walter johnson cluster july 13, 2015

8/20/2019 Walter Johnson Cluster July 13, 2015

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Walter Johnson Cluster

Inputs to the 2017-2022 Capital Improvements Program (CIP) Budget

July 201

Walter Johnson P!" Cluster

Walter Johnson High School – North Bethesda Middle School – Tilden Middle School –

Ashburton Elementary School – Farmland Elementary School – Garrett ar! Elementary School

– "ensington#ar!$ood Elementary School – %u&manor Elementary School – Wyngate

Elementary School – 'oc! Terrace School

Than! you (or the o))ortunity to submit in)uts and comments on the F* +,-.#+,++ /a)ital

0m)ro1ements rogram 2/034

#nrollment Changes in the Walter Johnson Cluster

0n the Walter Johnson cluster5 $e are no$ seeing the resale o( many homes $ithin the boundaries

o( our cluster (rom em)ty nesters to (amilies $ith school#age children5 generating more students4/ou)le that $ith signi(icant ne$ residential de1elo)ment that is both in )rocess and under

re1ie$ (or a))ro1al5 and $e see continuing )ressure on the ca)acity o( our (acilities4 0n (act5 all

/0 enrollment data sho$s steady enrollment or increasing enrollment at all schools $ithin the

cluster4

From the /0 $e can already )redict that there $ill be about -,6, more students in si& years5 and

-7,, more students in ten years5 in our cluster4 Ho$e1er5 the /0 does not account (or most o( the )otential students $ho $ould result (rom de1elo)ment in the (irst White Flint sector )lan5

(rom any )ro8ect $ithout site )lan a))ro1al 2e1en $here residences are scheduled to o)en by

+,+,35 or se1eral more a))ro1ed sites4

What $ould the /0 loo! li!e i( those students $ere included9 /onsider the im)act i( the only

additional de1elo)ment built in the cluster in the ne&t si& years is )hase - o( the (irst White Flintsector )lan and t$o additional high#rises – a modest assum)tion4 This $ould add about another

+,, students to our area – almost -+6, more than today5 in si& years4

Then5 consider the result o( ten years o( com)arable de1elo)ment4 0t is reasonable to assume that$ould generate almost another ++, students5 resulting in almost -:+, more than today-5 in ten

years4

Nor $ill this be the end o( de1elo)ment # there $ill be most o( t$o more stages o( building (or

the White Flint and "ensington )lans 2ultimately including a total o( an estimated -,56,,housing units35 a second White Flint sector )lan5 and at least (our other )otential ma8or de1elo)ments $ithin our cluster4

We need to do a better 8ob o( )lanning (or the de1elo)ments that are e&)ected to be built and the

turno1er in e&isting housing4 We need to be )roacti1e so that $e don;t (ind our schools and our

1 This estimate uses MCPS data and assumptions for development sizes, student

generation rates, and sector plan timeframes.

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teachers o1er#stretched4

$a%ility Chara%teristi%s

Here are the /luster;s 1ie$s on some im)ortant as)ects o( school (acilities<

• Sa(ety – We 1ie$ relocatable classrooms as a sa(ety issue5 es)ecially in a loc!#do$n

situation4 These units are installed on school )ro)erty5 but are only connected to the

=bric! and mortar> building by co1ered $ooden $al!$ays4

• laygrounds and Fields – lay 2e&ercise3 is an essential )art o( the school day (or

elementary school children5 allo$ing students to stay healthy5 maintain (ocus5 and

de1elo) academic s!ills4 Middle and high school (ields 2including courts3 are critical (or

)hysical education and team s)orts5 and de1elo)ing s!ills related to grou) $or! andleadershi)4 laygrounds and (ields must be si?ed to accommodate the enrolled student

body4 At elementary schools5 )laygrounds need to ha1e de(ined )erimeters to allo$ the

)layground monitor2s3 to !ee) trac! o( the students using the )layground4 'elocatable

classrooms both ta!e a$ay s)ace normally used (or )laygrounds and (ields and createareas $here students and =1isitors> can hide (rom the monitor4

• Sta(( @((ice or Wor!s)ace – While the addition o( classrooms to an o1ercro$ded school

is the (irst ste) to reducing or5 ho)e(ully5 eliminating the need (or relocatable classrooms

on the school )ro)erty5 there are other considerations5 es)ecially school sta(( $ho )ro1ideoutside the classroom ser1ices to our students5 e4g45 counselors4 M/S needs to establish

a reasonable5 $or!able ceiling (or the number o( students that can be ser1iced by each

school counselor and then )ro1ide an adeuate number o( counselors to each school4 Butthese )ersonnel need a )lace (rom $hich to )er(orm their duties – o((ice s)ace or

$or!s)ace adeuate (or meeting $ith students indi1idually or in small grou)s4

• /a(eteria S)ace – The school day should not be disru)ted by multi)le lunch brea!s4 Each

school should ha1e an adeuately si?ed and sta((ed ca(eteria to ser1e lunch to all enrolled

students in t$o ,#minute lunch )eriods (or elementary and middle school students andone C,#minute )eriod (or high school students4 Many o( our schools ha1e recei1ed

classroom additions5 but the ca(eteria 2or All ur)ose 'oom3 $as not e&)anded4Moreo1er5 there need to be enough se)arate (ood choice lines to get the students to tables

and eating $ith su((icient time to com)lete their meals4 The All ur)ose 'ooms in

elementary schools are also used as the s)ace (or cultural and school assemblies4 Whenthere are three or more lunch )eriods in a day5 it is almost im)ossible to (it in enough

time to ha1e any assemblies4 Also5 there is not enough room to (it all o( the students in

one assembly5 and the result is either multi)le days o( the same assembly5 $ith a muchhigher cost (or cultural assemblies or not all o( the students being included in the

assemblies5 $hich is not acce)table (or school assemblies and school#conducted to$n#

hall meetings• Gymnasiums – A similar comment to the ca(eteria si?ing is necessary (or gymnasiums4

