Superintendent Taylor wants to see if MCPS can fail again at a public-private partnership. MCPS has money to burn.

 

MCPS to explore public-private partnerships to fund some facility needs  

Proposed capital improvement program includes money to hire adviser

Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) will explore partnering with private companies to pay for some facility projects included in its proposed $2.7 billion six-year capital improvements program (CIP), Superintendent Thomas Taylor told the county school board Tuesday. 

A public-private partnership, also called a P3, allows a school district to partner with a private-sector company to get new construction projects started faster, without requiring the district to pay the upfront costs, according to a district presentation during a work session on the proposed CIP.  

The ongoing construction of the Purple Line is the most well-known local example of a P3, with the state partnering with the private sector to build the 16-mile light-rail that will run from Bethesda to New Carrollton when completed. 

MCPS Superintendent Thomas Taylor said the Carver Educational Services Center in Rockville is an example of an MCPS facility that could be suitable for a public-private partnership to make needed renovations...  

https://bethesdamagazine.com/2025/11/04/mcps-public-private-partnership/

“Respectfully, it looks really elitist to have the Board of Ed move out, to have all of a lot of the leaders … of MCPS, move out of Carver and to leave everyone else there knowing that that building is unhealthy,” Morrison said.

...Many schools have also faced concerns about building conditions, including A. Mario Loiederman Middle in Silver Spring, which advocated for a new HVAC system in May. At the time, staff said the school dealt with inside temperatures reaching as low as 40 degrees and as high as 90 degrees, odd smells, mold throughout the building and moisture collecting on floors and desks...

https://bethesdamagazine.com/2025/09/12/mcps-deep-clean-of-carver-education-center-to-start-monday-after-complaints/

Superintendent Met with County Executive about Bus Depot

That's all we can tell you. 

The Superintendent gave the Board of Education a report about his meeting with the County Executive at the Closed Session Board of Education meeting on May 21, 2018. 

The Superintendent and Board of Education do not want the public to know anything about what was discussed by the Superintendent and County Executive Ike Leggett.

Breaking: Leggett Withdraws Request for Moving MCPS Bus Lot, Removes Carver and Westmore sites from Future Plan

From: Austin, Lisa On Behalf Of Kirkland, Bonnie
Sent: Thursday, June 23, 2016 11:49 AM
To: Floreen's Office, Councilmember <Councilmember.Floreen@montgomerycountymd.gov>
Cc: Jablow, Judy <Judy.Jablow@montgomerycountymd.gov>; Lauer, Linda <Linda.Lauer@montgomerycountymd.gov>; Pecoraro, Karen <Karen.Pecoraro@montgomerycountymd.gov>; Mihill, Amanda <Amanda.Mihill@montgomerycountymd.gov>; Drummer, Bob <Bob.Drummer@montgomerycountymd.gov>; Hamlin, Joseph <Joseph.Hamlin@montgomerycountymd.gov>; Farber, Steve <Steve.Farber@montgomerycountymd.gov>; Nurmi, Joy <Joy.Nurmi@montgomerycountymd.gov>; Lacefield, Patrick <Patrick.Lacefield@montgomerycountymd.gov>; Dise, David E. <David.Dise@montgomerycountymd.gov>; Kirkland, Bonnie <Bonnie.Kirkland@montgomerycountymd.gov>
Subject: Withdrawal of Executive Order 016-15, Disposition of County Service Park East

Dear Council President Floreen,

I am forwarding a memorandum from the County Executive relating to Withdrawal of Executive Order 016-15, Disposition of County Service Park East.  This PDF document is being forwarded to you in advance of the original, hard copy which will be delivered to Council.

Thank you,

Regards,

Lisa Austin, SEAA

Offices of the County Executive

101 Monroe Street, 2nd Floor

Rockville, MD  20850

240-777-2590

lisa.austin@montgomerycountymd.gov

2016 June 23 Leggett by Parents' Coalition of Montgomery County, Maryland

City of Rockville: Comprehensive Overview of MCPS Shady Grove Bus Depot Replacement Saga

The City of Rockville, City Manager has put together a comprehensive overview of the events that have occurred in the last few years concerning County Executive Ike Leggett's attempt to move the MCPS Shady Grove bus depot to make way for developers to build housing.  The City Manager's memo discusses the four most recent sites that have been proposed for some or all of the Shady Grove bus fleet and includes concerns that have been brought up by the public.

