Anonymous
Post 04/11/2012 12:23     Subject: BCC Middle School Site Selction number 2 - 2012 version -

Anonymous wrote:One point scored against ECBA's mafia style lobbying, 'bout time.


AMEN!
Anonymous
Post 04/11/2012 09:41     Subject: BCC Middle School Site Selction number 2 - 2012 version -

One point scored against ECBA's mafia style lobbying, 'bout time.
Anonymous
Post 04/10/2012 20:37     Subject: Re:BCC Middle School Site Selction number 2 - 2012 version -

So the planning board recommends the lynnbrook site for the middle school, but ebca opposes saying they want to preserve it for a "future elementary school." Then some east Bethesda residents are advocating to use the site for a pool on their community forum? (how long before they delete those posts from ebca website?). Is this sketch comedy?
Or perhaps is it that if the new middle school is located in lynnbrook - east Bethesda folks might not all attend Westland? So perhaps the desire to preserve the lynbrook site for a future elementary school is well a tad pretextual? A fig leaf perhaps? Something to avoid stating the obvious - that the carefully constructed scheme to carve out a westies only portion of the cluster is starting to unravel? That would be a turn of events worthy of a novella - a comedy of manners as it were. Ebca tripping over itself trying to avoid the "public" part of the public school system only to host a new diverse middle school in its midst. Rich comedy indeed!
Anonymous
Post 04/09/2012 21:06     Subject: Re:BCC Middle School Site Selction number 2 - 2012 version -

Anonymous wrote:That link you sent doesn't work. BOE has the say so with Kensington site, and they would have a hard time bucking the new school super. Who can help with the swimming pool idea ?

http://www.ebca.org/apps/forums/topics/show/3251014

if we don't start that soon, it will never get built. In a couple years, my kids will be the perfect age to use it.



Yes, yes, yes, I would MUCH rather have a swimming pool than a middle school...Is there a petition? We most definitely would get a good bump in property values from such a wonderful amenity.

Thanks for the link!
Anonymous
Post 04/08/2012 08:56     Subject: Re:BCC Middle School Site Selction number 2 - 2012 version -

That link you sent doesn't work. BOE has the say so with Kensington site, and they would have a hard time bucking the new school super. Who can help with the swimming pool idea ?

http://www.ebca.org/apps/forums/topics/show/3251014

if we don't start that soon, it will never get built. In a couple years, my kids will be the perfect age to use it.

Anonymous
Post 04/04/2012 20:02     Subject: Re:BCC Middle School Site Selction number 2 - 2012 version -

Anonymous
Post 03/09/2012 17:34     Subject: BCC Middle School Site Selction number 2 - 2012 version -

Anonymous wrote:Yes. With this development coming in the West, those of you in the East may have to return East.


Ahh yes, the ever present threat. We know who you mean, don't we.
Anonymous
Post 03/09/2012 16:55     Subject: BCC Middle School Site Selction number 2 - 2012 version -

Yes. With this development coming in the West, those of you in the East may have to return East.
Anonymous
Post 03/09/2012 16:45     Subject: BCC Middle School Site Selction number 2 - 2012 version -

Lets get rid of schools in favor of parks. It is only going to get worse after the White Flint, Kensington and Chevy Chase Lake developments.
Anonymous
Post 03/09/2012 15:35     Subject: Re:BCC Middle School Site Selction number 2 - 2012 version -

perhaps the third time will be the charm.


Don't count on it.
Anonymous
Post 03/09/2012 07:48     Subject: Re:BCC Middle School Site Selction number 2 - 2012 version -

Anonymous wrote:
Sorry for the repetition, but: Official records state that federal Land and Water Conservation Funds, administered through Maryland's Program Open Space, were used to develop Rock Creek Hills Park. Both state and federal law place strict restrictions on conversion to non-park use of land acquired or developed with such funds, requiring provision of replacement land of equal recreational value to the community; arbitrary limits on enforcement of these restrictions have no basis in law. A post here on at 09:39 this morning did not refute or rebut these facts, but instead directed a slur against members of the Rock Creek Hills community. I agree that the POS/LWCF issue will not be settled on this discussion board! My point was that those who engage in name-calling simply reveal their lack of a substantive argument.


Look folks, I don't want to offend or insult anyone on this thread, but the fact is the Department of Natural Resources of the State of MD, sent a letter way back in November stating that there would be no impediment to returning the site to school use. I know that there has been some talk of it being one letter in a stream of correspondence which apparently is still up in the air regarding these conversions. However, there simply has not been any additional information put forth regarding this chain of correspondence to indicate that there are any real obstacles in the way of school construction. My belief is that construction will go forward on Rock Creek Hills. However, at the end of the day, MCPS has to find a better way to conduct the site selection process. And they really cannot keep looking at park land as cheap and available open space. RCH was a former jr. high, it will return to that usage. I know it is smaller, and it has changed, but it will revert to a school use.

The real question in many people's mind is, what happens next time when the new high school or elementary school needs to be built. MCPS has got to consider their own properties first and foremost (and many would say that RCH is part of that inventory which is now being recalled). Properties that are underused or being leased to private schools must also be recalled, and reclaimed. And most importantly, MCPS has got to plan smaller urban schools that will use less of the precious land resources left in the down county area.