As the school gro$s and more classrooms or relocatable classrooms are added5 there need

to be adeuately si?ed gymnasiums to hold the number o( students $ho are )artici)ating

in indoor acti1ities or recess at one time4 0nadeuate s)ace can lead to in8uriesD

The (ollo$ing )aragra)hs address s)eci(ic /0 issues at each elementary school $ithin the

Walter Johnson /luster<

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-4 "ensington#ar!$ood 2"3 – The Amendments to the F* +,-7#+,+, /0 ha1e an

addition $ith construction beginning in January +,-. and com)leting in August +,-6 that

$ill eliminate the need (or relocatable classrooms5 i4e45 all o( our students $ill be taughtinside the $alls o( the )ermanent structure4 We $ill continue to monitor housing turno1er

and its in(luence on enrollment4 With an enrollment ca)acity o( .C students once the

addition is com)lete5 " does not e&)ect any more construction on this site and is notreuesting (urther additions4 This may mean that the )ro)osed se1enth elementary school

$ithin the Walter Johnson cluster $ill be needed sooner than currently antici)ated4

+4 %u&manor – The %u&manor 'eno1ationE&)ansion 2'e1E&3 )ro8ect is no$ scheduled to be com)leted in January +,+,4 When the 'e1E& is com)leted5 %u&manor $ill ha1e a

rogram /a)acity (or .7 students4 As in the "ensington#ar!$ood case5 there $ill be

continuing housing turno1er and construction o( additional housing units 2es)ecially

a)artments3 $ithin the %u&manor boundaries4 %u&manor is not reuesting (urther additions4 This may mean that the )ro)osed se1enth elementary school $ithin the Walter

Johnson cluster $ill be needed sooner than currently antici)ated4

4 Ashburton – As one o( the largest elementary schools in M/S5 Ashburton is not only

signi(icantly o1er enrollment ca)acity inside the )hysical structure o( the school5 but alsois larger than M/S )lanners desire (or an elementary school4 With a )lanned addition to

be ready (or occu)ation in August +,+,5 the student enrollment $ill still be greater thanthe ca)acity inside the building4 0n other $ords5 e1en a(ter com)leting the addition5

Ashburton $ill still need relocatable classrooms on its )ro)erty4 Ashburton5 too5 is not

reuesting (urther additions4 This may mean that the )ro)osed se1enth elementary school$ithin the Walter Johnson cluster $ill be needed sooner than currently antici)ated4

4 Garrett ar! – Garrett ar! recently com)leted 'e1E&5 but is no$ nearing (ull ca)acity4

Some o( the housing construction in the White Flint de1elo)ment area $ill im)act Garrett

ar! enrollment5 adding at least +,, students 2most not yet in the /03 to a site that hasno more room (or hori?ontal additions4 This may mean that the )ro)osed se1enth

elementary school $ithin the Walter Johnson cluster $ill be needed sooner than currently

antici)ated474 Se1enth Elementary School – The housing turno1er and housing de1elo)ment $ithin the

Walter Johnson /luster sho$ no signs o( abating4 The de1elo)ment on the %erner

)ro)erty is currently held bac! by the la$suits (iled by %ord and Taylor against %erner4This is delaying the decisions necessary to 2-3 identi(y )ro)erty (or a se1enth elementary

school and 2+3 begin )lanning and construction o( that school4 This se1enth elementary

school $ill not only house the students (rom the ne$ residences being constructed under

the (irst White Flint sector )lan and other de1elo)ments5 but may need to acce)t studentsthat currently attend "ensington#ar!$ood5 %u&manor5 Ashburton5 and Garrett ar!4

Since5 under the best case scenario5 our elementary schools $ill be5 on a1erage5 close to

or abo1e .,, students in less than ten years5 $e must )lan (or the high li!elihood that our cluster $ill reuire a se1enth elementary school site4 lease !ee) all o)tions o)en (or

obtaining such a site in our cluster4 As stated in )re1ious in)uts<

a4 We continue to urge the Board o( Education5 the /ounty /ouncil5 and thelanning Board to $or! together to secure a site (or a se1enth elementary school

in the (irst White Flint sector )lan4 es)ite reuests (or the dedicated site (rom

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M/S5 de1elo)ers ha1e re(used to ma!e this commitment4+ Without e&)ressing a

site )re(erence5 $e call on the three agencies in1ol1ed to 2-3 reuire that White

Flint 2WF3 Mall South be returned to its intended 4+#acre si?e5 insist on a )artialor total dedication5 a((irm that you $ill )urchase the land not dedicated5 and

reser1e the site5 or5 2+3 amend the (irst WF sector )lan5 solely to assign WF ar!

North as the school site5 $ith at least +47 acres5 and reser1e the site4 We also as! you to listen to the 1oices o( a((ected communities in the design and use o( such a

site4

b4 "ee)ing all o)tions o)en also entails re1ie$ing the e&isting county o$ned )ro)erties in the WJ cluster4 We see! a re1ie$ so that M/S designs leases o(5

and studies o)tions (or5 relocating o)erations that are currently in5 those )ro)erties

to determine ho$ li!ely it is that M/S could use these )ro)erties4 We are a$are

that it may be highly di((icult or e&)ensi1e to use some e&isting school sites in our cluster5 and $ish to !no$ $hich ones are reasonable o)tions4 We also as! that you

!ee) the current 'oc! Terrace school site as school s)ace rather than an

administrati1e (acility5 in ho)es that the Gros1enor holding school could be

mo1ed there4c4 We as! that you a((irm that you $ill (und )lans (or schools to be located on

smaller sites5 $hich could include the use o( multi#story schools5 as $ell asunderground )ar!ing4

