafe, till they were offered to move to Crown and now want to stay. Why do they want their kids in an unsafe building?

If it is unsafe why are you ok with Magruder—a more diverse school with more FARMS students—going to Wootton?

Move Magruder to Crown NOW.

You know "NOW" means in a year and a half, right?

Now as in make that the official recommendation for the board to vote.

Better a year and half than god knows when if Wootton is the holding school.

If MCPS doesn’t have the money to remediate Wootton as a holding school, how long will Magruder have to wait? If MCPS has or can find the money, then why close Wootton?

They aren't closing Wootton, they are moving it to a new location.

Magruder PP again. I don’t care what you call it, closure/move whatever.

Prioritize Magruder.
Use Crown as a holding school for Magruder first and foremost.

Then do whatever is appropriate for Wootton/Crown boundaries afterwards.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^ Wootton is unsafe. Staff there don't want to remain at Wootton without major issues being fixed.

I can't believe parents would prioritize perceived prestige over keeping the environment where their kids are there for six hours, five days a week safe. You guys are basically prestige whores.

Is it safe or not? Parents are saying its unsafe, till they were offered to move to Crown and now want to stay. Why do they want their kids in an unsafe building?

If it is unsafe why are you ok with Magruder—a more diverse school with more FARMS students—going to Wootton?

Move Magruder to Crown NOW.

You know "NOW" means in a year and a half, right?

Now as in make that the official recommendation for the board to vote.

Better a year and half than god knows when if Wootton is the holding school.

If MCPS doesn’t have the money to remediate Wootton as a holding school, how long will Magruder have to wait? If MCPS has or can find the money, then why close Wootton?

They aren't closing Wootton, they are moving it to a new location.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Truth is, Magruder could use Crown or Wootton as a holding school if they ever get funding. It just looks better to team up with a larger group and of course an opportunistic politician would take that and run with it.

No this is just wrong.

Using Wootton as a holding school means Magruder has to wait for Wootton to get on CIP and Magruder to get onto CIP. We have no idea how long this will take.

Using Crown as a holding school means we have a ready to go school now, not a hypothetical tomorrow. Moreover, if Crown is the holding school, there will be even more impetus to get Magruder to the CIP faster, as no one wants a brand new school under utilized. Not to mention Crown is way more accessible. From Magruder to Crown by actual transportation and traffic not just distance, Crown off of 270 is substantially better than going down Wootton Parkway, which is one lane for both directions.

Full disclosure: I am a Magruder parent with my oldest in middle school, soon to be high school. If the recommendation goes forward, and Wootton becomes the holding school, there is no chance my oldest will attend a functional school. My youngest, still in elementary school, likely also will attend a run down school that is an accident waiting to happen.

Move Magruder to Crown right now.

There is no money to fix magruder but Magruder given the issues should go first.

I’m the PP from above. Thank you.

I genuinely don’t get people who are just okay with the recommendation as if Magruder doesn’t exist.

The next round is for ES/MS consolidation. Surely this will help with funding. Find the money for Magruder. There always changes to CIP—see how Poolesville jumped the line. Stop just throwing your hands up and say o well that’s no money.

Magruder has ceilings falling down. That should be a priority as that could hurt or kill someone.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^ Wootton is unsafe. Staff there don't want to remain at Wootton without major issues being fixed.

I can't believe parents would prioritize perceived prestige over keeping the environment where their kids are there for six hours, five days a week safe. You guys are basically prestige whores.

Is it safe or not? Parents are saying its unsafe, till they were offered to move to Crown and now want to stay. Why do they want their kids in an unsafe building?

If it is unsafe why are you ok with Magruder—a more diverse school with more FARMS students—going to Wootton?

Move Magruder to Crown NOW.

You know "NOW" means in a year and a half, right?

Now as in make that the official recommendation for the board to vote.

Better a year and half than god knows when if Wootton is the holding school.

If MCPS doesn’t have the money to remediate Wootton as a holding school, how long will Magruder have to wait? If MCPS has or can find the money, then why close Wootton?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^ Wootton is unsafe. Staff there don't want to remain at Wootton without major issues being fixed.

I can't believe parents would prioritize perceived prestige over keeping the environment where their kids are there for six hours, five days a week safe. You guys are basically prestige whores.

Is it safe or not? Parents are saying its unsafe, till they were offered to move to Crown and now want to stay. Why do they want their kids in an unsafe building?

If it is unsafe why are you ok with Magruder—a more diverse school with more FARMS students—going to Wootton?

Move Magruder to Crown NOW.

You know "NOW" means in a year and a half, right?