That November letter from the DNR secretary? In response to a request from Rock Creek Hills citizens that he provide the statutory authority for limiting enforcement of conversion restrictions, he instead acknowledged that there isn't any! Arbitrary limits on conversion restrictions have no basis in law, which is why the question of the "availability" of Rock Creek Hills Park may wind up being settled in a courtroom (not on this discussion board).

And that's also why the "next time" is now. The siting of B-CC middle school #2 is an excellent opportunity to choose a good site by comparative analysis of viable options. As this was not done by the first (2011) SSAC, which recommended Rosemary Hills Lyttonsville Park & Rock Creek Hills Park, or by the recent SSAC, which recommended Rock Creek Hills Park and North Chevy Chase Park, perhaps the third time will be the charm.



Anonymous
Post 03/08/2012 11:47     Subject: Re:BCC Middle School Site Selction number 2 - 2012 version -

Sorry for the repetition, but: Official records state that federal Land and Water Conservation Funds, administered through Maryland's Program Open Space, were used to develop Rock Creek Hills Park. Both state and federal law place strict restrictions on conversion to non-park use of land acquired or developed with such funds, requiring provision of replacement land of equal recreational value to the community; arbitrary limits on enforcement of these restrictions have no basis in law. A post here on at 09:39 this morning did not refute or rebut these facts, but instead directed a slur against members of the Rock Creek Hills community. I agree that the POS/LWCF issue will not be settled on this discussion board! My point was that those who engage in name-calling simply reveal their lack of a substantive argument.


Look folks, I don't want to offend or insult anyone on this thread, but the fact is the Department of Natural Resources of the State of MD, sent a letter way back in November stating that there would be no impediment to returning the site to school use. I know that there has been some talk of it being one letter in a stream of correspondence which apparently is still up in the air regarding these conversions. However, there simply has not been any additional information put forth regarding this chain of correspondence to indicate that there are any real obstacles in the way of school construction. My belief is that construction will go forward on Rock Creek Hills. However, at the end of the day, MCPS has to find a better way to conduct the site selection process. And they really cannot keep looking at park land as cheap and available open space. RCH was a former jr. high, it will return to that usage. I know it is smaller, and it has changed, but it will revert to a school use.

The real question in many people's mind is, what happens next time when the new high school or elementary school needs to be built. MCPS has got to consider their own properties first and foremost (and many would say that RCH is part of that inventory which is now being recalled). Properties that are underused or being leased to private schools must also be recalled, and reclaimed. And most importantly, MCPS has got to plan smaller urban schools that will use less of the precious land resources left in the down county area.

Anonymous
Post 03/06/2012 18:11     Subject: Re:BCC Middle School Site Selction number 2 - 2012 version -

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
... those who chose to address this matter here by insulting members of the Rock Creek Hills community are simply highlighting their lack of any substantive response to the real issues at hand.

I just have to ask. What are the real issues at hand?


Sorry for the repetition, but: Official records state that federal Land and Water Conservation Funds, administered through Maryland's Program Open Space, were used to develop Rock Creek Hills Park. Both state and federal law place strict restrictions on conversion to non-park use of land acquired or developed with such funds, requiring provision of replacement land of equal recreational value to the community; arbitrary limits on enforcement of these restrictions have no basis in law. A post here on at 09:39 this morning did not refute or rebut these facts, but instead directed a slur against members of the Rock Creek Hills community. I agree that the POS/LWCF issue will not be settled on this discussion board! My point was that those who engage in name-calling simply reveal their lack of a substantive argument.



What do you think are the issues facing the siting of the new middle school in BCC cluster? Do you have a good suggestion for a good location that would give parity to the new school? I know all about the POS Federal funds, I guess I was speaking of bigger more substantive issues...such as, if not RCH where? I think this is a very valid question.

Anonymous
Post 03/06/2012 16:02     Subject: Re:BCC Middle School Site Selction number 2 - 2012 version -

Anonymous wrote:
... those who chose to address this matter here by insulting members of the Rock Creek Hills community are simply highlighting their lack of any substantive response to the real issues at hand.

I just have to ask. What are the real issues at hand?


Sorry for the repetition, but: Official records state that federal Land and Water Conservation Funds, administered through Maryland's Program Open Space, were used to develop Rock Creek Hills Park. Both state and federal law place strict restrictions on conversion to non-park use of land acquired or developed with such funds, requiring provision of replacement land of equal recreational value to the community; arbitrary limits on enforcement of these restrictions have no basis in law. A post here on at 09:39 this morning did not refute or rebut these facts, but instead directed a slur against members of the Rock Creek Hills community. I agree that the POS/LWCF issue will not be settled on this discussion board! My point was that those who engage in name-calling simply reveal their lack of a substantive argument.

Anonymous
Post 03/06/2012 15:38     Subject: Re:BCC Middle School Site Selction number 2 - 2012 version -

My point is that those who chose to address this matter here by insulting members of the Rock Creek Hills community are simply highlighting their lack of any substantive response to the real issues at hand.


I just have to ask. What are the real issues at hand?