Woodward Auditorium Construction Advocacy Ahead of Monday County Council Meeting

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't see the problem here. So what if they delay an auditorium for a couple of years?

Then an entire cohort of children experience high school with out the infrastructure needed for fundamental curriculum and extracurricular experiences.

Would you be ok with no science labs? No cafeteria? No sports facilities?

The work arounds are inadequate and inequitable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't see the problem here. So what if they delay an auditorium for a couple of years?

Are they delaying the courses that require an auditorium? No. They are trying to pretend like every school will play nice and share what limited space they have available. It’s such as a shame how little MCPS values or understands the performing arts. Have you not paid attention to decades of brain research?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Northwood is getting a new and larger building. Kennedy just got a larger building. Their space will alleviate Blair's overcrowding, and probably some of Wheaton's and Einstein's. Woodward is reopening as a new building. Its space will alleviate WJ's overcrowding and probably the rest of Wheaton's and Einstein's. BCC and Whitman are in the study too to allow for additional options that may make things work better.

Look at the projections (currently to 2029-30):

WW/BCC/WJ
Capacity 6992
Enrollment 7359 (367 over capacity, or 5%)

Blair/Northwood/Kennedy
Capacity 7308
Enrollment 7302 (6 under capacity, or 0%)

Einstein/Wheaton
Capacity 3839
Enrollment 4756 (917 over capacity, or 24%)

This includes new Northwood capacity but not Woodward. And WJ has all the overage in the first set -- WW & BCC remain under capacity (and could take on some small amount of shift). And Blair has all the overage in the second set, while both Wheaton and Einstein are over in the third. This is versus current catchments.

Even to get to that enrollment = capacity for the middle three, you'd need to bus large numbers past Blair and up to Northwood, shifting some of Northwood to Kennedy. And that's with none of the overage from Einstein & Wheaton -- all that Northwood & Kennedy capacity is used already.

This means large portions of Einstein and Wheaton will need to go to Woodward or shift to BCC, presuming Woodward naturally assumes more of the existing WJ catchment than needed to alleviate WJ's overcrowding. Possibly even some of the lower Northwood and Blair catchments to even out the enrollment vs. capacity once Woodward's 2160 comes online after Northwood moves out (the additional 540 might come online in a later phase, now, if funded). That's 882 seats across 8 high schools in 2029-30, and we know that the DCC is likely to continue growing faster than WW/BCC/WJ after the current projection timeline, so there might be greater shifts than some anticipate.

Unless the Ws keep up the pressure, of course. Then we'll have the expected: overcrowded DCC and under capacity Ws, with no solution for inside-the-beltway/east of the MARC tracks.

Why is it expected that Ws will be under capacity and DCC over when Woodward is being built to relieve overcrowding at WJ AND DCC?

Isn’t that why there will be a massive boundary study involving all these schools?

Woodward is not going to be just for WJ students. Current DCC students will go there too

It's about that "don't send those students over here" influence that has WW folks trying to keep out of the study altogether (they don't want the hoi polloi from BCC), the BCC folks trying to limit any consequent shift from Silver Spring and the WJ folks on the Woodward side saying, "Sure, maybe nicer parts of Kensingson, but not further over -- they're much closer to Einstein and Wheaton so they should stay there!" in the face of the prospect of larger swaths of those catchments being shifted to be with them. And then there's the prospect of a broader or reconfigured consortium arrangement that might result from all of that.

MCPS, for its part, has been swayed in the past by such influence (e.g., BCC being "saved" from being part of the original DCC, with focus shifting more north-south than east-west). It also has walked back rhetoric that brought Woodward reopening to the table in the first place, initially more broadly inclusive of handling DCC overcrowding, then more limited, with thoughts that DCC-area draw to an eventual magnet at Woodward might be all they would implement. (That might get placed elsewhere, now, with the last Woodward phase in jeopardy, or abandoned altogether.)

We'll have to see, given the numbers, but if past is prologue, then the expected might be as above.