Now as in make that the official recommendation for the board to vote.

Better a year and half than god knows when if Wootton is the holding school.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^ Wootton is unsafe. Staff there don't want to remain at Wootton without major issues being fixed.

I can't believe parents would prioritize perceived prestige over keeping the environment where their kids are there for six hours, five days a week safe. You guys are basically prestige whores.

Is it safe or not? Parents are saying its unsafe, till they were offered to move to Crown and now want to stay. Why do they want their kids in an unsafe building?

If it is unsafe why are you ok with Magruder—a more diverse school with more FARMS students—going to Wootton?

Move Magruder to Crown NOW.

You know "NOW" means in a year and a half, right?

Moving Magruder to Crown in fall 2027 would be the least disruptive and help Magruder the most.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^ Wootton is unsafe. Staff there don't want to remain at Wootton without major issues being fixed.

I can't believe parents would prioritize perceived prestige over keeping the environment where their kids are there for six hours, five days a week safe. You guys are basically prestige whores.

Is it safe or not? Parents are saying its unsafe, till they were offered to move to Crown and now want to stay. Why do they want their kids in an unsafe building?

If it is unsafe why are you ok with Magruder—a more diverse school with more FARMS students—going to Wootton?

Move Magruder to Crown NOW.

You know "NOW" means in a year and a half, right?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m copying this from the Magruder thread and would love to hear thoughts:

Essentially, if money isn’t there for 27th school or for Wootton renovations to be turned into a holding school, why not let Magruder use Crown first and then decide what to do? It buys an extra 2-3 years and perhaps we will see an enrollment and funding difference, perhaps we won’t. But what is the harm in postponing for a few years to allow Magruder to finally get some priority?


That’s exactly the problem. Everything for Magruder is hypothetical, and we’ve been pushed back and ignored year after year.

If Crown was to be a holding school, Magruder will have a higher chance of seeing something happen, as MCPS wouldn’t want a brand new school just to sit there empty. Crown as a holding school is the fastest option for Magruder. Whereas with the current recommendation, who knows when Wootton will ever be ready as a holding school and who knows when Magruder will ever see renovations. Not to mention Crown is a much more accessible school location wise.

Let Magruder use Crown, then Wootton. Then revisit the boundary study 5 years or so from now. By then, enrollment may be in a completely different place as international students and federal jobs come back, and all the housing developments continue to boom in that area. You don’t have to operate a 27th school if you deem it to be unnecessary then. You can still move Wootton to Crown, in fact, Wootton would already be at Crown if Crown is a holding school. Just make a plan for Magruder

Magruder has been patient.
Magruder has been polite.

The time for all that is over.
Magruder can’t wait any longer.
Magruder is one of the highest FARMS schools in all of the county. Is this why the Board thinks it can ignore us time and time again?

Magruder should come first. Wootton families are saying the school is unsafe. So, is it unsafe or safe?

If it’s unsafe, then how can Magritte use it as a holding school? If MCPS is going to make it safe to use as a holding school, why move Wootton to Crown? If Magritte must go first because it’s unsafe, use Crown as a holding school and help Magruder.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^ Wootton is unsafe. Staff there don't want to remain at Wootton without major issues being fixed.

I can't believe parents would prioritize perceived prestige over keeping the environment where their kids are there for six hours, five days a week safe. You guys are basically prestige whores.

Is it safe or not? Parents are saying its unsafe, till they were offered to move to Crown and now want to stay. Why do they want their kids in an unsafe building?

If it is unsafe why are you ok with Magruder—a more diverse school with more FARMS students—going to Wootton?

Move Magruder to Crown NOW.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Truth is, Magruder could use Crown or Wootton as a holding school if they ever get funding. It just looks better to team up with a larger group and of course an opportunistic politician would take that and run with it.

No this is just wrong.

Using Wootton as a holding school means Magruder has to wait for Wootton to get on CIP and Magruder to get onto CIP. We have no idea how long this will take.

Using Crown as a holding school means we have a ready to go school now, not a hypothetical tomorrow. Moreover, if Crown is the holding school, there will be even more impetus to get Magruder to the CIP faster, as no one wants a brand new school under utilized. Not to mention Crown is way more accessible. From Magruder to Crown by actual transportation and traffic not just distance, Crown off of 270 is substantially better than going down Wootton Parkway, which is one lane for both directions.

Full disclosure: I am a Magruder parent with my oldest in middle school, soon to be high school. If the recommendation goes forward, and Wootton becomes the holding school, there is no chance my oldest will attend a functional school. My youngest, still in elementary school, likely also will attend a run down school that is an accident waiting to happen.

