Coming late to this, but how do you access the BOE hearing recording and/or read the testimony?

I am a CCES parent, and while I think that Option 1 is better over the long run (mainly because of the likelihood of overcrowding at MS#2 in just a few years), I think that Option 7 could be fine for the short run, especially if some measures are put in place like: 1) Joint PTA funding (a PP proposed this and this sounds like an excellent idea) - one PTA budget for Westland & MS2, funds can be divided by student - and perhaps some unity events could be held open to students from both MSs - who of course will end up going to the same high school; and 2) promises - and follow through - about the strength of the faculty and programs at MS#2. From speaking with long-time MCPS teachers, there is a certain positive energy around opening a new school and a chance to build a strong teaching team. My general impression is that the faculty & administration at Westland is very good but tends to skew older (teachers closer to retirement) and this is an opportunity to build a strong school from the ground up at MS#2.

I read the NAACP testimony from Monday night's hearing. They are not in favor of Options 1 or 7. They are in favor of Option 11, because it has two-way bussing, despite its awful utilization numbers (if you think 7 is bad, look at 11!). I'm confused why they didn't support Option 9, one of the original options, which has two-way bussing, and a great balance of FARMS, demographics, and utilization. I'm guessing it wasn't popular with Somerset and CCES, but it's curious to me. Anyone have any insight?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:These posters have moved past overwrought and into absurd self-satire.

I've actually been wondering if an RCF parent is not pretending to be a CC/NCC parent and posting this stuff to undermine them. Some of the claims are so bizarre I just don't know what to think. The Westland will be 99% white and 99% top 1% was so crazy that I refuse to believe that an actual real person that is a responsible adult could write it.

The fact that 2 CC/NCC parents flipped out on board members in public around the same issues makes it highly likely these are bonafide looneys in your zone.

First of all, obviously you are directing your comment to a RCF poster who is slamming their CC/NCC "opposition". Nice tag teaming! Secondly, your name calling is pathetic, unintelligent and shows even you know the RCF arguement is self serving and wrong for the community at large. Argue on merits, not on name calling.

Keep in mind, you are going to face an entire school (NCC and CCES, there will be more of them than you in the overcrowded school) that will despise you and people like you for years with your nasty rhetoric. You refelect on your community.

The BOE has created a nasty situation in the new middle with Option 7. The hatred is running deep and will for a long time. Unfortunate. Many in NCC CCES and RCF hate each other. I have friends on each side who are not even speaking to each other anymore it has gotten so bad. Bad blood. Way to go Super Smith! Failure right out of the gate!

Anonymous wrote:I completely agree with PP, I know many CCES and NCC parents looking into private school options. I really hope the RCF community understands the magnitude of what they are doing.

Stop blaming RCF for advocating for the preferences of their families. They are doing exactly what they are supposed to be doing, and exactly what the CCES/NCC parents are doing.
MCPS, and their governing body, the BOE, are responsible for the situation we are in, and MCPS and BOE should bear the responsibility for whatever decision they make. They will judge the merits of the options and make a decision. This scorched earth campaign of turning neighbors into villains is so destructive. No matter what happens, I hope the kids are able to rise above the bile in which their parents are stewing.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not everyone at RCF supports Option 7, in fact many do not but some on the PTA have decided to say to the community and the board that "the school" supports Option 7. When they send emails out to the parents asking them to write to the board, they don't mention that Option 7 splits the school. I guess they are hoping that we don't notice. In fact some parents have been shocked to learn that RCF is supporting the option that splits the school. They have assumed the best of the PTA, and only realized after it was too late that this was the direction the PTA was going.

I'm pretty certain you're a troll (the psychological warfare on this thread is intense), but I'll bite.

Of course the whole school doesn't support option 7, but the clear vast majority does. I just checked the email they sent on Monday. 76% of families who responded to the survey support Option 7, and that's with a 67% response rate from the entire school, including 52% of SI families who responded and 79% of Neighborhood families who responded. There have been no emails from families supporting 1, nobody standing up in meetings over the last 11 months supporting 1, though 20-25% of the school has supported it all along according to the various surveys. So much info has been provided, repeatedly, and if you didn't educate yourself and make your opinion known, that's all on you. Your willful ignorance and lack of participation is not anyone's fault but your own.

PP again -- I should have added that I agree completely that you should write the BOE and tell them how you feel and you should get the other parents who feel like you do to write in too.

Anonymous wrote:Not everyone at RCF supports Option 7, in fact many do not but some on the PTA have decided to say to the community and the board that "the school" supports Option 7. When they send emails out to the parents asking them to write to the board, they don't mention that Option 7 splits the school. I guess they are hoping that we don't notice. In fact some parents have been shocked to learn that RCF is supporting the option that splits the school. They have assumed the best of the PTA, and only realized after it was too late that this was the direction the PTA was going.

I'm pretty certain you're a troll (the psychological warfare on this thread is intense), but I'll bite.