...Following completion of their presentation MCPS opened the meeting to public comment and questions. All of the speakers voiced opposition to the project and expressed several concerns related to the proposal. The following is not an exhaustive list of all concerns expressed, but is a summary of general themes presented:

• noise impacts associated with the operation of the proposed bus depot at this location, given its adjacency to residential uses;

• health concerns given the concentration of over 100 buses at a single location and resultant air quality impacts;

• traffic impacts on the intersection of Mannakee Street and MD355;

• multiple buses utilizing neighborhood streets in the vicinity of the proposed depot;

• impact upon the adjacent historic district and Carver High School building; and,

• incompatibility of the proposed bus depot with the surrounding neighborhood.

MCPS staff indicating that there would be a follow-up meeting on the subject, however no date was provided...

 https://rockmail.rockvillemd.gov/clerk/egenda.nsf/d5c6a20307650f4a852572f9004d38b8/d473390b99a92f7c85257fb1005b0778?OpenDocument

untold number of [MCPS] buses would head to 1000 Westmore Avenue [Rockville]

...County officials are also considering another site off of Crabbs Branch Way, separate from the current Shady Grove site along the same road.
"I'd be happy to talk to anybody with private property that's available to consider as part of this process," said Ossont. “They all involve the potential for property acquisition... We've vetted many, many sites over the years. Some are public lands. Some are private.”...

 http://www.thesentinel.com/mont/newsx/local/item/3615-rockville-weighs-options-on-bus-depot-relocation

Rockville Nights: BOE puts Carver bus depot plans "on hold," Westmor...

Rockville Nights: BOE puts Carver bus depot plans "on hold," Westmor...: Rockville's Mayor and Council discussed highly-controversial school bus depot proposals for two residential neighborhoods in Rockville...

BOE Puts Planning for Carver Bus Depot on Hold

   2016 Floreen CC Transportation Depot by Parents' Coalition of Montgomery County, Maryland

Now: Floreen Tells Board of Ed. to Halt Work on Carver Bus Depot

   2016 May 17 Halt Carver by Parents' Coalition of Montgomery County, Maryland

Council will Revisit Bus Depot Move in June

Help Wanted: Home for 450 Yellow School Buses

And so the battle continues.  Where to put those 450 annoying school buses that are currently occupying prime real estate next to the Shady Grove Metro.

Answers from the developers and county politicians only answer some of the questions.  Proposals include putting some at Carver Educational Center, some more at the Westmore site right outside of the City of Rockville's boundaries, and some - scattered through the county parked at various high schools.

But really folks, we need a solution that addresses all buses - not just a few scattered here and there.

Until the good taxpayers of MoCo get an accounting to relocate ALL those Shady Grove buses, we don't really have any viable solution.

Lets be helpers.

Why not the site of the White Flint shopping center?  Right now its just an eyesore on Rockville Pike - its already commercially zoned, contains a school site, and looks like its all paved and ready to be - surprise - a PARKING LOT.

Right now, the site is tied up in litigation, between the developers - the Lerner family, and the Lord and Taylor department store.  According to  newspaper reports, Lord and Taylor is asking for more money, and the Lerners aren't happy at all.  In fact, the Lerners threaten to not go through with their $800 million development plan until all the appeals are settled and may shelve the project entirely if the courts do not rule in their favor.

So - looks as if White Flint will be tied up in litigation for years to come.

Hey Lerners - do you have room for a few hundred buses that can temporarily use your property?  Be good citizens - and help your fellow developers solve the Shady Grove bus dilemma.  After all, isn't it all developers really want to do is build?

Breaking News: New MCPS School Bus Depot Coming To...

County Executive Ike Leggett wants the MCPS Shady Grove Bus Depot shut down and the buses moved to make way for developers LCOR and NVR to build 698 townhomes and apartments.

100 of the MCPS school buses  and 250 staff cars are to be moved to the front of the MCPS/Board of Education building at 850 Hungerford Drive in Rockville.