C4 Farmland and Wyngate – We are )leased to state that $e ha1e t$o elementary schools

$ithin the Walter Johnson /luster that are adeuately si?ed $ith no addition or 'e1E&action )lanned or needed at this time4

.4 Eighth Elementary School – Although $e belie1e that the current boundaries o( the

Walter Johnson /luster $ill not reuire an eighth elementary school soon5 i( it becomes

necessary to redistrict the Bethesda#/he1y /hase and Whitman clusters5 there may be aneed (or an eighth elementary school $ithin the current Walter Johnson boundaries4 This

school may not (eed into the Walter Johnson cluster5 but there may be land a1ailable (or

its construction5 es)ecially in the 'oc! S)ring o((ice )ar!4 We remain o)en to thediscussion o( many o)tions to accommodate our student )o)ulation in the o1erall area

that includes these three clusters (or the greatest bene(its to their education4

&iddle '%hools

@ur WJ middle schools ha1e been e&)eriencing the antici)ated domino e((ect (rom higher

enrollments in our (eeder elementary schools4 ressure is being (elt in terms o( both (acilities and )rograms4

Tilden Middle School'oc! Terrace SchoolThe WJ cluster strongly su))orts the com)lete e&)ansion and re1itali?ation o( the (ormer Tilden

Middle School located on Tilden %ane (or use as Tilden Middle School again4 The cluster is

disa))ointed $ith the continued )ost)onement o( )lanned construction5 (or $hich the end date is

2 We note that members of Planning Board have expressed interest in a partial dedication of a site, with developers

in the first White Flint sector paying for some or all of the remaining costs of acquisition. If a full dedication is

impossible, we strongly support this approach.

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no$ August +,+,4 By August o( +,+,5 Tilden $ill be beyond ca)acity4 Not only $ill -,7,

students (rom current neighborhoods attend Tilden5 but about , students $ill 8oin us (rom the

early stages o( ne$ de1elo)ments5 based on M/S )ro8ections4

By +,+5 Tilden is )ro8ected to ha1e o1er -+7, students5 $ith -+,, (rom the current

neighborhoods and about ., (rom ne$ de1elo)ments – $ith many more to come4 Gi1en the )ro8ected in(lu& o( students5 $e as! that you increase the si?e o( the (ully e&)anded (acility on

Tilden %ane5 building it to a core ca)acity o( at least -,, students5 $ith structural ca)acity

designed (or (urther 1ertical additions4

The cluster su))orts the co#location o( Tilden MS $ith the 'oc! Terrace School5 and the cluster

ho)es that the school and neighborhood communities $ill $or! together on a (acility design that

$or!s (or all our students4 All the schools in the cluster ha1e s)ecial education students5 and thecluster sees the bene(its o( integration and o))ortunities (or students and )arents to be )art o( a

school community4

North Bethesda Middle School 2NBMS3The e&)ected enrollment o( NBMS is e&)ected to gro$ (rom :6 (or the +,-#+,-7 school year5

to -5-.+ (or the +,-.#+,-6 school year4 NBMS is )leased that the e&)ansion )ro8ect (or -.additional classrooms5 ne$ au&iliary gym and $idened ca(eteria is scheduled to begin January

+,-.4 With enrollment already abo1e )rogram ca)acity5 it is im)erati1e that this )ro8ect remain

in the /04 The NB ca(eteria5 already )ushed beyond ca)acity at e1ery lunch )eriod5 $ill becomee1en more crammed $hen NBMS $elcomes ne$ Cth graders in the (all o( +,-74 Add those

students to the number o( returning .th# and 6th#graders5 and you ha1e a )o)ulation that e&ceeds

)rogram ca)acity4

WMA% Site

The sale o( the WMA% )ro)erty could result in ,, homes5 many o( $hich $ill ha1e children

attending schools in the WJ cluster4 The WMA% )ro)erty sale is )articularly concerning becauseo( the estimated number o( homes and the (act that the ma8ority o( the )ro)erty is $ithin the

boundaries o( the WJ cluster4 The cluster $ants to ensure that an additional school is included in

the de1elo)ment )lans – )re(erably a middle school4 Assuming that M/S $ill (ind it necessaryto reo)en a HS in the Bethesda area5 it $ill need a corres)onding MS4 Since there is no other

large unde1elo)ed area in the southern end o( the /ounty5 the WMA% )ro)erty is the logical site

(or that MS – and the time to acuire the land is no$4 0( the cost o( obtaining land at the WMA%

site (or a school is )rohibiti1e5 the cluster $ould su))ort less e&)ensi1e o)tions (or obtaining theland needed (or an additional school in the cluster4 0n )articular5 $e urge the lanning Board5

M/S5 and the /ounty /ouncil to (ully consider an o)tion that collocates a school $ith county

(acilities at the WMA% site and accesses multi)le (unding sources4

igh '%hool

We are alarmed by the )ro8ected increase in student enrollment at Walter Johnson High School #

to about -+, )ercent o( ca)acity in C years4 We !no$ that M/S sta(( and the /ounty /ouncil

ha1e considered addressing the o1ercro$ding by< 2-3 building an addition to Walter Johnson

High School5 to increase its si?e to +,, students5 2+3 reo)ening the Wood$ard building as a


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high school5 or 23 )lacing an 6#room classroom addition in the /05 as a )laceholder5 allo$ing

de1elo)ment to continue in our cluster4

A))roach 2-3< M/S %' sta(( ha1e suggested that the (easibility study (or Walter Johnson

