New BCC cluster middle school #2 site selection

[Anonymous]

So last week MCPS announced that a Site Selection Advisory Committee recommended that a 17.01-acre parcel in the Rosemary Hills/Lyttonsville Local Park in Silver Spring was selected for the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Middle School #2. It was pulled from yesterday's Board agenda to allow more time for discussion at a special meeting tbd. Who was involved in the Site Selection Advisory Committee from the feeder school PTAs? How does it work for BCC to have a middle school in Silver Spring?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So last week MCPS announced that a Site Selection Advisory Committee recommended that a 17.01-acre parcel in the Rosemary Hills/Lyttonsville Local Park in Silver Spring was selected for the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Middle School #2. It was pulled from yesterday's Board agenda to allow more time for discussion at a special meeting tbd. Who was involved in the Site Selection Advisory Committee from the feeder school PTAs? How does it work for BCC to have a middle school in Silver Spring?

If you paid attention for the past 5 years you would know the reason why the school would be on that side of the area. Where do you think half the kids that go to B-CC live?

The problem witht he site selection is that it will require the County to tear down the nicest community center in the County or modify it for a school. Again it was the short sited leaders of the County who can't manage a kids allowance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So last week MCPS announced that a Site Selection Advisory Committee recommended that a 17.01-acre parcel in the Rosemary Hills/Lyttonsville Local Park in Silver Spring was selected for the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Middle School #2. It was pulled from yesterday's Board agenda to allow more time for discussion at a special meeting tbd. Who was involved in the Site Selection Advisory Committee from the feeder school PTAs? How does it work for BCC to have a middle school in Silver Spring?

If you paid attention for the past 5 years you would know the reason why the school would be on that side of the area. Where do you think half the kids that go to B-CC live?

The problem witht he site selection is that it will require the County to tear down the nicest community center in the County or modify it for a school. Again it was the short sited leaders of the County who can't manage a kids allowance.

I thought they said they wouldn't have to tear down the Coffield center?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So last week MCPS announced that a Site Selection Advisory Committee recommended that a 17.01-acre parcel in the Rosemary Hills/Lyttonsville Local Park in Silver Spring was selected for the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Middle School #2. It was pulled from yesterday's Board agenda to allow more time for discussion at a special meeting tbd. Who was involved in the Site Selection Advisory Committee from the feeder school PTAs? How does it work for BCC to have a middle school in Silver Spring?

If you paid attention for the past 5 years you would know the reason why the school would be on that side of the area. Where do you think half the kids that go to B-CC live?

The problem witht he site selection is that it will require the County to tear down the nicest community center in the County or modify it for a school. Again it was the short sited leaders of the County who can't manage a kids allowance.

I thought they said they wouldn't have to tear down the Coffield center?

Still being debated-the feasabilty study has to be done.

[Anonymous]

Which elementaries would feed into the new middle school? Does this mean that 6th graders would move out of NCC and CCES - where would they go? And what happens to the 6th graders at these two schools in the meantime; does this plan include any measures to ensure that they are getting equivalent education while at NCC and CCES to those 6th graders who are zoned for Westland?

We're in the RHPS cluster and as much as I'm happy about the idea that my kids might not have to spend 2 hours per day on buses to overcrowded Westland, I'm also a bit concerned that this seems to have been all wrapped up with relatively little input from the community. RHPS parents were surveyed on their preferences generally a few months ago, but I had no idea things had progressed to the point where they were picking a new school site. I realize that this probably wouldn't be ready in time for current students but I have toddlers who presumably might end up going to a new middle school if one is built.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Which elementaries would feed into the new middle school? Does this mean that 6th graders would move out of NCC and CCES - where would they go? And what happens to the 6th graders at these two schools in the meantime; does this plan include any measures to ensure that they are getting equivalent education while at NCC and CCES to those 6th graders who are zoned for Westland?

We're in the RHPS cluster and as much as I'm happy about the idea that my kids might not have to spend 2 hours per day on buses to overcrowded Westland, I'm also a bit concerned that this seems to have been all wrapped up with relatively little input from the community. RHPS parents were surveyed on their preferences generally a few months ago, but I had no idea things had progressed to the point where they were picking a new school site. I realize that this probably wouldn't be ready in time for current students but I have toddlers who presumably might end up going to a new middle school if one is built.

This has been going on for well over a year, it is typical that parents don't pay attention until the last minute, pay attention to what goes on in your community.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Which elementaries would feed into the new middle school? Does this mean that 6th graders would move out of NCC and CCES - where would they go? And what happens to the 6th graders at these two schools in the meantime; does this plan include any measures to ensure that they are getting equivalent education while at NCC and CCES to those 6th graders who are zoned for Westland?

