I don't understand why anyone would want a school built that would not offer the same education as the kids will be getting at Westland Middle school. Why not build a school that CAN do that. What is the rush? Why not do this right first time??
@jimdale345 - @orafunga This conversation would not be happening if MCPS had not leased away 1/3 of the land and the access road. There there would be space for a GREAT school. Don't blame me that the School Board doesn't think ahead - or if they build a school that parents are disappointed in because it does not have the great athletic facilities that Westland has. Hopefully, they'll find this space unfeasible and choose a better one-yes it takes work. That's their job.
@orafunga I disagree-if MCPS had not sold 1/3 of what used to be KJH, along with the access road, there wouldn't be a discussion. But it is not possible to build a school with everything Westland has, and the traffic infrastructure that will handle the 120 staff cars, 25 buses AND 100 parents who won't let their kids walk to school 1 1/2 miles without sidewalks. Perfect location for a former school, but not enough land of access for a contemporary one. I ain't quitting.
Rock Creek Hills Park is inadequate for the middle school that is needed. And, selection of the park as a school site appears to have been illegal, because the County board violated §4-116 of the Maryland Education Act, which states: "(a) (1) If there is a commission or agency with legal responsibility for county planning for land use, the county board [of Education] shall: (i) Consult with the commission or agency; and (ii) Ask its advice in choosing land for a school site."
The claim that "even if smaller, they have a design for that" is not correct. Indeed, the so-called "feasibility study" meetings have shed light on the site deficiencies. For example, 2 out of 3 options presented at the 2nd meeting put the basketball courts in the bus lane (yes, buses would have to drive over basketball courts, that's how little room there is). And at the 3rd "feasibility" meeting, MCPS stated that none of the options met all their requirements.
What is the history here? The old Kensington Junior High site was broken up. Roughly 1/3 was deeded to the Housing Opportunities Commission, to build what is now the Kensington Park retirement community (where 200 seniors live in independent living, assisted living, & Alzheimer's care). Building the elder housing took about 1/3 of the land; took road access to the North; and cut what had been a through North-South road. What's left is today's park which is too small & hilly for a good school.
Sorry, MCPS Planning is actually contained in a printed volume called the "Master Plan" - go read it. It's not a guess, it's a fact. This isn't in the Long Term Plan.
this is actually an example of mcps long term planning...but you seem to have a special ax to grind that has little to do with bcc middle school 2 or RCH park.
It's pretty clear what this is all about. It's about very poor long term planning. It's about LOTS of public school sites (paid for by taxpayers) being handed over to private entities without any long term planning. It's about a 99 year lease on a middle school site right down the road that no one wants to talk about reclaiming. THAT'S public school land too!
It's about handing over taxpayer paid for public school land for free to private interests.
The typical excuse of "it's for the children"...sorry - that's been greatly overused in Montgomery County and no longer has any meaning. Not everything a school system does is in the best interest of children, that's been proved by MCPS time and time again. Long range planning is in the best interest of children. But the MCPS Board of Education threw out their Long Range Planning Policy in 2005. The cramming of an oversized school on a too small site is just one of many examples of the result.
I don't understand why anyone would want a school built that would not offer the same education as the kids will be getting at Westland Middle school. Why not build a school that CAN do that. What is the rush? Why not do this right first time??
PatPugnacious 7 months ago
@jimdale345 - @orafunga This conversation would not be happening if MCPS had not leased away 1/3 of the land and the access road. There there would be space for a GREAT school. Don't blame me that the School Board doesn't think ahead - or if they build a school that parents are disappointed in because it does not have the great athletic facilities that Westland has. Hopefully, they'll find this space unfeasible and choose a better one-yes it takes work. That's their job.
CommunityMusic 7 months ago
@orafunga I disagree-if MCPS had not sold 1/3 of what used to be KJH, along with the access road, there wouldn't be a discussion. But it is not possible to build a school with everything Westland has, and the traffic infrastructure that will handle the 120 staff cars, 25 buses AND 100 parents who won't let their kids walk to school 1 1/2 miles without sidewalks. Perfect location for a former school, but not enough land of access for a contemporary one. I ain't quitting.
CommunityMusic 7 months ago
Jim, the school will be built.
orafunga 7 months ago
Rock Creek Hills Park is inadequate for the middle school that is needed. And, selection of the park as a school site appears to have been illegal, because the County board violated §4-116 of the Maryland Education Act, which states: "(a) (1) If there is a commission or agency with legal responsibility for county planning for land use, the county board [of Education] shall: (i) Consult with the commission or agency; and (ii) Ask its advice in choosing land for a school site."
neurocooking 7 months ago
The claim that "even if smaller, they have a design for that" is not correct. Indeed, the so-called "feasibility study" meetings have shed light on the site deficiencies. For example, 2 out of 3 options presented at the 2nd meeting put the basketball courts in the bus lane (yes, buses would have to drive over basketball courts, that's how little room there is). And at the 3rd "feasibility" meeting, MCPS stated that none of the options met all their requirements.
neurocooking 7 months ago
What is the history here? The old Kensington Junior High site was broken up. Roughly 1/3 was deeded to the Housing Opportunities Commission, to build what is now the Kensington Park retirement community (where 200 seniors live in independent living, assisted living, & Alzheimer's care). Building the elder housing took about 1/3 of the land; took road access to the North; and cut what had been a through North-South road. What's left is today's park which is too small & hilly for a good school.
neurocooking 7 months ago
Sorry, MCPS Planning is actually contained in a printed volume called the "Master Plan" - go read it. It's not a guess, it's a fact. This isn't in the Long Term Plan.
ParentsCoalitionNews 7 months ago
this is actually an example of mcps long term planning...but you seem to have a special ax to grind that has little to do with bcc middle school 2 or RCH park.
orafunga 7 months ago
It's pretty clear what this is all about. It's about very poor long term planning. It's about LOTS of public school sites (paid for by taxpayers) being handed over to private entities without any long term planning. It's about a 99 year lease on a middle school site right down the road that no one wants to talk about reclaiming. THAT'S public school land too!
It's about handing over taxpayer paid for public school land for free to private interests.
ParentsCoalitionNews 7 months ago
The typical excuse of "it's for the children"...sorry - that's been greatly overused in Montgomery County and no longer has any meaning. Not everything a school system does is in the best interest of children, that's been proved by MCPS time and time again. Long range planning is in the best interest of children. But the MCPS Board of Education threw out their Long Range Planning Policy in 2005. The cramming of an oversized school on a too small site is just one of many examples of the result.
ParentsCoalitionNews 7 months ago