Citation needed.

Yes, it's misleading to say that since Woodward isn't even in the DCC or near it. It would make almost no sense to bus DCC kids crosscounty. There are much easier solutions.

Great.

Take your time machine back a dozen years or so and convince MCPS, the BOE, the County Council and the W clusters that additional capacity for DCC in excess of any possible single renovation to Northwood or Einstein has to come before or at the very same time as building a new school (that became the reopened Woodward) addressing WJ overcrowding.

Or take it two decades farther back and convince them not to convert/lease out all the local school facilities that they closed so that there would be more options.

Or get on your horse to get an adequate new facility or expansion in the DCC area right quick so that it's presence can be figured in to the pending boundary study.

Oh, and ve willing to cover any of that with county funds, either shifting from other priorities or increasing taxation.

Then there wouldn't be a need to shift populations such that you clutch your pearls.

Or accept that this is what is being reaped from having sown the current situation. They'd rather be close to home, but not if it means in an overcrowded facility, inadequate or inequitable one. And if you think Georgia Ave to Old Georgetown Rd is really cross-county, I invite you to study a map.

Georgia Ave to Old Georgetown isn’t cross county which is why DCC kids will go to Woodward

Yes, it is really far and you pass Einstein and other HS to get to Woodward. I don't know why W families think DCC families WANT to go to a W school or even BCC. Many of us don't for a variety of reasons.

I was addressing the comments along the lines of WJ families don’t want DCC kids at Woodward, which is not true. But so many people on this board cling so desperately to the W v DCC paradigm that they can’t see any discussion or issue except through that lense.

I have no idea whether DCC parents want their kids to go to Woodward. Some probably do, some probably don’t care, and some are probably opposed. You know like everything in life

I am trying not to be too invested in the outcome of the boundary study as a parent in the WJ cluster. I take it on face value that since the study will involve 9 high schools, my kids could end up at a lot of different places.

I am surprised to hear people from DCC express concerns about bus rides though. I Guess it goes to show that these issues are complex.

Why would you be surprised? You have to remember in HS there are lots of after-school activities. Sometimes they don't start till later, like 5 so kids need to go back and forth, which is a nightmare if it's that far and traffic. The after school buses are limited and don't go back and forth for everything.

I don't get why W parents assume we want our kids at your schools. We don't, or we'd move so we could attend.

Agreed! But when anyone from a W school says they are worried about bus rides because of activities etc we are told we are hoarding privilege, racist and whatever else

W parents do not assume DCC parents want their kids at W schools. But many people a few comments ago were concerned DCC would be over crowded and W under enrolled, which seems inconsistent with the stated purpose of Woodward being to serve WJ and DCC areas

The problem is there are not bus rides for everyone. It’s two miles as a rule. Our kids would have to cross several major roads, sometimes during rush hour and most streets don’t have sidewalks. And, if they have activities at school the activity bus, if you have one has limited times and stops. We are often driving our kids twice a day to school, so four to six trips daily with two kids. Sone activities don’t start till 4 or 5 pm. It’s much more doable with two mikes than four to five miles.

I don’t care if your school is under enrolled. I care about distance as between school, school activities and outside activities already spend several hours a day driving. It may work for a kid in no activities who can just catch the bus but with no bus service, school and outside activities those few extra mikes each way add a huge time difference for us.

A good argument for more public buses and more sidewalks. The county and state don't provide adequate transit service and adequate facilities for kids who walk, skateboard, scoot, or bike to or from school. Then MCPS has to make up for that failure in their capital and operating budgets.

More sidewalks would be helpful but public buses would not fully work as they don’t go everywhere and it’s not realistic for the county to provide. We’ve petitioned the county multiple times over the years for sidewalks and we’re told no. We ere lucky after many tries just to get stop signs put in.

Mcps has the responsibility to provide buses for schools.

"More public buses" does not mean "Eliminate all MCPS school bus service for everyone everywhere in the county", it simply means "more public buses". Public buses help high school kids get places, before and after school. The county has a whole program for this, called Kids Ride Free.