High School address a , – , classroom addition4 We ha1e concerns about greatly increasing

the si?e o( the high school4 E1en no$5 ++C students ha1e limited o))ortunities to )artici)ate in asingle team s)ort5 drama )roduction5 or class election5 $hich )romote grou) learning and

leadershi)4 Ho$e1er5 $e acce)t the need (or an addition $ith classrooms and corres)onding core

s)ace on the high school cam)us4

A))roach 2+3< %' sta(( ha1e discussed the )ossibility o( addressing Bethesda#area high school

o1ercro$ding by using the Wood$ard building as an additional high school4 Wood$ard $ill

house Tilden Middle School until the school mo1es5 about August +,+,4 @nce that day comes5$e as! you to retain the Wood$ard building (or a high school4 All three o( the clusters in our

area – B#//5 Whitman5 and Walter Johnson # are bursting at the seams4 @ne or more o( them $ill

surely need additional high school ca)acity 2and middle school and elementary school s)ace34

A))roach 23< @n June ,5 the /ounty /ouncil introduced an amendment 2=Amendment>3 to the

F* +,-7 – +,+, /0 concerning a Walter Johnson cluster high school solution4 The Amendment )ro)oses a )laceholder (or the /0 (or an 6#classroom addition4 We understand the )ressure on

the /ounty to use a )laceholder to a1ert a construction moratorium – des)ite (uture de1elo)ment

being a ma8or cause o( our high school gro$th4 0( the /ounty uses a )laceholder5 $e as! that<-4 The addition be )aid (or $ith added (unds4 The Amendment does not add (unding4 0( the

addition it describes # or the , – , classroom addition described abo1e # $as a))ro1ed5

it $ould com)ete $ith other school )ro8ects (or /0 (unds4 @ur cluster has si& other

schools that badly need those (unds4 0t is hugely un(air to )ush bac! other )ro8ects due toa clamor (or more de1elo)ment4 lease issue bonds and ma!e a su))lemental

a))ro)riation (or the Walter Johnson High School addition4

+4 The resulting addition )ro1ide more core s)ace4 0magine an addition that brings Walter Johnson High School ca)acity to +,, students5 as contem)lated (or the (easibility study4

This $ould add more than :,, students to the high school – enough to (ill a single high

school by themsel1es4 lease a))ro1e a )ro8ect $ith ma8or core s)ace5 such as agymnasium5 an auditorium5 a library5 counseling s)ace5 and more4

Although there has not been much )ublic discussion o( a (ourth a))roach5 $e $ish to ma!e our

o)inion clear< We $ill adamantly o))ose any )lan to redra$ our cluster boundaries unless itin1ol1es o)ening a high school $ithin those cluster boundaries 2)resumably Wood$ard34 There

is no s)ace (or our students in the clusters surrounding ours5 so other redistricting $ould not

resol1e the ca)acity issues4

Finally5 )lease (ind attached consolidated in)uts to =Attachment A – 'euests (or 0ndi1idual

ro8ects5> =Attachment B – 'euests (or /ounty#$ide ro8ects5> and the letters submitted byT2S3As $ithin the /luster4

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"tta%hment "

e*uests +or Individual Pro,e%ts

Walter Johnson igh '%hool Cluster

" e*uest +or Individual Pro,e%ts

"dditions

.ensington-Par/ood #lementary '%hool

We as! that our addition remain on trac! to begin in January +,-. and be com)leted by Augusto( +,-65 as )ro)osed in the F* +,-.#+,++ /04 We belie1e that the gro$th o( our student

)o)ulation $ill continue to out)ace estimates as the neighborhood turns o1er to younger

(amilies5 the rental mar!et demands remain strong due to the e&)ansion o( the nearby Walter 'eed National Military Medical /enter and e1er )resent $or!(orce at the National 0nstitutes o(

Health5 and the a))ro1al o( the "ensington Sector lan brings ne$ de1elo)ment to the area4

Walter Johnson igh '%hool

/om)lete the initial (easibility study (or an addition to the high school structure4 0nclude

consideration o( additional common areas to su))ort during and be(orea(ter school acti1ities and

social#emotional interactions o( high school#age students4

% orth Bethesda &iddle '%hool

We are )leased that the e&)ansion )ro8ect (or -. additional classrooms5 ne$ au&iliary gym and

$idened ca(eteria is scheduled to begin January +,-.4 With enrollment already abo1e )rogramca)acity5 it is im)erati1e that this )ro8ect remain scheduled in the /04

2evitali3ations4#5pansions

!ilden &iddle '%hool and o%/ !erra%e '%hool

The Tilden Middle School TSA strongly su))orts the com)lete e&)ansion and re1itali?ation o(

the (ormer Tilden Middle School located on Tilden %ane (or use as Tilden Middle School again4We su))ort the collocation o( Tilden MS $ith the 'oc! Terrace School5 and loo! (or$ard to

$or!ing $ith our ne$ neighbors on a (acility design that $or!s (or all our students4 Ho$e1er5 $e

are sorely disa))ointed $ith the continued )ost)onement o( )lanned construction5 (or $hich theend date is no$ August +,+,4

@ur TSA urges you< lease maintain the ne$ schedule5 allo$ing no additional )ost)onements4

By August o( +,+, Tilden $ill be beyond ca)acity4 Not only $ill -,7, students (rom currentneighborhoods attend Tilden 2current /035 but about , students $ill 8oin us (rom the early

stages o( ne$ de1elo)ments 2White Flint Sector 0 and nearby de1elo)ments5 using M/S

)ro8ections and methodology34

By +,+5 Tilden is )ro8ected to ha1e o1er -+7, students5 $ith -+,, (rom the current

neighborhoods and about ., (rom ne$ de1elo)ments – $ith many more to come4 Gi1en the )ro8ected in(lu& o( students5 $e as! that you increase the si?e o( the (ully e&)anded (acility on

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Tilden %ane5 building it to a core ca)acity o( at least -,, students5 $ith structural ca)acity

designed (or (urther 1ertical additions4

As you design the collocated Tilden and 'oc! Terrace schools5 $e urge M/S to !ee) se1eral

