Thursday, November 11, 2010
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
More on the New Middle School
I will be testifying on behalf of the PTA at the Board of Education meeting tonight. Our primary concerns are the speed of the process pushing us toward a new middle school, our fear that the budgetary impact will result in the delay of our LONG awaited modernization, and the worry that the central office is muddling up
1) Operations (in the concern about meeting the needs of the 6th graders still at the Chases);
2) Capital Improvements (in the desire to build a new school, find a location and support the many needs of the community); and,
3) Articulation (in the discussion about where 6th grade should be located and now the discussion about where our immersion program should be located). Read this article in the Post to be brought up to speed on the 6th grade articulation issue.
This is not a process that should be rushed or we will almost certainly get it wrong. MCPS needs to do right by those kids in 6th grade and take the time to make sure they don't shaft the rest of us in the process.
Testimony will be at Carver Educational Center, 850 Hungerford Drive, Rockville at 7 PM. I hope to see you there.
1) Operations (in the concern about meeting the needs of the 6th graders still at the Chases);
2) Capital Improvements (in the desire to build a new school, find a location and support the many needs of the community); and,
3) Articulation (in the discussion about where 6th grade should be located and now the discussion about where our immersion program should be located). Read this article in the Post to be brought up to speed on the 6th grade articulation issue.
This is not a process that should be rushed or we will almost certainly get it wrong. MCPS needs to do right by those kids in 6th grade and take the time to make sure they don't shaft the rest of us in the process.
Testimony will be at Carver Educational Center, 850 Hungerford Drive, Rockville at 7 PM. I hope to see you there.
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Weast Proposes New Middle School for BCC Cluster
Superintendent Weast recently proposed a new middle school for the Bethesda Chevy Chase Cluster to allieviate crowding at Westland, should the 6th grades at North Chevy Chase and Chevy Chase ES move out of their elementary setting and into a middle school.
What does this mean for us? It is unclear at this time. What worries many parents, myself included is:
1) Why were we excluded from the meetings that proposed this new school. This is a major change that will primarily impact our community in addition to the Chases. While it is acceptable and understandable that this proposal came out of a different discussion, we should have been brought to the table immediately when it became something to seriously consider.
2) Will this impact our modernization? Our school was once what I called 40X40: 40 years since it's last modernization and 40% over capacity. With the growth we have seen this year, we are now 40X60: 60% over capacity. We cannot wait, we cannot be pushed back any longer. With the VERY limited dollars at the systems disposal, what will happen when the need to make choices? We cannot wait any longer to have a school that meets the standards of the 21st century.
3) Why are we rushing this process without more thorough study? I acknowledge that the situation at the chases is untenable. Their kids are not getting what they need or deserve, but rushing into a new school building without thorough study is a recipe for disaster.
4) Will the new school, should it come to pass, be equivelant to Westland? It would be a bitter irony if we go through all this only to end up at a school that doesn't have playing fields or the IB program. The cluster is very densly populated. Westland sits on 25 acres. Where is there a site like that? Or even half it's size? The International Baccalaureate program is a huge asset to Westland. Any new program must be equal to it's sister school.
My recommendations for the school system: take a year, provide the support for the Chases, do a thorough study including ALL the communities. This is too important and expensive to get wrong.
What does this mean for us? It is unclear at this time. What worries many parents, myself included is:
1) Why were we excluded from the meetings that proposed this new school. This is a major change that will primarily impact our community in addition to the Chases. While it is acceptable and understandable that this proposal came out of a different discussion, we should have been brought to the table immediately when it became something to seriously consider.
2) Will this impact our modernization? Our school was once what I called 40X40: 40 years since it's last modernization and 40% over capacity. With the growth we have seen this year, we are now 40X60: 60% over capacity. We cannot wait, we cannot be pushed back any longer. With the VERY limited dollars at the systems disposal, what will happen when the need to make choices? We cannot wait any longer to have a school that meets the standards of the 21st century.
3) Why are we rushing this process without more thorough study? I acknowledge that the situation at the chases is untenable. Their kids are not getting what they need or deserve, but rushing into a new school building without thorough study is a recipe for disaster.
4) Will the new school, should it come to pass, be equivelant to Westland? It would be a bitter irony if we go through all this only to end up at a school that doesn't have playing fields or the IB program. The cluster is very densly populated. Westland sits on 25 acres. Where is there a site like that? Or even half it's size? The International Baccalaureate program is a huge asset to Westland. Any new program must be equal to it's sister school.
My recommendations for the school system: take a year, provide the support for the Chases, do a thorough study including ALL the communities. This is too important and expensive to get wrong.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Modernization Specifications
The Planning office has shared with us the likely specifications for a new RCF building and I have included them below. Take some time to look through the PDF. It is really exciting.