Thats great if it would work for your kids, but it wouldn't where we live.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't see the problem here. So what if they delay an auditorium for a couple of years?

Are they delaying the courses that require an auditorium? No. They are trying to pretend like every school will play nice and share what limited space they have available. It’s such as a shame how little MCPS values or understands the performing arts. Have you not paid attention to decades of brain research?

They'd just practice and hold concerts and plays at another location.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't see the problem here. So what if they delay an auditorium for a couple of years?

Then an entire cohort of children experience high school with out the infrastructure needed for fundamental curriculum and extracurricular experiences.

Would you be ok with no science labs? No cafeteria? No sports facilities?

The work arounds are inadequate and inequitable.

Our school doesn't do science labs. Not one lab in biology class so no loss there.

The lunch is the same for everyone so most kids don't eat in the cafeteria and eat in the halls, classrooms, etc.

Not all sports practice on MCPS property. We have to pick up our kids after school and take them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't see the problem here. So what if they delay an auditorium for a couple of years?

Then an entire cohort of children experience high school with out the infrastructure needed for fundamental curriculum and extracurricular experiences.

Would you be ok with no science labs? No cafeteria? No sports facilities?

The work arounds are inadequate and inequitable.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=joW7ciWyp6g&t=2665s

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't see the problem here. So what if they delay an auditorium for a couple of years?

Are they delaying the courses that require an auditorium? No. They are trying to pretend like every school will play nice and share what limited space they have available. It’s such as a shame how little MCPS values or understands the performing arts. Have you not paid attention to decades of brain research?

Most kids who are in the arts do it outside of mcps.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't see the problem here. So what if they delay an auditorium for a couple of years?

Are they delaying the courses that require an auditorium? No. They are trying to pretend like every school will play nice and share what limited space they have available. It’s such as a shame how little MCPS values or understands the performing arts. Have you not paid attention to decades of brain research?

They'd just practice and hold concerts and plays at another location.

That magical land of endless auditoriums that children can teleport to and be back for their next class! Tell the Council the problem is solved!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't see the problem here. So what if they delay an auditorium for a couple of years?

Are they delaying the courses that require an auditorium? No. They are trying to pretend like every school will play nice and share what limited space they have available. It’s such as a shame how little MCPS values or understands the performing arts. Have you not paid attention to decades of brain research?

Most kids who are in the arts do it outside of mcps.

No no no no - arts and music in school is essential

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't see the problem here. So what if they delay an auditorium for a couple of years?

Are they delaying the courses that require an auditorium? No. They are trying to pretend like every school will play nice and share what limited space they have available. It’s such as a shame how little MCPS values or understands the performing arts. Have you not paid attention to decades of brain research?

They'd just practice and hold concerts and plays at another location.

That magical land of endless auditoriums that children can teleport to and be back for their next class! Tell the Council the problem is solved!

Indeed. MCPS certainly can tell Strathmore to move out for several years so they can use the facility...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Northwood is getting a new and larger building. Kennedy just got a larger building. Their space will alleviate Blair's overcrowding, and probably some of Wheaton's and Einstein's. Woodward is reopening as a new building. Its space will alleviate WJ's overcrowding and probably the rest of Wheaton's and Einstein's. BCC and Whitman are in the study too to allow for additional options that may make things work better.

Look at the projections (currently to 2029-30):

WW/BCC/WJ
Capacity 6992
Enrollment 7359 (367 over capacity, or 5%)

Blair/Northwood/Kennedy
Capacity 7308
Enrollment 7302 (6 under capacity, or 0%)

Einstein/Wheaton
Capacity 3839
Enrollment 4756 (917 over capacity, or 24%)

This includes new Northwood capacity but not Woodward. And WJ has all the overage in the first set -- WW & BCC remain under capacity (and could take on some small amount of shift). And Blair has all the overage in the second set, while both Wheaton and Einstein are over in the third. This is versus current catchments.

