The board has officially withdrawn the proposal and our communities will remain intact. This result belongs entirely to the people who took the time to speak up against these changes. Please keep a close eye on future meetings to ensure these decisions remain final.
December 11, 2017
Final supporters
Dear Board Members
We as a community express our sincere concerns with your boundary options for Richard Montgomery Elementary School #5.
Below, we show how the published factors that you as a board use to make decisions regarding boundaries are violated. They are violated by Option D and E, but in particular by board alternative Option C.
(1) Geographic Proximity of Communities to Schools/Minimize Travel Time/Maximize the Number of Walkers
This option disregards geographic proximity of communities to schools and minimizes the number of walkers. It requires much longer bus rides for young children in multiple neighborhoods (sometimes by as much as 300%) without due consideration of local traffic. Options A and B maximize these factors.
- Option C assigns children in Zone RP4 to Twinbrook ES even though 10 other elementary schools are closer than Twinbrook ES, and bypasses 2 cluster schools.
- Children in Zone T5 are closer to 5 other elementary schools than to College Gardens ES, bypassing another cluster elementary school.
- Children in Zone T2 are closer to 5 other elementary schools than to Ritchie Park, and bypass 2 other cluster schools.
(2) Stability of school assignments over time/Minimize the relocation of students out of their home schools
Option C reassigns students from all 4 existing cluster schools and removes between roughly 20 and 30 % of the student population of the existing cluster schools and buses them to other schools. Many families will consider alternative schooling options if they decide to remain in their current neighborhoods. Options A and B are the best options for this factor.
(3) Demographics Characteristics of the Students Population
Option C increases the FARMS rate at Ritchie Park ES to 40% and decreases the FARMS rate at Twinbrook to 44%, both of which differ from the roughly 25% FARMS rate of the three other schools in the cluster. Therefore, Option C does not decrease differences in FARMS rates between all elementary schools in the cluster. In addition, according to research by H. Schwartz [1], there is no data to support improved student performance when FARMS rates are above 30%. Therefore, the expected FARMS rates decrease for Twinbrook Elementary to 44% is unlikely to be beneficial, and the FARMS rates increase to 40% for Ritchie Park may actually be detrimental. Clearly, the case for drastic BOE student relocation is in question. The title I status and funding of Twinbrook elementary is removed by both options C and D.
(4) Facility Utilization/ Keep schools below 100% utilization and eliminate portable classrooms
With Option C, utilization at Twinbrook and Beall Elementary drops to 82% and 86% below capacity, respectively, over 5 years, essentially wasting 15% of space at each school, which may ultimately result in another need for school reassignment in the future. It also keeps Ritchie Park and College Gardens over capacity for 4 and 5 years respectively. The new Tower Oaks development with capacity of 255 single family homes is a major concern not addressed by C. Considering long term growth and stability, options A and B are the best for this factor.
(5) Promotes a Diverse Student Body
All 4 currently existing Richard Montgomery cluster elementary schools are already very diverse, with roughly 1/3 or less of students being Caucasian and at least 10% of students each Hispanic, African American, and Asian. The school reassignment increases the proportions slightly at some schools while decreasing them slightly at other schools, with significant changes. Therefore, Option C does not significantly increase the level of diversity in what is already a very racially and ethnically diverse cluster.
(6) Minimize splits to community identity, subdivisions, and civic association areas.
Option C clearly maximizes splits to community identity, subdivisions, and civic association areas. Two of Ritchie Parks’ and 3 of Bealls’ 6 zones would be reassigned, dispersed to different schools. Five of Twinbrook’s 6 zones would be reassigned to 3 different schools. 3 of the 4 existing RM cluster schools would be split. Options A and B are the best for this factor.
With respect to community identity, the school is the central component. Parents participate on the PTA, attend school events, and utilize onsite childcare resources for before and after care. Taking students out of their community limits families’ ability to become active in the school community. It also puts additional stress on working parents who would spend significantly more time traveling and less time positively promoting family with their children.
Many additional factors need consideration!
We as a community expect complete transparency from our elected officials. All of your proposed options will affect us as a community to varying extents including D and E, however, we are united in our opposition to Option C. This alternative must be removed from consideration.