There is so much more space than we have had to date. It is amazing to contemplate what this will mean for the next generation of RCF students. Staff will actually have offices! The lunch room will seat everyone!
Current law mandates that all schools be "green." Which means at least LEED Silver, and so far, all new schools have been LEED Gold. (see the link to find out more about the LEED program: http://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=1586, for a more understandable version see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leadership_in_Energy_and_Environmental_Design). Current law also requires a green roof -- literally, there will be plants on the roof to minimize run off into Rock Creek and the Chesapeake Bay.
Finally, keep an eye out for meeting annoucements. There will be a lot of planning happening in the fall!
Here's the link to the specifications: Modernization Specifications
There is so much more space than we have had to date. It is amazing to contemplate what this will mean for the next generation of RCF students. Staff will actually have offices! The lunch room will seat everyone!
Current law mandates that all schools be "green." Which means at least LEED Silver, and so far, all new schools have been LEED Gold. (see the link to find out more about the LEED program: http://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=1586, for a more understandable version see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leadership_in_Energy_and_Environmental_Design). Current law also requires a green roof -- literally, there will be plants on the roof to minimize run off into Rock Creek and the Chesapeake Bay.
Finally, keep an eye out for meeting annoucements. There will be a lot of planning happening in the fall!
Here's the link to the specifications: Modernization Specifications
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Feasibility Study Meeting Dates
There are two feasibility meetings to discuss the beginning steps of the school modernization of Rock Creek Forest ES. These are the beginning stages where we learn how the process works and all parents, community members and staff are invited to attend.
The meetings are scheduled on Tuesday, April 27th from 3:45 pm to 5:15 pm and on Tuesday, May 4th from 7:30 pm to 8:45 pm as part of the May PTA meeting.
The meetings are scheduled on Tuesday, April 27th from 3:45 pm to 5:15 pm and on Tuesday, May 4th from 7:30 pm to 8:45 pm as part of the May PTA meeting.
Friday, March 26, 2010
BOE meets at RCF
Last night, the board of education came to Rock Creek Forest to hear presentations from the BCC cluster schools. Many members of the Student Government Association with support from Srta. Garcia gave tours to members of the BOE who came early.
Then, each school had five minutes to present about their programs, achievements and challenges.It was interesting to hear many of the common themes: over-crowding and staff reductions, chief among them.
When I had an opportunity to testify, I shared a power point illustrating our challenges and our successes.
BOE Presentation
Many thanks to Craig Brown, Jack Hauser, and Joy White, our cluster coordinators, who organized the event, the many Rock Creek Forest parents, teachers and staff who came out to support their school and, as always, the building service team.
Then, each school had five minutes to present about their programs, achievements and challenges.It was interesting to hear many of the common themes: over-crowding and staff reductions, chief among them.
When I had an opportunity to testify, I shared a power point illustrating our challenges and our successes.
BOE Presentation
Many thanks to Craig Brown, Jack Hauser, and Joy White, our cluster coordinators, who organized the event, the many Rock Creek Forest parents, teachers and staff who came out to support their school and, as always, the building service team.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Gazette recognizes needs of BCC Cluster Schools
It was with great relief that I read today's Gazette. The dire over-crowding conditions at Rock Creek Forest seem to finally be getting the attention they deserve.
Follow the link below to the article which quotes extensively from me, Amanda Waugh and fellow RCF parent, Craig Brown, who is also a BCC Cluster coordinator.
http://www.gazette.net/stories/03032010/chevnew224119_32547.php.
Next Steps? Keeping the pressure on the county and the state to fund our modernization. Stay tuned...
Follow the link below to the article which quotes extensively from me, Amanda Waugh and fellow RCF parent, Craig Brown, who is also a BCC Cluster coordinator.
http://www.gazette.net/stories/03032010/chevnew224119_32547.php.
Next Steps? Keeping the pressure on the county and the state to fund our modernization. Stay tuned...
Friday, February 19, 2010
Testimony at the County Council
Thank you for having me here tonight. My name is Amanda Waugh, I am the co-President of the Rock Creek Forest PTA and am here to lend my voice in support of full funding for the Capital Improvement Plan.
Many of you are familiar with Rock Creek Forest, but for those who are not, let me tell you a little about our school. We have approximately 500 students in our two programs, the home school English Academy and the county wide Spanish Immersion magnet program.
Our facility is what I call 40 by 40. We are roughly 40% over capacity and 40 years since our last modernization.