Even to get to that enrollment = capacity for the middle three, you'd need to bus large numbers past Blair and up to Northwood, shifting some of Northwood to Kennedy. And that's with none of the overage from Einstein & Wheaton -- all that Northwood & Kennedy capacity is used already.

This means large portions of Einstein and Wheaton will need to go to Woodward or shift to BCC, presuming Woodward naturally assumes more of the existing WJ catchment than needed to alleviate WJ's overcrowding. Possibly even some of the lower Northwood and Blair catchments to even out the enrollment vs. capacity once Woodward's 2160 comes online after Northwood moves out (the additional 540 might come online in a later phase, now, if funded). That's 882 seats across 8 high schools in 2029-30, and we know that the DCC is likely to continue growing faster than WW/BCC/WJ after the current projection timeline, so there might be greater shifts than some anticipate.

Unless the Ws keep up the pressure, of course. Then we'll have the expected: overcrowded DCC and under capacity Ws, with no solution for inside-the-beltway/east of the MARC tracks.

Why is it expected that Ws will be under capacity and DCC over when Woodward is being built to relieve overcrowding at WJ AND DCC?

Isn’t that why there will be a massive boundary study involving all these schools?

Woodward is not going to be just for WJ students. Current DCC students will go there too

It's about that "don't send those students over here" influence that has WW folks trying to keep out of the study altogether (they don't want the hoi polloi from BCC), the BCC folks trying to limit any consequent shift from Silver Spring and the WJ folks on the Woodward side saying, "Sure, maybe nicer parts of Kensingson, but not further over -- they're much closer to Einstein and Wheaton so they should stay there!" in the face of the prospect of larger swaths of those catchments being shifted to be with them. And then there's the prospect of a broader or reconfigured consortium arrangement that might result from all of that.

MCPS, for its part, has been swayed in the past by such influence (e.g., BCC being "saved" from being part of the original DCC, with focus shifting more north-south than east-west). It also has walked back rhetoric that brought Woodward reopening to the table in the first place, initially more broadly inclusive of handling DCC overcrowding, then more limited, with thoughts that DCC-area draw to an eventual magnet at Woodward might be all they would implement. (That might get placed elsewhere, now, with the last Woodward phase in jeopardy, or abandoned altogether.)

We'll have to see, given the numbers, but if past is prologue, then the expected might be as above.

Citation needed.

Yes, it's misleading to say that since Woodward isn't even in the DCC or near it. It would make almost no sense to bus DCC kids crosscounty. There are much easier solutions.

Great.

Take your time machine back a dozen years or so and convince MCPS, the BOE, the County Council and the W clusters that additional capacity for DCC in excess of any possible single renovation to Northwood or Einstein has to come before or at the very same time as building a new school (that became the reopened Woodward) addressing WJ overcrowding.

Or take it two decades farther back and convince them not to convert/lease out all the local school facilities that they closed so that there would be more options.

Or get on your horse to get an adequate new facility or expansion in the DCC area right quick so that it's presence can be figured in to the pending boundary study.

Oh, and ve willing to cover any of that with county funds, either shifting from other priorities or increasing taxation.

Then there wouldn't be a need to shift populations such that you clutch your pearls.

Or accept that this is what is being reaped from having sown the current situation. They'd rather be close to home, but not if it means in an overcrowded facility, inadequate or inequitable one. And if you think Georgia Ave to Old Georgetown Rd is really cross-county, I invite you to study a map.

Georgia Ave to Old Georgetown isn’t cross county which is why DCC kids will go to Woodward

Yes, it is really far and you pass Einstein and other HS to get to Woodward. I don't know why W families think DCC families WANT to go to a W school or even BCC. Many of us don't for a variety of reasons.

I was addressing the comments along the lines of WJ families don’t want DCC kids at Woodward, which is not true. But so many people on this board cling so desperately to the W v DCC paradigm that they can’t see any discussion or issue except through that lense.