(eatures in mind4 The t$o schools need t$o main entrances $ith controlled access4 They also

need all a1ailable outdoor s)ace5 to ma&imi?e student (itness and concentration5 and )romotegrou) learning5 social com)etency5 and leadershi) abilities through outdoor acti1ities4 The site

should include (ull#si?e athletic (ields5 (or school and community use4 We urge you to consider –

and $ould encourage the /ounty to (und #underground sta(( )ar!ing to ma!e the most e((icientuse o( land at this site4

The Tilden TSA su))orts classroom additions at Ashburton ES5 "ensington ar!$ood ES5 and

North Bethesda MS5 and a re1itali?atione&)ansion o( %u&manor ES4 As the large cohort o( students in our elementary schools is mo1ing into middle schools and a))roaching high school5

$e urge to you act uic!ly to )lan and construct an addition at Walter Johnson HS5 or other

ca)acity in our cluster4 Also5 at the a))ro)riate time5 )lease e&)edite the construction or

reno1ation o( a .

th

elementary school (or our cluster4 We as! (or (ull (unding o( these )ro8ects inorder to !ee) them on schedule4

6u5manor #lementary '%hool

o not (urther delay the reno1atione&)ansion o( %u&manor4 The (easibility study $as conducted

t$o school years ago and the community is e&cited about ha1ing our students in a modern

building4 @ur building $as constructed in -:CC and5 a(ter : years5 the building is really sho$ingits age4 /urrently5 the com)letion date (or the moderni?ation is )ro8ected (or January +,-:4 At

that time5 the building $ill be 7 years old4 es)ite mo1ing into our ne$ building addition a (e$

years ago5 $e ha1e already outgro$n our current ca)acity and e&)ect to gro$ at a (aster rate (or the ne&t se1eral years4

e '%hools

E&)edite the )lanning and construction o( the se1enth elementary school (or our cluster5 asoutlined in the White Flint sector )lan4

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"tta%hment B

e*uests +or County-ide Pro,e%ts

Walter Johnson igh '%hool Cluster

2 "sestos "atement

o%/ !erra%e '%hool< Maintenance )ro8ects scheduled (or summer +,-7 $ere delayed )endinga (easibility study including asbestos remo1al (rom ceiling tiles and re!eying the building4

Building &odi+i%ations and Program Improvements (B&PI)

!ilden &iddle '%hool< 0nstall )ermanent $alls in ES@% and World %anguage areas bet$een

classrooms that only ha1e )artitions4 This issue is substantially a((ecting the ability o( students to

hear instruction in these sub8ects4

8 eating9 :entilation9 and "ir Conditioning (:"C) epla%ement

!ilden &iddle '%hool< We $holeheartedly than! M/S (or meeting Tilden;s most urgent need –

re)lacement o( the chiller4 This allo$s students and teachers to use instructional time to (ocus onlearning5 rather than relocating students5 and the heat is not an obstacle to concentration4

orth Bethesda &iddle '%hool< @ur HIA/ system continues to be )roblematic5 $ith (reuentchiller )roblems and une1en ?one cooling and heating4

; Planned 6i+e Cy%le "sset epla%ement (P6")

orth Bethesda &iddle '%hool< Water)roo( masonry $alls and $indo$s in courtyard4

6u5manor #lementary '%hool< 'e)lace security gate in the hall$ay at 'oom -4

!ilden &iddle '%hool< 0nstall a clearly audible5 school#$ide )ublic address system4 @ur currentsystem is inaudible in the hall$ays5 ma!ing it im)ossible to send directions uic!ly $hen theschool shelters in )lace4

!ilden &iddle '%hool< 'e)air e&terior doors – three locations4 2ro8ect +- in theSu)erintendent;s March +C5 +,-75 memorandum on %A' )ro8ects43

!ilden &iddle '%hool< lease continue to u)date the $eight room5 moderni?ing eui)mentannually or as needed4

1 '%hool 'e%urity 'ystems

o%/ !erra%e '%hool< The school community is a))reciati1e o( the security cameras installed in

the halls5 gymnasium and ca(eteria o( the school4 The media center and e&terior s)aces in (ront o(

the school $ould also ma!e a di((erence to monitoring )ublic s)aces4 We ho)e that these )ro8ectscan be com)leted soon4

$


10/22

"shurton #lementary '%hool P!"

81< 6one =a/ >rive

Bethesda9 &> 20?17

June 5 +,-7

Mr4 %arry Bo$ersSu)erintendent o( Schools

Montgomery /ounty ublic Schools

67, Hunger(ord ri1e'oc!1ille5 Maryland +,67,

ear r4 Bo$ers<

The Ashburton arent#Teacher Association is )leased to ha1e the o))ortunity to submit

comments on the F* +,-. /a)ital 0m)ro1ements rogram 2/03 budget4

Ashburton continues to see steady gro$th and there is more de1elo)ment )ro)osed (or our area4Since our +,,: ten room addition $e ha1e added eight )ortables4 We reuest that this ne&t

addition $ill be built in accordance $ith the committee;s recommendations $ith adeuateclassroom and $or! s)ace (or our gro$ing school4 The )ro)osed addition $ill include eight

classrooms5 se1eral large and small instructional su))ort rooms and an e&)ansion o( the all#

)ur)ose room4 We loo! (or$ard to the e&)ansion o( the all#)ur)ose room to alle1iate the need (or si& lunch )eriods and )ro1ide more o))ortunities (or larger grou)s (or )er(ormances4 The core

ca)acity o( the school a(ter the addition $ill be .CC4 The Board o( Education a))ro1ed the +,-:

com)letion date but $e understand that the /ounty /ouncil has budgeted (unds (or +,+,4