Of course the whole school doesn't support option 7, but the clear vast majority does. I just checked the email they sent on Monday. 76% of families who responded to the survey support Option 7, and that's with a 67% response rate from the entire school, including 52% of SI families who responded and 79% of Neighborhood families who responded. There have been no emails from families supporting 1, nobody standing up in meetings over the last 11 months supporting 1, though 20-25% of the school has supported it all along according to the various surveys. So much info has been provided, repeatedly, and if you didn't educate yourself and make your opinion known, that's all on you. Your willful ignorance and lack of participation is not anyone's fault but your own.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not everyone at RCF supports Option 7, in fact many do not but some on the PTA have decided to say to the community and the board that "the school" supports Option 7. When they send emails out to the parents asking them to write to the board, they don't mention that Option 7 splits the school. I guess they are hoping that we don't notice. In fact some parents have been shocked to learn that RCF is supporting the option that splits the school. They have assumed the best of the PTA, and only realized after it was too late that this was the direction the PTA was going.

Please tell me that you folks at RCF who oppose Option 7 emailed the BOE. Tell them exactly this, that you didn't know and want Option 1. I know RCF parents who want Option 1 but feel powerless... your VOICE COUNTS! Send your emails to the BOE

This is the most important point for all of us, no matter which option you want and which school you come from. Rally your friends and parents of classmates to write in TODAY.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:These posters have moved past overwrought and into absurd self-satire.

I've actually been wondering if an RCF parent is not pretending to be a CC/NCC parent and posting this stuff to undermine them. Some of the claims are so bizarre I just don't know what to think. The Westland will be 99% white and 99% top 1% was so crazy that I refuse to believe that an actual real person that is a responsible adult could write it.

The fact that 2 CC/NCC parents flipped out on board members in public around the same issues makes it highly likely these are bonafide looneys in your zone.

Anonymous wrote:If all Chevy Chase, including RCF, are forced into middle school #2 with a high FARMS rate the property value of the housing will drop.

Many people who live in the more affluent sections of Chevy Chase send their kids to private schools. The housing price in these areas will stay constant because of the neighborhood.

The RCF, NCC and Rosemary Hills neighborhoods will see large housing declines. Many of these neighborhoods are perceived as not being as "nice" and can't withstand an over crowded high FARMS rate middle school, and some (mine included) have the split articulation already against us.

My source: two different realtors, we are thankfully moving out of this area, hopefully before the impact of the middle school is realized.

Plus 2, two realtors I know said the same exact thing. However, I don't think the BOE should make boundaries based on housing values, that would be horrible, but this is not the first time I have heard this. Property values are not a concern for me, not even close, overcrowding and lack of resources are.

And to the poster who said both middle schools will be "excellent". Are you serious? Outside of this issue, have you been reading up on MCPS lately? Either you are uninformed or your bar for excellence must be really low.

Anonymous wrote:These posters have moved past overwrought and into absurd self-satire.

I've actually been wondering if an RCF parent is not pretending to be a CC/NCC parent and posting this stuff to undermine them. Some of the claims are so bizarre I just don't know what to think. The Westland will be 99% white and 99% top 1% was so crazy that I refuse to believe that an actual real person that is a responsible adult could write it.

These posters have moved past overwrought and into absurd self-satire.

Oh come on people. Some of the RHPS/NCCES/CCES posters are coming off as whiners. We are also in RHPS/CCES and would prefer option 1 to option 7, but they are both going to be excellent schools. I really think the drama that property values are going to fall and that lots of people are going to go private is over-wrought. Make your arguments to the BoE, but by making this about race and high FARMs race, you really are not doing yourself any favors. It's completely reasonable that RCF wants to go to the closer school, even if that means that those in the immersion program will go elsewhere. To tell them "you don't know what's best for you" seems patronizing. I think we who support option 1 would do better to talk about the overcrowding and keep race out of it. To me, having a more diverse school is appealing, but I'm concerned about the overcrowding.

If all Chevy Chase, including RCF, are forced into middle school #2 with a high FARMS rate the property value of the housing will drop.

Many people who live in the more affluent sections of Chevy Chase send their kids to private schools. The housing price in these areas will stay constant because of the neighborhood.

The RCF, NCC and Rosemary Hills neighborhoods will see large housing declines. Many of these neighborhoods are perceived as not being as "nice" and can't withstand an over crowded high FARMS rate middle school, and some (mine included) have the split articulation already against us.

My source: two different realtors, we are thankfully moving out of this area, hopefully before the impact of the middle school is realized.

Anonymous wrote:Not everyone at RCF supports Option 7, in fact many do not but some on the PTA have decided to say to the community and the board that "the school" supports Option 7. When they send emails out to the parents asking them to write to the board, they don't mention that Option 7 splits the school. I guess they are hoping that we don't notice. In fact some parents have been shocked to learn that RCF is supporting the option that splits the school. They have assumed the best of the PTA, and only realized after it was too late that this was the direction the PTA was going.

Please tell me that you folks at RCF who oppose Option 7 emailed the BOE. Tell them exactly this, that you didn't know and want Option 1. I know RCF parents who want Option 1 but feel powerless... your VOICE COUNTS! Send your emails to the BOE

This is the email address that I used: boe@mcpsmd.org