I have no idea whether DCC parents want their kids to go to Woodward. Some probably do, some probably don’t care, and some are probably opposed. You know like everything in life

I am trying not to be too invested in the outcome of the boundary study as a parent in the WJ cluster. I take it on face value that since the study will involve 9 high schools, my kids could end up at a lot of different places.

I am surprised to hear people from DCC express concerns about bus rides though. I Guess it goes to show that these issues are complex.

Why would you be surprised? You have to remember in HS there are lots of after-school activities. Sometimes they don't start till later, like 5 so kids need to go back and forth, which is a nightmare if it's that far and traffic. The after school buses are limited and don't go back and forth for everything.

I don't get why W parents assume we want our kids at your schools. We don't, or we'd move so we could attend.

Agreed! But when anyone from a W school says they are worried about bus rides because of activities etc we are told we are hoarding privilege, racist and whatever else

W parents do not assume DCC parents want their kids at W schools. But many people a few comments ago were concerned DCC would be over crowded and W under enrolled, which seems inconsistent with the stated purpose of Woodward being to serve WJ and DCC areas

The problem is there are not bus rides for everyone. It’s two miles as a rule. Our kids would have to cross several major roads, sometimes during rush hour and most streets don’t have sidewalks. And, if they have activities at school the activity bus, if you have one has limited times and stops. We are often driving our kids twice a day to school, so four to six trips daily with two kids. Sone activities don’t start till 4 or 5 pm. It’s much more doable with two mikes than four to five miles.

I don’t care if your school is under enrolled. I care about distance as between school, school activities and outside activities already spend several hours a day driving. It may work for a kid in no activities who can just catch the bus but with no bus service, school and outside activities those few extra mikes each way add a huge time difference for us.

A good argument for more public buses and more sidewalks. The county and state don't provide adequate transit service and adequate facilities for kids who walk, skateboard, scoot, or bike to or from school. Then MCPS has to make up for that failure in their capital and operating budgets.

More sidewalks would be helpful but public buses would not fully work as they don’t go everywhere and it’s not realistic for the county to provide. We’ve petitioned the county multiple times over the years for sidewalks and we’re told no. We ere lucky after many tries just to get stop signs put in.

Mcps has the responsibility to provide buses for schools.

"More public buses" does not mean "Eliminate all MCPS school bus service for everyone everywhere in the county", it simply means "more public buses". Public buses help high school kids get places, before and after school. The county has a whole program for this, called Kids Ride Free.

Thats great if it would work for your kids, but it wouldn't where we live.

That
is
the
whole
point
of
more
sidewalks
and
more
public transit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Northwood is getting a new and larger building. Kennedy just got a larger building. Their space will alleviate Blair's overcrowding, and probably some of Wheaton's and Einstein's. Woodward is reopening as a new building. Its space will alleviate WJ's overcrowding and probably the rest of Wheaton's and Einstein's. BCC and Whitman are in the study too to allow for additional options that may make things work better.

Look at the projections (currently to 2029-30):

WW/BCC/WJ
Capacity 6992
Enrollment 7359 (367 over capacity, or 5%)

Blair/Northwood/Kennedy
Capacity 7308
Enrollment 7302 (6 under capacity, or 0%)

Einstein/Wheaton
Capacity 3839
Enrollment 4756 (917 over capacity, or 24%)

This includes new Northwood capacity but not Woodward. And WJ has all the overage in the first set -- WW & BCC remain under capacity (and could take on some small amount of shift). And Blair has all the overage in the second set, while both Wheaton and Einstein are over in the third. This is versus current catchments.

Even to get to that enrollment = capacity for the middle three, you'd need to bus large numbers past Blair and up to Northwood, shifting some of Northwood to Kennedy. And that's with none of the overage from Einstein & Wheaton -- all that Northwood & Kennedy capacity is used already.