We continue to see gro$th in enrollment throughout our cluster and $ithin our school

boundaries4 This is an issue throughout our cluster $ith ne$ de1elo)ment im)acting all o( our

schools)articularly along 'oc!1ille i!e5 although the elementary schools that (eed into NorthBethesda Middle School are all o1er ca)acity4 We ha1e seen enrollment gro$th as our older

neighborhoods continue to )roduce ne$ students and our a)artment com)le&es house more and

more children4 We had a large attendance at "indergarten @rientation and $e (eel that thissustained gro$th demonstrates a need (or more )ermanent classroom s)ace4 We are care(ully

monitoring )ro)osed ne$ de1elo)ments in our areaK including the -5,,, ne$ a)artment units in

'oc! S)ring 005 the -7, unit to$n#house de1elo)ment ne&t to Fleming ar!5 the additional high

rise a)artment building in oo!s Hill5 to$nhouses on 'oc! S)ring5 MN///;s a))ro1al o( )roducti1ity housing in Wild$ood Sho))ing /enter5 and the sale o( the WMA% )ro)erty5 $hich

could result in ,, homes5 all o( $hich $ill result in additional children attending Ashburton4

The WMA% )ro)erty sale is )articularly concerning $ith so many homesK e1en though oneaccess is o(( o( Greentree 'oad5 the ma8ority o( the )ro)erty is $ithin Ashburton;s boundaries4

While some o( these de1elo)ments are deemed u)scale5 $e (ind they do )roduce students4 We

$ant to ensure that additional schools are included in the de1elo)ment )lans (or the WMA% land5es)ecially an elementary school4

We $ant to )oint out5 once again5 that the Se)tember , enrollment (igures o( 6:- does not

accurately re(lect our school enrollment4 @ur E 2re#School Education rogram3 students

1%


11/22

enroll throughout the year as they turn three years old4 Additionally5 $e ha1e a E ilot

)rogram that includes ty)ical )eers $ho are not counted since they are not (ormally enrolled but

are registered and attend class4 @ur mobility throughout the year continues to be a (actor4 @ur enrollment at this time is at :+C4

We understand the com)eting needs (or scarce ca)ital budget dollars5 $ith numerousmoderni?ations5 additions and re)airre)lacement )ro8ects4 We also urge you to !ee)

moderni?ation on trac! (or our other cluster schools5 %u&manor Elementary Schools5 and Tilden

Middle School at Tilden /enter and the )ro)osed additions at "ensington ar!$ood ES and North Bethesda Middle School and )lanning (or (uture e&)ansion at Walter Johnson High

School4 We su))ort the mo1e o( Tilden Middle School to the Tilden %ane site along $ith co#

location o( the 'oc! Terrace School4 Ashburton has had s)ecial education students in our school

(or many years and $e see the bene(its o( integration and o))ortunities (or students and )arentsto be )art o( a school community4

@ur /ategories A5 'euests (or /a)ital ro8ects reuest is (or a))ro1al o( the (uture addition and

(unding in (uture years5 but none (or B5 'euests (or 0ndi1idual School )ro8ects4 This summer $e$ill ha1e a small )ro8ect to con1ert a com)uter lab into a classroom4 We continue to ha1e HIA/

issues in se1eral classrooms in )articular and in the main o((ice suite4

Than! you (or this o))ortunity to share our concerns $ith you4

Sincerely5

%aura /hace

Ashburton TA resident

cc< /harlene Garran5 rinci)al

Greg Mullenhol?5 rinci)al +,-7#-C

11


12/22

Walter Johnson igh '%hool P!'"

8


13/22

.ensington-Par/ood Parent !ea%her "sso%iation


14/22

6u5manor #lementary '%hool P!"

8201 !ilden 6ane

o%/ville9 &aryland 20?2

May --5 +,-7

%arry A4 Bo$ers5 0nterim Su)erintendent o( SchoolsMontgomery /ounty ublic Schools

67, Hunger(ord ri1e'oc!1ille5 Maryland +,67,

ear Mr4 Bo$ers5

The %u&manor Elementary School TA a))reciates the o))ortunity to submit recommendations

(or the Montgomery /ounty ublic Schools /a)ital 0m)ro1ements rogram4

The %u&manor Elementary School TA a))reciates the addition to our building5 $hich $as

com)leted (i1e years ago4 n(ortunately5 $e had already outgro$n the ne$ addition shortly a(ter it $as com)leted4 A(ter ha1ing to obtain one )ortable the (irst year a(ter the addition o)ened5 $eno$ ha1e three )ortables housing our o1er(lo$ o( classrooms4 We are )leased that in the latest

M/S )lans5 our )lanned 'eno1ationE&)ansion )ro8ect5 $hich had been delayed again5 has

been mo1ed bac! u) and is no$ scheduled to be com)leted in January o( +,-:5 $hich is stillalmost (our years a$ay4 We ha1e t$o ne$ a)artment buildings $ithin our boundary5 $ith -.

units in one and - in the other5 that o)ened last summer5 (rom $hich there are children

attending %u&manor4 There is a third ne$ a)artment building $ith another -: units in

construction that $ill be com)leted this summer5 and there are many more residential )ro8ects indesign in the White Flint sector $hich $ill house students (or %u&manor ES4

The %u&manor Elementary School TA $ould li!e to ma!e the (ollo$ing reuests<

art A

-4 o not delay the reno1atione&)ansion o( %u&manor anymore4 The (easibility study $asconducted t$o school years ago and the community is e&cited about ha1ing our studentsin a modern building4 @ur building $as constructed in -:CC and a(ter : years5 the building is really sho$ing its age4 /urrently5 the com)letion date (or the moderni?ation is )ro8ected (or January +,-:4 At that time5 the building $ill be 7 years old4 es)itemo1ing into our ne$ building addition a (e$ years ago5 $e ha1e already outgro$n our current ca)acity and e&)ect to gro$ at a (aster rate (or the ne&t se1eral years4

art B

-4 We su))ort the (easibility study (or the (uture reno1atione&)ansion o( Tilden MiddleSchool5 as $ell as the )ro)osed classroom additions (or North Bethesda Middle School5Ashburton Elementary School and "ensington#ar!$ood Elementary School4 We urge(ull (unding o( these )ro8ects4

