B-CC/WJ capacity cluster meeting

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone know why Somerset is so severely under capacity?

It's great for the kids/parents who live/attend that school, it's just such a different dynamic than all of the other schools on this list.

Sorry, meant to type Westbrook!

It’s catchment area is all SFHs, so there is very low density in that part of the cluster. It would make sense to move some of the high rise buildings in Friendship Heights that are now in Somerset into Westbrook. Then you could move some of the crowding in the Bethesda ES catchment into Somerset.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seems like the location across from WJ would make the most sense, given that the most crowded schools are nearby--Farmland, Garrett Park, Ashburton.

Garrett Park is 12 miles away from Stratton, which would take a bus over a half an hour to get from the Garret Park neighborhood to the school during rush hour.

Farmland is 8 miles away and that could take up to an hour to get there during rush hour.

Ashburton, yes - this location would be ideally optional.

Garrett Park & Farmland would not be ideal at all, as the time mentioned includes one drop off spot, that's without picking up multiple kids at multiple locations.

Having to accomplish that would add up to 20 additional minutes onto the morning and afternoon commute.

Having to sit through over an hour commute each way (twice a day) is a LOT for an elementary school kid.

8 miles away from what?

The pp in the bold is suggesting that Stratton be used to accommodate the over crowding at Garrett Park & Farmland, since they are "nearby"(two schools that are nowhere near Stratton Park).

Farmland ES and Garrett Park ES are both about 4 miles (by car) from Stratton Local Park. Not 12, not 8. You could WALK there in an hour.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So they are considering expanding current schools in both clusters to have 740 students each? How does that work in the Rosemary Hills area - it would have 740 students, and then half the students would go to CCES and the other half to NCC, but each of those schools would need to have 740 students? The math does not work.

The WJ elementary schools are already all built (or in the midst of being built) to 715-770. They are looking at taking more of the B-CC cluster elementary schools to that size but a parameter of this capacity study was that they are not considering de-coupling RH, NCC and CC. So they are not looking at taking those 3 up to 740. For example, the NCC site is relatively large and relatively flat with good bus access and could pretty easily accommodate a larger school, but they did not consider that option due to the priority for keeping the RH/NCC/CC grouping intact.

In other words, you are correct that the math doesn't work for those three schools to remain linked but each go to 740.

Thanks. I'm surprised they are not even considering decoupling.

Undoing the pairing with RHPS - "decoupling" - would essentially re-segregate the cluster. I doubt they could do it.

I live in the cluster. I went to the school in the cluster when it was desegregated. I certainly wouldn't support re-segregation, and I think that many parents feel the same. I also don't think legally it would be viable to uncouple schools. There would likely be law suits to oppose.

I also live in the cluster. Everyone I know, no matter where they live, would like to have one ES to go to. People who live near RHES would like to stay there; those near CCES would like to go there; and those near NCC there. RHES is way too big and is like Lord of the Flies at lunch and recess. (I know; I regularly volunteer then.) And it makes no sense to start with a huge school for K-2 when a more nurturing environment is desired and then move to a smaller school about half the size for 3-5. I know of no one happy with the current arrangement.

[Anonymous]

IMHO, not that you asked...

They should add another ES in the WJ catchment area. Sounds like there are several good candidates

For BCC:
Shift around the Somerset/Westbrook boundary a bit
Move the PEP and/or Autism program out of RCF to NCC (seriously, RCF was just rebuilt and it's already overcrowded)

Keep some of the locations in mind for a new HS, because I think that's where this is all reading.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seems like the location across from WJ would make the most sense, given that the most crowded schools are nearby--Farmland, Garrett Park, Ashburton.

Garrett Park is 12 miles away from Stratton, which would take a bus over a half an hour to get from the Garret Park neighborhood to the school during rush hour.

Farmland is 8 miles away and that could take up to an hour to get there during rush hour.

Ashburton, yes - this location would be ideally optional.

Garrett Park & Farmland would not be ideal at all, as the time mentioned includes one drop off spot, that's without picking up multiple kids at multiple locations.

Having to accomplish that would add up to 20 additional minutes onto the morning and afternoon commute.

Having to sit through over an hour commute each way (twice a day) is a LOT for an elementary school kid.

8 miles away from what?

Who said anything about Stratton Park? I said the location across from WJ, where they are supposedly planning to build North Bethesda Community Center. The presentation suggested that the location could be modified to co-locate the new school on the same property.

The pp in the bold is suggesting that Stratton be used to accommodate the over crowding at Garrett Park & Farmland, since they are "nearby"(two schools that are nowhere near Stratton Park).

Farmland ES and Garrett Park ES are both about 4 miles (by car) from Stratton Local Park. Not 12, not 8. You could WALK there in an hour.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seems like the location across from WJ would make the most sense, given that the most crowded schools are nearby--Farmland, Garrett Park, Ashburton.

Garrett Park is 12 miles away from Stratton, which would take a bus over a half an hour to get from the Garret Park neighborhood to the school during rush hour.

Farmland is 8 miles away and that could take up to an hour to get there during rush hour.

Ashburton, yes - this location would be ideally optional.