This means large portions of Einstein and Wheaton will need to go to Woodward or shift to BCC, presuming Woodward naturally assumes more of the existing WJ catchment than needed to alleviate WJ's overcrowding. Possibly even some of the lower Northwood and Blair catchments to even out the enrollment vs. capacity once Woodward's 2160 comes online after Northwood moves out (the additional 540 might come online in a later phase, now, if funded). That's 882 seats across 8 high schools in 2029-30, and we know that the DCC is likely to continue growing faster than WW/BCC/WJ after the current projection timeline, so there might be greater shifts than some anticipate.

Unless the Ws keep up the pressure, of course. Then we'll have the expected: overcrowded DCC and under capacity Ws, with no solution for inside-the-beltway/east of the MARC tracks.

Why is it expected that Ws will be under capacity and DCC over when Woodward is being built to relieve overcrowding at WJ AND DCC?

Isn’t that why there will be a massive boundary study involving all these schools?

Woodward is not going to be just for WJ students. Current DCC students will go there too

It's about that "don't send those students over here" influence that has WW folks trying to keep out of the study altogether (they don't want the hoi polloi from BCC), the BCC folks trying to limit any consequent shift from Silver Spring and the WJ folks on the Woodward side saying, "Sure, maybe nicer parts of Kensingson, but not further over -- they're much closer to Einstein and Wheaton so they should stay there!" in the face of the prospect of larger swaths of those catchments being shifted to be with them. And then there's the prospect of a broader or reconfigured consortium arrangement that might result from all of that.

MCPS, for its part, has been swayed in the past by such influence (e.g., BCC being "saved" from being part of the original DCC, with focus shifting more north-south than east-west). It also has walked back rhetoric that brought Woodward reopening to the table in the first place, initially more broadly inclusive of handling DCC overcrowding, then more limited, with thoughts that DCC-area draw to an eventual magnet at Woodward might be all they would implement. (That might get placed elsewhere, now, with the last Woodward phase in jeopardy, or abandoned altogether.)

We'll have to see, given the numbers, but if past is prologue, then the expected might be as above.

Citation needed.

Yes, it's misleading to say that since Woodward isn't even in the DCC or near it. It would make almost no sense to bus DCC kids crosscounty. There are much easier solutions.

Great.

Take your time machine back a dozen years or so and convince MCPS, the BOE, the County Council and the W clusters that additional capacity for DCC in excess of any possible single renovation to Northwood or Einstein has to come before or at the very same time as building a new school (that became the reopened Woodward) addressing WJ overcrowding.

Or take it two decades farther back and convince them not to convert/lease out all the local school facilities that they closed so that there would be more options.

Or get on your horse to get an adequate new facility or expansion in the DCC area right quick so that it's presence can be figured in to the pending boundary study.

Oh, and ve willing to cover any of that with county funds, either shifting from other priorities or increasing taxation.

Then there wouldn't be a need to shift populations such that you clutch your pearls.

Or accept that this is what is being reaped from having sown the current situation. They'd rather be close to home, but not if it means in an overcrowded facility, inadequate or inequitable one. And if you think Georgia Ave to Old Georgetown Rd is really cross-county, I invite you to study a map.

Georgia Ave to Old Georgetown isn’t cross county which is why DCC kids will go to Woodward

Yes, it is really far and you pass Einstein and other HS to get to Woodward. I don't know why W families think DCC families WANT to go to a W school or even BCC. Many of us don't for a variety of reasons.

I was addressing the comments along the lines of WJ families don’t want DCC kids at Woodward, which is not true. But so many people on this board cling so desperately to the W v DCC paradigm that they can’t see any discussion or issue except through that lense.

I have no idea whether DCC parents want their kids to go to Woodward. Some probably do, some probably don’t care, and some are probably opposed. You know like everything in life

I am trying not to be too invested in the outcome of the boundary study as a parent in the WJ cluster. I take it on face value that since the study will involve 9 high schools, my kids could end up at a lot of different places.

I am surprised to hear people from DCC express concerns about bus rides though. I Guess it goes to show that these issues are complex.