We're in the RHPS cluster and as much as I'm happy about the idea that my kids might not have to spend 2 hours per day on buses to overcrowded Westland, I'm also a bit concerned that this seems to have been all wrapped up with relatively little input from the community. RHPS parents were surveyed on their preferences generally a few months ago, but I had no idea things had progressed to the point where they were picking a new school site. I realize that this probably wouldn't be ready in time for current students but I have toddlers who presumably might end up going to a new middle school if one is built.

No one really knows which elementaries would feed in --they would have to do a new boundary study which presumably would cause all sorts of angst and complaining, although I would expect if you are in the RHPS cluster you would probably end up there.

Yes the Superintendant's goal is to get 6th graders out of CCES and NCC and into the new middle school, and I think the space planning for those schools now is somewhat based on that idea. AFAIK, no decisions have been made on what to do with them in the meantime. IIRC the Superintendant feels they should be at Westland, but there isn't really space for them there, so it's a question of balancing educational needs, space, etc.

[Anonymous]

So which PTAs were represented on the site selection committee?

[Anonymous]

This has been going on for well over a year, it is typical that parents don't pay attention until the last minute, pay attention to what goes on in your community.

Unnecessary and unhelpful. From what I understand there are lots of parents who were caught unaware by the speed at which this has moved. It has only been a few months since the Superintendant proposed a new MS.

[Anonymous]

IIRC the Superintendant feels they should be at Westland, but there isn't really space for them there, so it's a question of balancing educational needs, space, etc.

That's what MCPS proposed initially and the new middle school plan is a diversion from that. Eastern side of the B-CC cluster felt that Westland is too far away and kids were spending too much time on the bus to get to an already overcrowded school. This is much better IMO. PP is right that there will be a boundary study but if you're at RHPS/NCC or RCF I would expect to end up there.

How does it work for BCC to have a middle school in Silver Spring?

Technically that park is in Chevy Chase. And MCPS /Park & Planning intend to integrate the community center and park into the site.

I'm amazed they selected a suitable site so fast. Onward!

[Anonymous]

It doesn't take long to pick a site when there are no sites to use.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

IIRC the Superintendant feels they should be at Westland, but there isn't really space for them there, so it's a question of balancing educational needs, space, etc.

That's what MCPS proposed initially and the new middle school plan is a diversion from that.

We were discussing what happens to 6th graders at NCC and CCES between now and the opening of the new MS. Are you saying there was a decision to definitely leave them at those schools? I think that is most likely, but I don't think it's been decided.

Also, I have been following this pretty closely and I wasn't aware there was a public advisory committee on the site selection until I saw an article in the Gazette about a week ago saying they would report their results on the 28th.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

IIRC the Superintendant feels they should be at Westland, but there isn't really space for them there, so it's a question of balancing educational needs, space, etc.

That's what MCPS proposed initially and the new middle school plan is a diversion from that.

We were discussing what happens to 6th graders at NCC and CCES between now and the opening of the new MS. Are you saying there was a decision to definitely leave them at those schools? I think that is most likely, but I don't think it's been decided.

Also, I have been following this pretty closely and I wasn't aware there was a public advisory committee on the site selection until I saw an article in the Gazette about a week ago saying they would report their results on the 28th.

It has been going on since 1998

http://www.ebca.org/localeducation.htm

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

IIRC the Superintendant feels they should be at Westland, but there isn't really space for them there, so it's a question of balancing educational needs, space, etc.

That's what MCPS proposed initially and the new middle school plan is a diversion from that.

We were discussing what happens to 6th graders at NCC and CCES between now and the opening of the new MS. Are you saying there was a decision to definitely leave them at those schools? I think that is most likely, but I don't think it's been decided.

Also, I have been following this pretty closely and I wasn't aware there was a public advisory committee on the site selection until I saw an article in the Gazette about a week ago saying they would report their results on the 28th.

It has been going on since 1998

http://www.ebca.org/localeducation.htm

That's the East Bethesda community association's "education committee" -- much different than the Site Selection Advisory Committee put together by MoCo schools.

[Anonymous]

We were discussing what happens to 6th graders at NCC and CCES between now and the opening of the new MS. Are you saying there was a decision to definitely leave them at those schools?

I have kids at RHPS and my understanding is that the 6th graders will stay and NCC and CC until the new middle school is ready to open. However, there are drawbacks to that as MCPS does not want to offer all the same curriculum/ specials/ afterschool activities at "the Chases" that are available at Westland, which is not fair. That's what the current fight is about.