Garrett Park & Farmland would not be ideal at all, as the time mentioned includes one drop off spot, that's without picking up multiple kids at multiple locations.

Having to accomplish that would add up to 20 additional minutes onto the morning and afternoon commute.

Having to sit through over an hour commute each way (twice a day) is a LOT for an elementary school kid.

8 miles away from what?

The pp in the bold is suggesting that Stratton be used to accommodate the over crowding at Garrett Park & Farmland, since they are "nearby"(two schools that are nowhere near Stratton Park).

Farmland ES and Garrett Park ES are both about 4 miles (by car) from Stratton Local Park. Not 12, not 8. You could WALK there in an hour.

Who said anything about Stratton Park? I said the location across from WJ, where they are supposedly planning to build North Bethesda Community Center. The presentation suggested that the location could be modified to co-locate the new school on the same property.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Who said anything about Stratton Park? I said the location across from WJ, where they are supposedly planning to build North Bethesda Community Center. The presentation suggested that the location could be modified to co-locate the new school on the same property.

Walter Johnson HS to Farmland ES (by car): 2.8 miles

Walter Johnson HS to Garrett Park ES (by car): 3.1 miles

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So they are considering expanding current schools in both clusters to have 740 students each? How does that work in the Rosemary Hills area - it would have 740 students, and then half the students would go to CCES and the other half to NCC, but each of those schools would need to have 740 students? The math does not work.

The WJ elementary schools are already all built (or in the midst of being built) to 715-770. They are looking at taking more of the B-CC cluster elementary schools to that size but a parameter of this capacity study was that they are not considering de-coupling RH, NCC and CC. So they are not looking at taking those 3 up to 740. For example, the NCC site is relatively large and relatively flat with good bus access and could pretty easily accommodate a larger school, but they did not consider that option due to the priority for keeping the RH/NCC/CC grouping intact.

In other words, you are correct that the math doesn't work for those three schools to remain linked but each go to 740.

Thanks. I'm surprised they are not even considering decoupling.

Undoing the pairing with RHPS - "decoupling" - would essentially re-segregate the cluster. I doubt they could do it.

I live in the cluster. I went to the school in the cluster when it was desegregated. I certainly wouldn't support re-segregation, and I think that many parents feel the same. I also don't think legally it would be viable to uncouple schools. There would likely be law suits to oppose.

I also live in the cluster. Everyone I know, no matter where they live, would like to have one ES to go to. People who live near RHES would like to stay there; those near CCES would like to go there; and those near NCC there. RHES is way too big and is like Lord of the Flies at lunch and recess. (I know; I regularly volunteer then.) And it makes no sense to start with a huge school for K-2 when a more nurturing environment is desired and then move to a smaller school about half the size for 3-5. I know of no one happy with the current arrangement.

Actually, a lot of parents like that RHPS is only K-2 and consider that "nurturing" -- I agree that lunch is not handled well, but that is a principal management issues. Playground and lunch both need better and kinder supervision and more eyes on playground.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seems like the location across from WJ would make the most sense, given that the most crowded schools are nearby--Farmland, Garrett Park, Ashburton.

Garrett Park is 12 miles away from Stratton, which would take a bus over a half an hour to get from the Garret Park neighborhood to the school during rush hour.

Farmland is 8 miles away and that could take up to an hour to get there during rush hour.

Ashburton, yes - this location would be ideally optional.

Garrett Park & Farmland would not be ideal at all, as the time mentioned includes one drop off spot, that's without picking up multiple kids at multiple locations.

Having to accomplish that would add up to 20 additional minutes onto the morning and afternoon commute.

Having to sit through over an hour commute each way (twice a day) is a LOT for an elementary school kid.

8 miles away from what?

The pp in the bold is suggesting that Stratton be used to accommodate the over crowding at Garrett Park & Farmland, since they are "nearby"(two schools that are nowhere near Stratton Park).

Farmland ES and Garrett Park ES are both about 4 miles (by car) from Stratton Local Park. Not 12, not 8. You could WALK there in an hour.

Who said anything about Stratton Park? I said the location across from WJ, where they are supposedly planning to build North Bethesda Community Center. The presentation suggested that the location could be modified to co-locate the new school on the same property.

I understand what they meant.
Stratton park is also across from WJ.
Not directly across, but across and to the side. Those that live directly next to Stratton attend Ashburton & WJ.
You honestly could have meant either location, they're both that close to WJ.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Who said anything about Stratton Park? I said the location across from WJ, where they are supposedly planning to build North Bethesda Community Center. The presentation suggested that the location could be modified to co-locate the new school on the same property.

Walter Johnson HS to Farmland ES (by car): 2.8 miles

Walter Johnson HS to Garrett Park ES (by car): 3.1 miles

Again, you're not factoring in rush hour traffic at that time of morning. Every major roadway you'd have to take to get to WJ from Garret Park or Farmland is completely congested with commuters going to Bethesda and downtown DC at that time of morning.

It would be a nightmare for a school bus.
I know, because I do the same commute now from Garrett Park to Bethesda every day for work. I can't imagine kids having to take that every morning to get to school.