Respectfully,
Residents of Richard Montgomery School Cluster
[1] Heather Schwartz, Housing Policy Is School Policy: Economically Integrative Housing Promotes Academic Success in Montgomery County, Maryland, The Century Foundation (2010)
Updates
Reached 500 supporters
November 24, 2017
November 22, 2017
I have been spending my evenings reading through the stories you are sharing about how these changes affect your families. It is humbling to realize how many of us feel overlooked by these boundary proposals. I am currently reaching out to local representatives to ensure your concerns are finally being placed on the record.
November 21, 2017
I am honestly overwhelmed by how many of you have stepped up to help protect our neighborhood schools. We are nearly at five hundred signatures and I truly believe this momentum belongs entirely to your dedication. If you could send the link to a few neighbors today it might be just what we need to get this over the line.
Reached 100 supporters
November 19, 2017
158 Comments
Have you Driven from Falls Grove to the new School during the morning commute?? Please do so if you haven't already.. It's much longer, not to mention we pass two other elementary schools (Lakewood and Falls Meade) on the way.
Horizon Hill is barely a five minute ride for students & almost walkable except that the students would have to cross Falls Rd. Any change like this makes no sense. Please come and visit the community and school and see the proximity.
Please do not make our community an island separating us from our surrounding communities. As one of our speakers stated, it is very difficult to visit classmates in far away neighborhoods and difficult to maintain former school friends.
I am strongly opposed to Options C, D and E (C in particular). Options A and B make the most sense for our community. I had previously written in to support Option B, but didn’t realize at the time it was splitting a neighborhood. I support Option A, but can accept Option B. Thank you for your consideration.
As a former Ritchie Park Elementary School PTA President, I know the importance of the factors stated in this petition. Please do not support Option C. Keep our community intact.
Oppose Alternative C
stronly support Horizon Hill community on these issues
Share this petition
Share this petition to help it reach more people.
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The board has officially withdrawn the proposal and our communities will remain intact. This result belongs entirely to the people who took the time to speak up against these changes. Please keep a close eye on future meetings to ensure these decisions remain final.
December 11, 2017
Final supporters
Dear Board Members
We as a community express our sincere concerns with your boundary options for Richard Montgomery Elementary School #5.
Below, we show how the published factors that you as a board use to make decisions regarding boundaries are violated. They are violated by Option D and E, but in particular by board alternative Option C.
(1) Geographic Proximity of Communities to Schools/Minimize Travel Time/Maximize the Number of Walkers
This option disregards geographic proximity of communities to schools and minimizes the number of walkers. It requires much longer bus rides for young children in multiple neighborhoods (sometimes by as much as 300%) without due consideration of local traffic. Options A and B maximize these factors.
- Option C assigns children in Zone RP4 to Twinbrook ES even though 10 other elementary schools are closer than Twinbrook ES, and bypasses 2 cluster schools.
- Children in Zone T5 are closer to 5 other elementary schools than to College Gardens ES, bypassing another cluster elementary school.
- Children in Zone T2 are closer to 5 other elementary schools than to Ritchie Park, and bypass 2 other cluster schools.
(2) Stability of school assignments over time/Minimize the relocation of students out of their home schools
Option C reassigns students from all 4 existing cluster schools and removes between roughly 20 and 30 % of the student population of the existing cluster schools and buses them to other schools. Many families will consider alternative schooling options if they decide to remain in their current neighborhoods. Options A and B are the best options for this factor.
(3) Demographics Characteristics of the Students Population
Option C increases the FARMS rate at Ritchie Park ES to 40% and decreases the FARMS rate at Twinbrook to 44%, both of which differ from the roughly 25% FARMS rate of the three other schools in the cluster. Therefore, Option C does not decrease differences in FARMS rates between all elementary schools in the cluster. In addition, according to research by H. Schwartz [1], there is no data to support improved student performance when FARMS rates are above 30%. Therefore, the expected FARMS rates decrease for Twinbrook Elementary to 44% is unlikely to be beneficial, and the FARMS rates increase to 40% for Ritchie Park may actually be detrimental. Clearly, the case for drastic BOE student relocation is in question. The title I status and funding of Twinbrook elementary is removed by both options C and D.