Why would you be surprised? You have to remember in HS there are lots of after-school activities. Sometimes they don't start till later, like 5 so kids need to go back and forth, which is a nightmare if it's that far and traffic. The after school buses are limited and don't go back and forth for everything.

I don't get why W parents assume we want our kids at your schools. We don't, or we'd move so we could attend.

Agreed! But when anyone from a W school says they are worried about bus rides because of activities etc we are told we are hoarding privilege, racist and whatever else

W parents do not assume DCC parents want their kids at W schools. But many people a few comments ago were concerned DCC would be over crowded and W under enrolled, which seems inconsistent with the stated purpose of Woodward being to serve WJ and DCC areas

The problem is there are not bus rides for everyone. It’s two miles as a rule. Our kids would have to cross several major roads, sometimes during rush hour and most streets don’t have sidewalks. And, if they have activities at school the activity bus, if you have one has limited times and stops. We are often driving our kids twice a day to school, so four to six trips daily with two kids. Sone activities don’t start till 4 or 5 pm. It’s much more doable with two mikes than four to five miles.

I don’t care if your school is under enrolled. I care about distance as between school, school activities and outside activities already spend several hours a day driving. It may work for a kid in no activities who can just catch the bus but with no bus service, school and outside activities those few extra mikes each way add a huge time difference for us.

A good argument for more public buses and more sidewalks. The county and state don't provide adequate transit service and adequate facilities for kids who walk, skateboard, scoot, or bike to or from school. Then MCPS has to make up for that failure in their capital and operating budgets.

More sidewalks would be helpful but public buses would not fully work as they don’t go everywhere and it’s not realistic for the county to provide. We’ve petitioned the county multiple times over the years for sidewalks and we’re told no. We ere lucky after many tries just to get stop signs put in.

Mcps has the responsibility to provide buses for schools.

"More public buses" does not mean "Eliminate all MCPS school bus service for everyone everywhere in the county", it simply means "more public buses". Public buses help high school kids get places, before and after school. The county has a whole program for this, called Kids Ride Free.

Thats great if it would work for your kids, but it wouldn't where we live.

That
is
the
whole
point
of
more
sidewalks
and
more
public transit.

Ok, that doesn’t work in all neighborhoods and it does not address crossing major roads at rush hour with no crossing guards.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't see the problem here. So what if they delay an auditorium for a couple of years?

Are they delaying the courses that require an auditorium? No. They are trying to pretend like every school will play nice and share what limited space they have available. It’s such as a shame how little MCPS values or understands the performing arts. Have you not paid attention to decades of brain research?

They'd just practice and hold concerts and plays at another location.

That magical land of endless auditoriums that children can teleport to and be back for their next class! Tell the Council the problem is solved!

Our school expects us to drive our kids or carpool for multiple things, so if we have to, why shouldn’t you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't see the problem here. So what if they delay an auditorium for a couple of years?

Are they delaying the courses that require an auditorium? No. They are trying to pretend like every school will play nice and share what limited space they have available. It’s such as a shame how little MCPS values or understands the performing arts. Have you not paid attention to decades of brain research?

Most kids who are in the arts do it outside of mcps.

No no no no - arts and music in school is essential

They are good but most programs are ok at best and kids who are good are in private lessons and outside organizations too. Be real, you think the top playing musicians only do mcps. Nope.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't see the problem here. So what if they delay an auditorium for a couple of years?

Are they delaying the courses that require an auditorium? No. They are trying to pretend like every school will play nice and share what limited space they have available. It’s such as a shame how little MCPS values or understands the performing arts. Have you not paid attention to decades of brain research?

They'd just practice and hold concerts and plays at another location.

That magical land of endless auditoriums that children can teleport to and be back for their next class! Tell the Council the problem is solved!

Indeed. MCPS certainly can tell Strathmore to move out for several years so they can use the facility...

There are days available. Or, other places in Rockville, like the Fitzgerald theater. They can use other schools too.