By Adam Pagnucco.
Frustrated by the details of their temporary move to Woodward High School, Northwood High School students are planning to walk out tomorrow. Among their complaints are the absence of an auditorium and playing fields at their temporary school, the planned 7:25 AM start time (the earliest in MCPS) and the lack of notice to allow consortium families to change their preferences. The students’ press release is printed below.
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Contact Information:
Northwood High School Student Government Association President
Ally Heitmann
allymheitmann@gmail.com
Northwood Cluster Parent
Brigid Nuta Howe
brigid.howe@gmail.com
FOR PLANNING PURPOSES
Northwood High School Students Walk Out to Protest Construction Delays
Silver Spring, MD – Students from Northwood High School will walk out of class at Northwood High School on Wednesday, April 24, 2024, at 2 pm. This walkout will protest decisions made by Montgomery County Public Schools and the Board of Education related to Northwood students being held at the newly constructed Woodward High School from August 2024 to August 2027 during Northwood’s construction.
Students have organized around three main issues. First, due to a recommended budget change to construction at Woodward High School, Northwood students will not have an auditorium for three years, and will lack playing fields for two years. Northwood is home to a thriving Academy of Music, Theatre, and Dance, which will struggle without appropriate facilities. Additionally, Northwood families were promised a complete high school experience in the holding facility.
“Northwood performing arts have given me an amazing support system and vibrant life experiences, including skills I will carry with me beyond high school. To remove the auditorium is to deny these experiences to any future Gladiator interested in performing arts, which is unfair to all students on the most basic level.” says junior Madison Riggs.
Second, Northwood students have been informed they will start the school day earlier than any other MCPS high school. To get students to school by the 7:25 am bell time, 35 bus routes will depart the downcounty area starting at 6 am. This decision will be detrimental to the physical and mental health of students and conflicts with the Board of Education’s 2016 vote to move high school start times later.
Third, MCPS has made decisions that will impact students, staff, and families without community feedback and without giving notice to allow Downcounty Consortium families to change their preferences.
Students organizing the walkout will highlight the importance of equitable facilities throughout Montgomery County and the power of student voices.
WHEN: Wednesday, April 24, 2024, 2 pm
WHERE: Northwood High School, 919 University Boulevard West, Silver Spring, MD 20902
INTERVIEW AVAILABILITY: Northwood student organizers will be available for camera and print interviews