Reply to BCC Middle School Site Selction number 2

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]One of the problems with Lynnbrook is that it is right at the BARE minimum acreage of the smallest middle school site that MCPS can imagine. Another problem is that teams from B-CC are already using all the fields there in the afternoons, so that leaves B-CC looking for different fields if the MS is built there and MS kids start using the fields.[/quote]

There are already some middle schools in the county that are on small parcels.  Here are some MS in MoCo that are under 10 acres: Lakelands Park (Northwest cluster), Newport Mills (DC Consortium), Earle Wood (Rockville), Parkland (DC Consortium).  Even Pyle is on fewer than 15 acres.  What is it about the 4 MS on small parcels that made it workable, and why would those same conditions not apply to BCC MS #2?  I believe Newport Mills abuts Einstein and they share the fields.  Why can't the MS field be shared with BCC if such a plan works elsewhere? 
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I don't think RCH or Lynnbrook are good sites for the middle school. Neither is large enough to accommodate the school and athletic fields. And, both parks host BCC athletic teams. As for the other middle schools in the county that are "under 10 acres," they all sit adjacent to parks. Under an agreement with the City of Gaithersburg, Lakelands Park Middle School uses the fields for PE and after-school athletics (total acreage: 19 acres). We have been told that Pyle kids will probably go to Westland once the new school is built. What other plans does MCPS have for the new middle school?

Their track record for building adequate capacity at new and/or modernized schools is deplorable. Kensington-Parkwood is now undergoing a feasibility study for an addition, five years after it re-opened (the portables arrived shortly after opeening). And, the McKinney Hills (which hasn't even opened yet) was supposed to relieve overcrowding at two schools: Oakland Terrace and Woodlin, but now they've discovered that it can only accommodate Oakland Terrace. Woodlin will get portables instead.

I'm not sure why the neighbors of any of these sites are being demonized for speaking out instead of the people who created this problem. The county has given up many school sites in the BCC cluster (Kensington Jr. High is now a retirement home housing 200 people and Grace Episcopal was sold 10 years ago for $2 million). Now, MCPS says simply that there is nowhere to build except parks. After the middle school site is selected, there will be a site selection for a high school. That is when Norwood and/or NCC Park will be on the chopping block. Then all of us in the downcounty will be on I-270 driving to find places to play soccer, football, lacrosse, field hockey, etc.

We need to make smart, forward-thinking decisions in the face of huge development in CC Lake, Kensington, Wheaton and White Flint. Why can't a deal be made with these developers for land? Why are we adding more people if we can't take care of the ones who already live here?[/quote]

Exactly. You're very well spoken. I hope you're speaking up at neighborhood meetings, the next site selection meeting 2/22, etc.... [/quote]

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