The other 300 school buses and 450 staff cars are to be moved to another location.  But, County Executive Ike Leggett and the Montgomery County Council do not want to tell you about that other location.

County Executive Ike Leggett and the County Council do not want the Planning Board to do a full public review of the location for the 300 school buses and 450 staff cars.

Instead, they want the other location to be approved by Planning Board Chair Casey Anderson through an "administrative mandatory referral review."  See the screenshot on the left for the first paragraph of the letter that County Executive Ike Leggett's staff has sent to Planning Board Chair Casey Anderson.

Below is a description of the type of properties that are to be considered for "administrative" review by the Planning Board staff.

Look at the list of things that qualify a property for "administrative" review and allow it to SKIP the full, public Mandatory Referral process before the full Planning Board.

Do you think a BUS DEPOT proposal should be allowed to SKIP a FULL TRAFFIC STUDY? Would you want 300 school buses and 450 staff cars dumped in your neighborhood without a review of the impact those 300 school buses and 450 staff cars would have on the roads you use every day? 

http://www.montgomeryplanningboard.org/agenda/2011/documents/20110915_Mand_Ref_Revised_Process_Guidelines_000.pdf

Do you think that a bus depot that looks like this will have a significant impact on traffic if it moves to a new location?  

MCPS Transportation Website

County Executive Ike Leggett does not think so.  He says that a new site for these buses can SKIP the full traffic study.  

That will be some surprise for the new neighbors and surrounding community! 

Carver Coalition Opposes Plan to Relocate School Buses in Rockville

http://www.mymcmedia.org/carver-coalition-opposes-plan-to-relocate-school-buses-in-rockville-video/

BOE Moves Ahead with Bus Depot on Rt. 355 in Rockville

Rockville just says "No" to Carver bus depot

ROCKVILLE – The mayor and City Council joined opponents of a plan to set up a temporary school bus depot at the Carver Education Services Center, voting unanimously Monday against the proposal.

The City Council voted 5-0 in favor of submitting a letter endorsing an April 8 memorandum authored by Board of Education member Philip Kauffman to the Montgomery County Council and County Executive Ike Leggett.

In the memo, Kauffman requested council members “delay their Declaration of No Further Need on the Shady Grove Transportation Depot” until a number of concerns “are clarified and resolved.”

“This would include the identification of both the interim and final solutions to our transportation depot situation, with a timeline and associated Capital Improvements Program funding identified for the permanent solution,” said Kauffman in the letter.

The Board of Education voted unanimously Tuesday to authorize the Board of Education President Michael Durso (District 5) “to write a letter to the county executive and the County Council to request implementation of a final solution for the relocation of all school buses before the current Shady Grove Transportation Depot is released for its intended use.”

City Council member Mark Pierzchala drafted the letter amended by City Council members Monday night and sent Tuesday morning.

Concerns listed in the letter signed by Mayor Bridget Donnell Newton include:

• The Carver site being in a city-designated Historic District;
• Noise, visual and air quality impacts from buses running within 50-100 feet of several townhouses;
• Traffic impacts on MD 355 and neighborhood roads;
• Hundreds of bus trips across the street from Montgomery College; and
• The plan not aligning with the city’s master plan.

...
 http://www.thesentinel.com/mont/newsx/local/item/3410-rockville-just-says-no-to-carver-bus-depot

Mayor Newton Opposes Interim Bus Depot Plan in Rockville

Rockville Mayor Bridget Newton testifed in opposition of a plan to move 100 buses from the Shady Grove Bus Depot to the Carver Educational Center Services parking lot, during Tuesday’s Board of Education meeting.
“We’re very interested in working with you and all of our Montgomery County partners to find you a solution for a problem that we understand is a real problem, but we do not want it in the city of Rockville,” Newton told school board members.
Newton was joined by other concerned residents, who also made statements about the adverse impact the buses would have in their community. Residents have created a petition in opposition of the plan.
The County government has set a deadline of January 2017 for the Shady Grove Bus Depot to be vacated so that developers can begin building a neighborhood near the Shady Grove Metro station...

 http://www.mymcmedia.org/mayor-newton-opposes-interim-bus-depot-plan-in-rockville/

BOE Member Wants Hold on Moving Buses Until Permanent Plans are Set

MCPS Shady Grove Transportation Depot by Parents' Coalition of Montgomery County, Maryland

How 'bout some portapotties with those buses?

