Last Night’s MCPS Boundary Analysis Meeting at WJ
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From Montgomery Community Media
SKEPTICAL CROWD FILLS TWO ROOMS FOR BOUNDARY ANALYSIS MEETING
Montgomery County Public Schools had its largest boundary analysis meeting yet on Thursday night at Walter Johnson High School. A spokesperson for MCPS told MyMCMedia that about 650 people showed up to the meeting.
There were so many people, that the group was split up into two rooms so that two boundary meetings were happening at the same time. One large group met in Walter Johnson’s gymnasium, the other group met in the cafeteria.
Like previous meetings, attendees were put in small groups and they heard from leaders of WXY Architecture, the contractors conducting the MCPS Boundary Analysis Study. Throughout the evening, people sat in small groups and were given opportunities to talk amongst themselves.
At the end of the meeting, attendees were polled about the information they learned that evening. The results of the polls indicate that many parents are still skeptical about MCPS’ boundary study.
In the gymnasium, 44% of people said that they were still skeptical about the information that was presented that evening. In the cafeteria, this was also the most common answer, receiving 61% of the votes.
When polled about their view on undertaking a boundary study, in the gymnasium the most common answer, receiving 49% of the votes was “I am still skeptical of this process and wonder whether it needs to be done at this time.” This was also the most popular choice for the large group in the cafeteria, receiving 68% of the votes.
The final polling question asked attendees to rate on a 1 to 10 scale whether they agreed their concerns were adequately heard: in the gymnasium 30% voted “1,” meaning they didn’t agree at all.
This meeting was the last in a series of meetings MCPS organized about the boundary meeting as a part of the first phase of the analysis. The project will soon enter its second phase, and WXY Architecture will start testing ideas and metrics.
Tweet Recap of Walter Johnson Boundary Meeting
Here’s are some Tweets that recap what happened at Thursday night’s meeting:
Deirdre Byrne@DeirdreByrneMCM · 13h
THREAD: I’m at the @MCPS boundary analysis meeting tonight at Walter Johnson High and there are hundreds of people here—so many that two meetings are happening: one in the cafeteria, the other in the gym. For now, I’m in the gym. There’s 35 tables filled with people in here.
Outside of the school I spoke to members of One Montgomery who are here as activists in support of the boundary analysis study.
37:46 PM – Jan 23, 2020 · Walter Johnson High SchoolTwitter Ads info and privacySee Deirdre Byrne’s other Tweets
Deirdre Byrne@DeirdreByrneMCM · 13hReplying to @DeirdreByrneMCM
There were more signs left outside that were opposed to the boundary study.
The tables are currently discussing what they believe should be included in the analysis in regard to school utilization.
7:54 PM – Jan 23, 2020 · Walter Johnson High SchoolTwitter Ads info and privacySee Deirdre Byrne’s other Tweets
Deirdre Byrne@DeirdreByrneMCM · 13hReplying to @DeirdreByrneMCM
I’m told by @MCPS officials that about 650 people are here tonight. There are more people in the gymnasium than the cafeteria.
Of all the boundary meetings @MCPS has had, this one is the largest.
8:19 PM – Jan 23, 2020 · Walter Johnson High SchoolTwitter Ads info and privacySee Deirdre Byrne’s other Tweets
Deirdre Byrne@DeirdreByrneMCM · 13hReplying to @DeirdreByrneMCM
The groups are now discussing ideas they have about how school proximity can fit into @MCPS’ boundary analysis study.
Here’s a look at the people in the cafeteria meeting. They are also currently talking about school proximity.
8:30 PM – Jan 23, 2020Twitter Ads info and privacySee Deirdre Byrne’s other Tweets
Deirdre Byrne@DeirdreByrneMCM · 12hReplying to @DeirdreByrneMCM
The polling part has started and 44% of the gym attendees say they are still skeptical of the boundary study.
49% of people say they are skeptical of the boundary study.
8:44 PM – Jan 23, 2020Twitter Ads info and privacySee Deirdre Byrne’s other Tweets
Deirdre Byrne@DeirdreByrneMCM · 12hReplying to @DeirdreByrneMCM
30% of people say they don’t agree with the study; 16% fully agree.
Now I’m back in the caf as this group is wrapping up discussion.
8:49 PM – Jan 23, 2020Twitter Ads info and privacySee Deirdre Byrne’s other Tweets
Deirdre Byrne@DeirdreByrneMCM · 12hReplying to @DeirdreByrneMCM
61% of people in the caf say they are skeptical about what they learned.
68% are still skeptical of the study. People cheered when the results when up.
8:53 PM – Jan 23, 2020Twitter Ads info and privacySee Deirdre Byrne’s other Tweets
Deirdre Byrne@DeirdreByrneMCM · 12hReplying to @DeirdreByrneMCM
Here are people cheering at the polling result.
58% of people say they did not fee heard tonight in the caf.
18:55 PM – Jan 23, 2020Twitter Ads info and privacySee Deirdre Byrne’s other Tweets
(Correction: The tweet above should say “feel heard” instead of “fee heard.” It should also say 57% instead of 58%.)
Deirdre Byrne@DeirdreByrneMCM · 12hReplying to @DeirdreByrneMCM
Again the crowd cheered at this result.
Q and A has started in the gym. Here’s a question about title 1 schools.9:58 PM – Jan 23, 2020 · Walter Johnson High SchoolTwitter Ads info and privacySee Deirdre Byrne’s other Tweets
Here’s a question that raises the idea of a lottery system for underperforming schools. This is an idea @MCPS is looking into.110:43 PM – Jan 23, 2020 · Walter Johnson High SchoolTwitter Ads info and privacySee Deirdre Byrne’s other Tweets
Here’s a question that questions the use of Ever-Farms for looking at school diversity. @MCPS said they are looking at other data to measure diversity.310:44 PM – Jan 23, 2020 · Walter Johnson High SchoolTwitter Ads info and privacySee Deirdre Byrne’s other Tweets
One man asks about @MCPS’ timeline for making a decision about changing boundaries. MCPS says WXY will submit their recommendation to @mocoboe in June and the School Board can make recommendations from there.110:45 PM – Jan 23, 2020Twitter Ads info and privacySee Deirdre Byrne’s other Tweets
The crowd cheers when a student asks how this data will help her receive a better education.210:58 PM – Jan 23, 2020Twitter Ads info and privacySee Deirdre Byrne’s other Tweets
One person asks how @MCPS is planning to hear from the voices of all students.10:59 PM – Jan 23, 2020 · Walter Johnson High SchoolTwitter Ads info and privacySee Deirdre Byrne’s other Tweets
One man asks about how @MCPS / WXY can be sure that the data that they are looking at leads to the best outcomes.11:00 PM – Jan 23, 2020 · Walter Johnson High SchoolTwitter Ads info and privacySee Deirdre Byrne’s other Tweets