Two to three miles on those major roadways would take much more than 30 minutes with rush hour traffic, plus multiple pickup locations.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So they are considering expanding current schools in both clusters to have 740 students each? How does that work in the Rosemary Hills area - it would have 740 students, and then half the students would go to CCES and the other half to NCC, but each of those schools would need to have 740 students? The math does not work.

The WJ elementary schools are already all built (or in the midst of being built) to 715-770. They are looking at taking more of the B-CC cluster elementary schools to that size but a parameter of this capacity study was that they are not considering de-coupling RH, NCC and CC. So they are not looking at taking those 3 up to 740. For example, the NCC site is relatively large and relatively flat with good bus access and could pretty easily accommodate a larger school, but they did not consider that option due to the priority for keeping the RH/NCC/CC grouping intact.

In other words, you are correct that the math doesn't work for those three schools to remain linked but each go to 740.

Thanks. I'm surprised they are not even considering decoupling.

Undoing the pairing with RHPS - "decoupling" - would essentially re-segregate the cluster. I doubt they could do it.

I live in the cluster. I went to the school in the cluster when it was desegregated. I certainly wouldn't support re-segregation, and I think that many parents feel the same. I also don't think legally it would be viable to uncouple schools. There would likely be law suits to oppose.

I also live in the cluster. Everyone I know, no matter where they live, would like to have one ES to go to. People who live near RHES would like to stay there; those near CCES would like to go there; and those near NCC there. RHES is way too big and is like Lord of the Flies at lunch and recess. (I know; I regularly volunteer then.) And it makes no sense to start with a huge school for K-2 when a more nurturing environment is desired and then move to a smaller school about half the size for 3-5. I know of no one happy with the current arrangement.

Actually, a lot of parents like that RHPS is only K-2 and consider that "nurturing" -- I agree that lunch is not handled well, but that is a principal management issues. Playground and lunch both need better and kinder supervision and more eyes on playground.

There is nothing nurturing about RHES. The principal keeps that from happening.

They will not get more staff for lunch and recess. The principal said they get one adult for every 50 kids, per MCPS policy. When I volunteer there, much of my time at recess is spent shuffling injured kids with bloody noses to the nurse.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:IMHO, not that you asked...

They should add another ES in the WJ catchment area. Sounds like there are several good candidates

For BCC:
Shift around the Somerset/Westbrook boundary a bit
Move the PEP and/or Autism program out of RCF to NCC (seriously, RCF was just rebuilt and it's already overcrowded)

Keep some of the locations in mind for a new HS, because I think that's where this is all reading.

The only one of these sites even close to large enough for a new HS is the North Bethesda Community Center, but that's right across the street from WJ. Not happening.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Who said anything about Stratton Park? I said the location across from WJ, where they are supposedly planning to build North Bethesda Community Center. The presentation suggested that the location could be modified to co-locate the new school on the same property.

Walter Johnson HS to Farmland ES (by car): 2.8 miles

Walter Johnson HS to Garrett Park ES (by car): 3.1 miles

Again, you're not factoring in rush hour traffic at that time of morning. Every major roadway you'd have to take to get to WJ from Garret Park or Farmland is completely congested with commuters going to Bethesda and downtown DC at that time of morning.

It would be a nightmare for a school bus.
I know, because I do the same commute now from Garrett Park to Bethesda every day for work. I can't imagine kids having to take that every morning to get to school.

Two to three miles on those major roadways would take much more than 30 minutes with rush hour traffic, plus multiple pickup locations.

No, because we're talking about distances. 2-3 miles is not going to take half an hour at 9 am or 3:30 pm. It's not the Bay Bridge on Labor Day Friday.

Also, if you're commuting by car from Garrett Park to Bethesda, and it's a nightmare - have you considered taking the Metro?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Who said anything about Stratton Park? I said the location across from WJ, where they are supposedly planning to build North Bethesda Community Center. The presentation suggested that the location could be modified to co-locate the new school on the same property.

Walter Johnson HS to Farmland ES (by car): 2.8 miles

Walter Johnson HS to Garrett Park ES (by car): 3.1 miles

Again, you're not factoring in rush hour traffic at that time of morning. Every major roadway you'd have to take to get to WJ from Garret Park or Farmland is completely congested with commuters going to Bethesda and downtown DC at that time of morning.

It would be a nightmare for a school bus.
I know, because I do the same commute now from Garrett Park to Bethesda every day for work. I can't imagine kids having to take that every morning to get to school.

Two to three miles on those major roadways would take much more than 30 minutes with rush hour traffic, plus multiple pickup locations.

My Old Farm kids take the bus to Tilden, and it takes about 10-15 minutes from the point they are picked up to get to school. There is one stop before them and one stop after. The WJ location is less than a mile further down the road. Plus, that location is closer to the overcrowded WJ schools than almost all the other proposed locations. I’m not familiar with the Montrose Center location, so that might be a viable option as well.

[Anonymous]

WJ already did a site selection and rejected most of those sites:

https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/uploadedFiles/departments/facilities/rem/SSAC_Report_Walter_Johnson.pdf

Why are they wasting time doing this again?