Rock Creek Forest was built in 1950 and last modernized in 1971. Our facility designed for 372 kids and currently serves 501. I want to draw your attention to that number. We were built for 372 and hold 501. That puts us at 139% capacity. We have six portables and expect to need eight next year. The most in our cluster.
As I said, it has been almost 40 years since Rock Creek Forest was last modernized. That is older than the parents of many rock creek forest students, but more importantly, it means we struggle to meet the needs of 21st century kids in a building designed before cassette tapes were widely used.
At any given time up to 25% of our students are being taught in a portable. Our lunches are served not only in the APR but also on the stage. One out of 5 students at RCF is on FARMS and we have the highest percentage of students receiving ESOL services in the cluster.
I have sat in meetings with teachers where the thermostat read over 80 degrees at other times teachers have recorded temperatures as low as 56 degrees because the heat is either on or not.
The roof leaks at times, the front of the school floods and freezes in a rain or snow, rooms are either stifling hot or freezing cold, paint bubbles off the walls due to moisture, windows cannot be tightly closed and insects are common and every little space is used for something, closets have been repurposed for offices.
Our buses back up nearly to East West Highway, since in 1970 we served walkers, but now, with our immersion program drawing from across the county, we receive 10 buses every day.
So what do we do? First of all, we are in line to receive planning funds in this round of funding, so please pass the CIP. Second, recognize that this is a long range commitment, we need planning funds in this cycle, but we will need building funds in the next cycle. Third, realize that as tight as money is right now, interest rates present an historic opportunity to lock in bonds at low rates, constructions costs have decreased and building schools puts people to work.
Finally, I want to make sure you are aware of the double bind of Rock Creek Forest. Even when you fund this CIP, we will still have huge capacity issues until the new building is complete in 2015. Our overcrowding should push us to the top of the addition queue, but due to our pending modernization, we are not eligible for an addition. It is critical, for the kids who are in a school that is 40% beyond its capacity, that you move the process forward.
Having drawn your attention to that, I want to assure you that we, at Rock Creek Forest, are reaching out to our state legislators and Governor O’Malley with letters and emails to request that funding for the county’s capital needs is adequate.
We have waited long enough. Please make sure that the children of Rock Creek Forest get the attention they need. Thank you.
Many of you are familiar with Rock Creek Forest, but for those who are not, let me tell you a little about our school. We have approximately 500 students in our two programs, the home school English Academy and the county wide Spanish Immersion magnet program.
Our facility is what I call 40 by 40. We are roughly 40% over capacity and 40 years since our last modernization.
Rock Creek Forest was built in 1950 and last modernized in 1971. Our facility designed for 372 kids and currently serves 501. I want to draw your attention to that number. We were built for 372 and hold 501. That puts us at 139% capacity. We have six portables and expect to need eight next year. The most in our cluster.
As I said, it has been almost 40 years since Rock Creek Forest was last modernized. That is older than the parents of many rock creek forest students, but more importantly, it means we struggle to meet the needs of 21st century kids in a building designed before cassette tapes were widely used.
At any given time up to 25% of our students are being taught in a portable. Our lunches are served not only in the APR but also on the stage. One out of 5 students at RCF is on FARMS and we have the highest percentage of students receiving ESOL services in the cluster.
I have sat in meetings with teachers where the thermostat read over 80 degrees at other times teachers have recorded temperatures as low as 56 degrees because the heat is either on or not.
The roof leaks at times, the front of the school floods and freezes in a rain or snow, rooms are either stifling hot or freezing cold, paint bubbles off the walls due to moisture, windows cannot be tightly closed and insects are common and every little space is used for something, closets have been repurposed for offices.
Our buses back up nearly to East West Highway, since in 1970 we served walkers, but now, with our immersion program drawing from across the county, we receive 10 buses every day.
So what do we do? First of all, we are in line to receive planning funds in this round of funding, so please pass the CIP. Second, recognize that this is a long range commitment, we need planning funds in this cycle, but we will need building funds in the next cycle. Third, realize that as tight as money is right now, interest rates present an historic opportunity to lock in bonds at low rates, constructions costs have decreased and building schools puts people to work.
Finally, I want to make sure you are aware of the double bind of Rock Creek Forest. Even when you fund this CIP, we will still have huge capacity issues until the new building is complete in 2015. Our overcrowding should push us to the top of the addition queue, but due to our pending modernization, we are not eligible for an addition. It is critical, for the kids who are in a school that is 40% beyond its capacity, that you move the process forward.
Having drawn your attention to that, I want to assure you that we, at Rock Creek Forest, are reaching out to our state legislators and Governor O’Malley with letters and emails to request that funding for the county’s capital needs is adequate.
We have waited long enough. Please make sure that the children of Rock Creek Forest get the attention they need. Thank you.
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