+4 We su))ort the reno1atione&)ansion o( the old Tilden Middle School on Tilden %ane (or use as Tilden Middle School4 We are )leased to see that M/S has modi(ied the scheduleagain and that the (easibility study is scheduled to begin this year5 and the )lannedconstruction end date has been mo1ed bac! u) August +,-:4 The old building continues

14


15/22

to sit em)ty do$n the bloc! (rom %u&manor ES and its condition $ill continue todeteriorate4 Also5 gi1en the )ro8ected in(lu& o( an estimated 6, middle school students(rom the a))ro1ed White Flint Sector 05 the un!no$n student )ro8ections (rom WhiteFlint Sector 005 and the )lanned e&)ansion in the "ensington area5 $e as! thatconsideration be gi1en to increasing the si?e o( the moderni?ed (acility on Tilden %ane4Also at the a))ro)riate time5 )lease e&)edite the )lanning and construction o( the . th

elementary school (or our cluster5 as outlined in the White Flint sector )lan4

Than! you (or your consideration4

Sincerely5

ebbie /or$inTA resident

1


16/22

North Bethesda Middle School PTSA8935 Bradmoor DriveBethesda, MD 20817

&ul' 1, 2%1

Mr. (arr' ). *o+ersnterim Superintendent of SchoolsMontgomer' Count' Pu-lic Schools#% ungerford /rive, 0oom 1220ocville, Mar'land 2%#%1"4"

/ear Mr. *o+ers

n -ehalf of its parents, students, facult', sta5 and administrators, the 6orth*ethesda PTS) is pleased to su-mit for 'our consideration recommendations forinclusion in the MCPS 78 2%1" Capital mprovements Program 9CP: -udget. The2%13 completion of the feasi-ilit' stud' for an addition to 6orth *ethesda Middle

School reinforced in the minds of our constituents that MCPS is cognizant of, andattentive to, the needs of our school communit'. Such proactive e5orts arecommenda-le. ;e encourage 'ou to -uild upon that good+ill -' eeping theaddition and the other capital needs of our school and cluster on trac.

;e have -een eects, such as the*ethesda Me+s 9on the site of the former )merican College of Cardiolog': +ills+ell the rans of students at 6orth *ethesda Middle School.

;hile our addition is a fe+ 'ears in the o?ng, there are some immediate needs.ur @)C s'stem continues to -e pro-lematic, +ith freAuent chiller pro-lemsand uneven zone cooling and heating.

To assist 'ou in categorizing and classif'ing our reAuests, +e have included anattachment that conforms to the format provided -' the MCPS /epartment of 7acilities Management. The PTS) leadership at 6orth *ethesda Middle School isavaila-le to respond to Auestions or concerns. ;e appreciate 'our thoughtfulconsideration of our recommendations and loo for+ard to seeing them includedin the MCPS 2%1" CP -udget.

1!


17/22

Sincerel',

o+ard Philips6*PTS) @ice President

1"


18/22

M 6 T B M 0 8 C D 6 T 8 P D * ( C S C ( S

0 o c Te r r a c e S c h o o l390 Martis !ae E "oc#ville, Mar$lad 20850 E 301%279%&9&0 E 'A() 301%279%&9&3

Mrs. Fatherine ;. (ertoraPrincipal

June +,-7

Mr4 %arry Bo$ers5 0nterim Su)erintendent

Montgomery /ounty ublic Schools

67, Hunger(ord ri1e5 'oom -++

'oc!1ille5 M +,67,

ear 0nterim Su)erintendent Bo$ers5

The 'oc! Terrace School community is )leased to ha1e the o))ortunity to submit comments (or consideration on the Su)erintendent;s 'ecommended F* +,-. /a)ital Budget and the F* +,-.#

+,++ /a)ital 0m)ro1ements rogram4

We continue to su))ort the o( Tilden Middle $ith the re1itali?atione&)ansion and collocation o(

'oc! Terrace School and Tilden Middle5 the re1itali?atione&)ansion o( %u&manor Elementary

as $ell as additions to Ashburton Elementary5 "ensington ar!$ood Elementary5 North Bethesda

Middle5 and Walter Johnson High schools4 0n res)onse to the sustained gro$th in enrollment inour /luster5 as $ell as the White Flint sector )lans5 $e also su))ort the reuest to hold o)en all

o)tions in our cluster (or a se1enth elementary school4

Maintenance )ro8ects scheduled (or this summer at 'oc! Terrace School $ere delayed )ending a

(easibility study including asbestos remo1al (rom ceiling tiles and re!eying the building4 The

school community is a))reciati1e o( the security cameras installed in the halls5 gymnasium andca(eteria o( the school4 The media center and e&terior s)aces in (ront o( the school $ould also

ma!e a di((erence to monitoring )ublic s)aces4 We ho)e that these )ro8ects can be com)leted

soon4

Sincerely5

"atherine W4 %ertora

rinci)al

cc4 'ic! Wright and enny Mylonas5 arent Teacher Grou) co#)residents

1#


19/22

!ilden &iddle '%hool P!'"

