Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are two choices on the table: 1) build the non-auditorium parts of the schools first while funding for the auditoriums is still being secured, or 2) delay building the non-auditorium parts of the schools until funding for the auditoriums has been secured. It makes sense to me to choose number 1, which is what the board approved.

Holy False Dilemma, Batman!

Of course there's a third option: build the auditoriums and reduce spending elsewhere within the MCPS CIP budget

Or, as a fourth option: simply allocate more CIP money, but from somewhere else in the overall MoCo budget.

Or, a fifth option: raise taxes. That one takes even more help from the County Council and Exec. (Marc would be for it, I'm sure!)

Here is an idea don’t leave money on the table. https://moco360.media/2024/02/13/mcps-left-over-3-million-in-grants-unused-in-2022-state-audit-shows/

MCPS needs to make sure it is applying to all the grants it is entitled to. Making sure it gets this type of money is exactly what central office actually should have employees to do. Plus, MCPS needs to look for innovative revenue streams. I would hope they could see if private companies could help fund the auditoriums or help with other items.

Anonymous wrote:There are two choices on the table: 1) build the non-auditorium parts of the schools first while funding for the auditoriums is still being secured, or 2) delay building the non-auditorium parts of the schools until funding for the auditoriums has been secured. It makes sense to me to choose number 1, which is what the board approved.

Holy False Dilemma, Batman!

Of course there's a third option: build the auditoriums and reduce spending elsewhere within the MCPS CIP budget

Or, as a fourth option: simply allocate more CIP money, but from somewhere else in the overall MoCo budget.

Or, a fifth option: raise taxes. That one takes even more help from the County Council and Exec. (Marc would be for it, I'm sure!)

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I (and 2500 classmates) attended a high school in another state that had neither a traditional auditorium nor a football stadium, and yet we somehow lived.

Well, there are kids in villages in Afghanistan who are learning in outdoor schools writing with chalk on the ground and they are able to live as well. Such a stupid argument. Do better. There are kids who walk 5 miles each way to school. Should we make school buses optional and certain schools don’t get buses?

Sure, public transport is pretty good in Moco, so this seems like a great way to divert more funds from buses to schools.

There are two choices on the table: 1) build the non-auditorium parts of the schools first while funding for the auditoriums is still being secured, or 2) delay building the non-auditorium parts of the schools until funding for the auditoriums has been secured. It makes sense to me to choose number 1, which is what the board approved.

Anonymous wrote:I (and 2500 classmates) attended a high school in another state that had neither a traditional auditorium nor a football stadium, and yet we somehow lived.

Well, there are kids in villages in Afghanistan who are learning in outdoor schools writing with chalk on the ground and they are able to live as well. Such a stupid argument. Do better. There are kids who walk 5 miles each way to school. Should we make school buses optional and certain schools don’t get buses?

It is highly likely if they don't build them now, it will take YEARS for the auditoriums to be built. When do we see MoCo's economic prospects improving. Why not just state now that not every new HS will be built with an auditorium. Folks can start getting used to it.

I (and 2500 classmates) attended a high school in another state that had neither a traditional auditorium nor a football stadium, and yet we somehow lived.

Anonymous wrote:Only in MCPS will people argue that auditoriums are unnecessary in schools.

Preferred? Yes. Necessary? No.