In a few years, students in Bethesda and Chevy Chase will have a new middle school, possibly on the site of the current Rosemary Hills-Lyttonsville Local Park in Silver Spring. According to an article on the Gazette web site, the park was chosen from among ten sites as the best location for the new school by a committee of parents, teachers, community leaders and government officials. Though many local neighbors feel that there was little to no neighborhood input.
With 17 acres, the park boasts playgrounds, tennis courts, sports fields, and a picnic area, which would all be shared with the school. The park also houses the Gwendolyn E. Coffield Community Center, which could be an excellent location for after-school activities. And because the park is situated in a neighborhood, it’s hoped that many of the children will be able to walk to the new school.
If built, the school will hopefully help with the current overcrowding at Bethesda’s Westland Middle School, and it will mean that all sixth-grade students move into a middle school.
Plans for the school should be ready this fall so they can be part of the Fiscal 2013-2018 Capital Improvements Plan. In reality, though, it will be many years before the school is completed and opened, as it still needs to be approved and funded. But it looks very much like things will all work in favor of Silver Spring as the final site for what is a much-needed new school. However, the local residents will push hard to have a say in the process and possible design.
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http://www.gazette.net/stories/03292011/montnew170451_32596.php
ReplyDeleteMontgomery County Board of Education delays vote on new middle school site for Bethesda-Chevy Chase
According to the latest Gazette article (link above), the board decided Monday to delay the action because of the length of Monday's agenda and the magnitude of the decision. Of course, I'm sure the dozens of emails from the community expressing their lack of involvement had something to do with the delay.
While the board has delayed a vote on the site until "April," a new middle school remains a priority. Though it remains to be seen how the local community is involved with the process.