MCPS Presents Preferred Options for Middle School

In the final meeting of the feasibility study process, Montgomery County Public Schools presented preferred layouts for a proposed middle school on Rock Creek Hills Park to members of the community on Thursday.

About 25 people showed up to hear MCPS and representatives from architecture firm Samaha Associates recap the feasibility study process and provide a timeline for the project.

MCPS will recommend two options in the coming feasibility report—one with a courtyard in the middle of the school and one without. Both options are from preliminary plans in order to preserve more green space on the site.

Bethesda's Westland Middle School has a courtyard, and Principal Dan Vogelman said the open space creates a positive climate in the school.

"It gives all of our internal classrooms natural light, and it gives you the sense that even though you're inside a building, you're not far from being outside," he said.

Paul Falkenbury, of Samaha, said the feasibility study report will be published in October, at which point it will be sent to Superintendent Joshua Starr who will decide whether to recommend the project to be funded.

Bruce Crispell, director of long-range planning for MCPS, said Starr was slated to make his recommendation on Oct. 28, and the Board of Education will conduct a work session on capital improvement projects Nov. 2. After that, the Board will hold public hearings Nov. 10 and 14 before taking action on the CIP on Nov. 17, Crispell said.

The proposed projects will go before the county executive and County Council in the winter, and Crispell said MCPS expects to know the project's funding level by the spring.

The process has been marked by controversy, as residents of the Rock Creek Hills neighborhood have accused the schools of disregarding transparency and community engagement throughout the feasibility study.

Recently, the state's Open Meetings Compliance Board ruled that during the site-selection process for the school.

Shannon Hamm, of the Rock Creek Hills Citizens' Association, handed out a pamphlet at the meeting detailing the organization's problems with the project.

Hamm said RCHCA will continue to fight for the park, testifying before the Board of Education and County Council if it is approved for funding.