(4) Facility Utilization/ Keep schools below 100% utilization and eliminate portable classrooms
With Option C, utilization at Twinbrook and Beall Elementary drops to 82% and 86% below capacity, respectively, over 5 years, essentially wasting 15% of space at each school, which may ultimately result in another need for school reassignment in the future. It also keeps Ritchie Park and College Gardens over capacity for 4 and 5 years respectively. The new Tower Oaks development with capacity of 255 single family homes is a major concern not addressed by C. Considering long term growth and stability, options A and B are the best for this factor.
(5) Promotes a Diverse Student Body
All 4 currently existing Richard Montgomery cluster elementary schools are already very diverse, with roughly 1/3 or less of students being Caucasian and at least 10% of students each Hispanic, African American, and Asian. The school reassignment increases the proportions slightly at some schools while decreasing them slightly at other schools, with significant changes. Therefore, Option C does not significantly increase the level of diversity in what is already a very racially and ethnically diverse cluster.
(6) Minimize splits to community identity, subdivisions, and civic association areas.
Option C clearly maximizes splits to community identity, subdivisions, and civic association areas. Two of Ritchie Parks’ and 3 of Bealls’ 6 zones would be reassigned, dispersed to different schools. Five of Twinbrook’s 6 zones would be reassigned to 3 different schools. 3 of the 4 existing RM cluster schools would be split. Options A and B are the best for this factor.
With respect to community identity, the school is the central component. Parents participate on the PTA, attend school events, and utilize onsite childcare resources for before and after care. Taking students out of their community limits families’ ability to become active in the school community. It also puts additional stress on working parents who would spend significantly more time traveling and less time positively promoting family with their children.
Many additional factors need consideration!
We as a community expect complete transparency from our elected officials. All of your proposed options will affect us as a community to varying extents including D and E, however, we are united in our opposition to Option C. This alternative must be removed from consideration.
Respectfully,
Residents of Richard Montgomery School Cluster
[1] Heather Schwartz, Housing Policy Is School Policy: Economically Integrative Housing Promotes Academic Success in Montgomery County, Maryland, The Century Foundation (2010)
Updates
Reached 500 supporters
November 24, 2017
November 22, 2017
I have been spending my evenings reading through the stories you are sharing about how these changes affect your families. It is humbling to realize how many of us feel overlooked by these boundary proposals. I am currently reaching out to local representatives to ensure your concerns are finally being placed on the record.
November 21, 2017
I am honestly overwhelmed by how many of you have stepped up to help protect our neighborhood schools. We are nearly at five hundred signatures and I truly believe this momentum belongs entirely to your dedication. If you could send the link to a few neighbors today it might be just what we need to get this over the line.
Reached 100 supporters
November 19, 2017
158 Comments
The geographic proximity is paramount for building relationships among peers during the elementary years. Please do not support the scattershot proposal of Option C. I am a homeowner and parent of an MCPS student.
Have you Driven from Falls Grove to the new School during the morning commute?? Please do so if you haven't already.. It's much longer, not to mention we pass two other elementary schools (Lakewood and Falls Meade) on the way.
Horizon Hill is barely a five minute ride for students & almost walkable except that the students would have to cross Falls Rd. Any change like this makes no sense. Please come and visit the community and school and see the proximity.
Please do not make our community an island separating us from our surrounding communities. As one of our speakers stated, it is very difficult to visit classmates in far away neighborhoods and difficult to maintain former school friends.
I am strongly opposed to Options C, D and E (C in particular). Options A and B make the most sense for our community. I had previously written in to support Option B, but didn’t realize at the time it was splitting a neighborhood. I support Option A, but can accept Option B. Thank you for your consideration.
As a former Ritchie Park Elementary School PTA President, I know the importance of the factors stated in this petition. Please do not support Option C. Keep our community intact.
Oppose Alternative C
stronly support Horizon Hill community on these issues
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The geographic proximity is paramount for building relationships among peers during the elementary years. Please do not support the scattershot proposal of Option C. I am a homeowner and parent of an MCPS student.