Move Magruder to Crown right now.

There is no money to fix magruder but Magruder given the issues should go first.

I’m the PP from above. Thank you.

I genuinely don’t get people who are just okay with the recommendation as if Magruder doesn’t exist.

The next round is for ES/MS consolidation. Surely this will help with funding. Find the money for Magruder. There always changes to CIP—see how Poolesville jumped the line. Stop just throwing your hands up and say o well that’s no money.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Truth is, Magruder could use Crown or Wootton as a holding school if they ever get funding. It just looks better to team up with a larger group and of course an opportunistic politician would take that and run with it.

No this is just wrong.

Using Wootton as a holding school means Magruder has to wait for Wootton to get on CIP and Magruder to get onto CIP. We have no idea how long this will take.

Using Crown as a holding school means we have a ready to go school now, not a hypothetical tomorrow. Moreover, if Crown is the holding school, there will be even more impetus to get Magruder to the CIP faster, as no one wants a brand new school under utilized. Not to mention Crown is way more accessible. From Magruder to Crown by actual transportation and traffic not just distance, Crown off of 270 is substantially better than going down Wootton Parkway, which is one lane for both directions.

Full disclosure: I am a Magruder parent with my oldest in middle school, soon to be high school. If the recommendation goes forward, and Wootton becomes the holding school, there is no chance my oldest will attend a functional school. My youngest, still in elementary school, likely also will attend a run down school that is an accident waiting to happen.

Move Magruder to Crown right now.

There is no money to fix magruder but Magruder given the issues should go first.

Anonymous wrote:Truth is, Magruder could use Crown or Wootton as a holding school if they ever get funding. It just looks better to team up with a larger group and of course an opportunistic politician would take that and run with it.

No this is just wrong.

Using Wootton as a holding school means Magruder has to wait for Wootton to get on CIP and Magruder to get onto CIP. We have no idea how long this will take.

Using Crown as a holding school means we have a ready to go school now, not a hypothetical tomorrow. Moreover, if Crown is the holding school, there will be even more impetus to get Magruder to the CIP faster, as no one wants a brand new school under utilized. Not to mention Crown is way more accessible. From Magruder to Crown by actual transportation and traffic not just distance, Crown off of 270 is substantially better than going down Wootton Parkway, which is one lane for both directions.

Full disclosure: I am a Magruder parent with my oldest in middle school, soon to be high school. If the recommendation goes forward, and Wootton becomes the holding school, there is no chance my oldest will attend a functional school. My youngest, still in elementary school, likely also will attend a run down school that is an accident waiting to happen.

Move Magruder to Crown right now.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m copying this from the Magruder thread and would love to hear thoughts:

Essentially, if money isn’t there for 27th school or for Wootton renovations to be turned into a holding school, why not let Magruder use Crown first and then decide what to do? It buys an extra 2-3 years and perhaps we will see an enrollment and funding difference, perhaps we won’t. But what is the harm in postponing for a few years to allow Magruder to finally get some priority?


That’s exactly the problem. Everything for Magruder is hypothetical, and we’ve been pushed back and ignored year after year.

If Crown was to be a holding school, Magruder will have a higher chance of seeing something happen, as MCPS wouldn’t want a brand new school just to sit there empty. Crown as a holding school is the fastest option for Magruder. Whereas with the current recommendation, who knows when Wootton will ever be ready as a holding school and who knows when Magruder will ever see renovations. Not to mention Crown is a much more accessible school location wise.

Let Magruder use Crown, then Wootton. Then revisit the boundary study 5 years or so from now. By then, enrollment may be in a completely different place as international students and federal jobs come back, and all the housing developments continue to boom in that area. You don’t have to operate a 27th school if you deem it to be unnecessary then. You can still move Wootton to Crown, in fact, Wootton would already be at Crown if Crown is a holding school. Just make a plan for Magruder

Magruder has been patient.
Magruder has been polite.

The time for all that is over.
Magruder can’t wait any longer.
Magruder is one of the highest FARMS schools in all of the county. Is this why the Board thinks it can ignore us time and time again?

Magruder should come first. Wootton families are saying the school is unsafe. So, is it unsafe or safe?

I was literally just there this past weekend. It’s not unsafe. Are there issues that need addressing? Sure, but that’s the case for dozens of MCPS ES, MS, and HS schools.

The only ppl claiming it’s unsafe are dufief families because they are worried they would be redistricted to Crown without the rest of the cluster, even though this the most logical outcome due to geography and common sense.