11211 =ld @eorgeton oad

o%/ville9 &> 20?2

June +5 +,-7

Mr4 %arry Bo$ers5 Su)erintendent/ar1er Educational Ser1ices /enter

67, Hunger(ord ri1e5 'oom -++

'oc!1ille5 M +,67,

ear Mr4 Bo$ers<

The Tilden Middle School TSA a))reciates the o))ortunity to submit recommendations (or theF* +,-. /a)ital Budget and the F* +,-.#+,++ /a)ital 0m)ro1ements rogram4

@ur )aramount concern is the (ull e&)ansion and re1itali?ation 2=e&)ansion>3 o( the Tilden

(acility on Tilden %ane4 As you $ell !no$5 the com)letion date (or this e&)ansion has beendelayed yet again5 to August +,+,4 By then5 Tilden $ill be beyond ca)acity 2see Attachment A3

and gro$ing ra)idly4 We sim)ly must maintain Tilden;s schedule (or e&)ansion4 We su))ort thecollocation o( Tilden MS $ith the 'oc! Terrace School5 and loo! (or$ard to $or!ing $ith our

ne$ neighbors on a (acility design that $or!s (or all our students4 Ho$e1er5 $e are sorely

disa))ointed $ith the continued )ost)onement o( )lanned construction4

0n addition5 $e ha1e a (e$ im)ortant issues at the Wood$ard (acility $here Tilden is no$

located4 These include installing )ermanent $alls in ES@% and World %anguage areas4 We also

reuest installation o( a clearly audible5 school#$ide )ublic address system4 @ur current systemis inaudible in the hall$ays5 ma!ing it im)ossible to send directions uic!ly $hen the school

shelters in )lace4 'e)air e&terior doors and continue to moderni?e our $eight room4

Than! you (or your consideration o( our 1ie$s on (acilities issues at Tilden and in the Walter

Johnson cluster4 We loo! (or$ard to $or!ing $ith you and your sta(( on the /04

Sincerely5

ebby @rsa! Tilden MS TSA resident

1$


20/22

"tta%hment "

e*uests +or Individual Pro,e%ts

The Tilden Middle School TSA strongly su))orts the com)lete e&)ansion and re1itali?ation

2=e&)ansion>3 o( the (ormer Tilden Middle School located on Tilden %ane (or use as Tilden

Middle School again4 We su))ort the collocation o( Tilden MS $ith the 'oc! Terrace School5and loo! (or$ard to $or!ing $ith our ne$ neighbors on a (acility design that $or!s (or all our

students4 Ho$e1er5 $e are sorely disa))ointed $ith the continued )ost)onement o( )lanned

construction5 (or $hich the end date is no$ August +,+,4

@ur TSA urges you< lease maintain the ne$ schedule5 allo$ing no additional )ost)onements4

By August o( +,+, Tilden $ill be beyond ca)acity4 Not only $ill -,7, students (rom current

neighborhoods attend Tilden 2current /035 but about , students $ill 8oin us (rom the earlystages o( ne$ de1elo)ments 2White Flint Sector 0 and nearby de1elo)ments5 using M/S

)ro8ections and methodology34

By +,+5 Tilden is )ro8ected to ha1e o1er -+7, students5 $ith -+,, (rom the currentneighborhoods and about ., (rom ne$ de1elo)ments – $ith many more to come4 Gi1en the

)ro8ected in(lu& o( students5 $e as! that you increase the si?e o( the (ully e&)anded (acility onTilden %ane5 building it to a core ca)acity o( at least -,, students5 $ith structural su))ort (or

(urther additions4

As you design the collocated Tilden and 'oc! Terrace schools5 $e urge M/S to !ee) se1eral

(eatures in mind4 The t$o schools need t$o main entrances $ith controlled access4 They also

need all a1ailable outdoor s)ace5 to ma&imi?e student (itness and concentration5 and )romote

grou) learning5 social com)etency5 and leadershi) abilities through outdoor acti1ities4 The siteshould include (ull#si?e athletic (ields5 (or school and community use4 We urge you to consider –

and $ould encourage the /ounty to (und #underground sta(( )ar!ing to ma!e the most e((icient

use o( land at this site4

The Tilden TSA su))orts classroom additions at Ashburton ES5 "ensington ar!$ood ES5 and

North Bethesda MS5 and a re1itali?atione&)ansion o( %u&manor ES4 As the large cohort o( students in our elementary schools is mo1ing into middle schools and a))roaching high school5

$e urge to you act uic!ly to )lan and construct an addition at Walter Johnson HS5 or other

ca)acity in our cluster4 Also5 at the a))ro)riate time5 )lease e&)edite the construction or

reno1ation o( a se1enth elementary school (or our cluster4 We as! (or (ull (unding o( these )ro8ects in order to !ee) them on schedule4

2%


21/22

"tta%hment B

e*uests +or County-ide Pro,e%ts

With the continued delay o( the moderni?ation o( Tilden Middle School5 the (ollo$ing re)airs or

re)lacements o( 1arious items are needed<

Building &odi+i%ations and Program Improvements

0nstall )ermanent $alls in ES@% and World %anguage areas bet$een classrooms that only ha1e )artitions4 This issue is substantially a((ecting the ability o( students to hear instruction in these

sub8ects4

8 eating9 :entilation9 and "ir Conditioning (:"C) epla%ement

We $holeheartedly than! M/S (or meeting Tilden;s most urgent need – re)lacement o( the

chiller4 This allo$s students and teachers to use instructional time to (ocus on learning5 rather

than relocating students5 and the heat is not an obstacle to concentration4

; Planned 6i+e Cy%le "sset epla%ement (P6")

0nstall a clearly audible5 school#$ide )ublic address system4 @ur current system is inaudible inthe hall$ays5 ma!ing it im)ossible to send directions uic!ly $hen the school shelters in )lace4

'e)air e&terior doors – three locations4 2ro8ect +- in the Su)erintendent;s March +C5 +,-7memorandum on %A' )ro8ects43

lease continue to u)date the $eight room5 moderni?ing eui)ment annually or as needed4

21


22/22

Wyngate #lementary '%hool

Parent !ea%her "sso%iation

;00 Wadsorth >rive

Bethesda9 &aryland 20?17-2

walter johnson cluster july 13, 2015

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