For those of you who thought that our previous post about the buses that will be parked on the Carver school site was not your concern, think again.

Apparently, while MCPS has to move 400 buses to make way for Bob Youngentrob's housing development on Crabbs Branch Way, you've got to see the plans!  Toilets!  Gas Tanks!  A hazardous waste site - and that's only the plan for 100 of these buses.   Bob doesn't care - his kids went to private schools and should be driving their own cars!

Here is additional information from the neighborhood group:

Worse Than We Knew: Fuel Tanks, Portable Trailers and Bathrooms

For those of you not able to have attended our neighborhood meeting last night, here is a summary.

First, the most troubling news. In response to our requests, MCPS provided the City with a project scope summary. If you’re not upset enough at this, please consider the following: In addition to 100 buses and chain link fencing, they are planning above-ground diesel storage tanks for fueling, three portable trailers and enough standalone portable toilet facilities to accommodate drivers and bus attendants. Construction is slated to begin in September.

Nowhere in any of the previous memoranda and other documentation was there any talk about above-ground fuel tanks and trailers and a row of portable toilets. So if you were not upset enough at the prospect of 100 buses and their noise and fumes parked and then traversing the neighborhood, now it has grown into a fueling station and trailer and toilet facility.

Once there, the buses and tanks will be there for a long time if not permanently. Barbed wire and night lighting can’t be far behind. Please join us in stopping this from going forward. Volunteers are needed to collect signatures, email officials, appear/testify at meetings and conduct research, among other activities. 

To volunteer, contact KJKarton@msn.com.

Proposed Next Community Meeting: Tuesday April 19th at 7 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 100 Welsh Park Drive, Rockville

Why do they need port-a-potties?  Can't the folks at Carver share with their fellow MCPS staffers or are they too high brow to share with bus drivers?

Same for the portable trailers/  Can't MCPS find a a few rooms in Carver for our dedicated bus drivers and attendants?

What about the other 300 buses?  Do the sites for these buses also require portapotties, trailers, and fencing?  Did MCPS share this with the neighbors?

Has anyone contact the hazardous materials folks?  Seems as if we have a violation or two or three.

And finally, where are all those MCCPTA folks supposed to park when they lose their spots?  Not to mention the folks who actually work at Carver?   Judy Docca and Pat O'Neill - you better start training for a really long walk when the bus drivers take over the Carver parking lot.

Would you want a 100 bus school depot in your backyard?

These folks don't, and have asked that if you agree, please sign their petition.

No 100+ School Bus Depot In Our Neighborhood

PETITION: We, the undersigned citizens of Montgomery County, MD, hereby petition the Montgomery County (MC) Council (the Council) and the MC Board of Education (the Board) to stop the currently proposed plan to relocate approximately 100 school buses to the Carver Educational Services Center Parking lot (Carver) at 850 Hungerford Drive, Rockville, MD and to seek an alternative interim location for these buses as part of its solution to the impending relocation of the Crabbs Branch Way (aka Jeremiah Park) School Bus Depot.

DEMAND FOR ACTION: For the reasons cited below, we oppose the actions of the Council and the Board to relocate these buses to Carver. We demand that the Council and/or the Board authorize full and adequate studies to be performed by qualified outside individuals on the impacts to the community as was proposed in the memo to the Council by its own Council staff on February 6, 2015. . . 

We further demand that the Council and Board find an alternative solution and location that excludes the use of Carver and that the Council delay the Declaration of No Further Need (DNFN) that closes the existing Crabbs Branch depot until such time that an alternative location to Carver is found.

Read more here and sign the petition if you agree!

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/No-100-School-Bus-Depot-In-Our-Neighborhood 

Katz calls for better dialogue between Council, School Board on bus depot

ROCKVILLE – County Council member Sidney Katz (D-3) called for better communication between his colleagues, the city of Rockville and Montgomery County Public Schools about a possible new bus depot some local residents fear may cause traffic and noise problems.
During a Wednesday night town hall meeting he hosted at Beall Elementary School, Katz discussed the Shady Grove bus depot located at Crabbs Branch Way.
The depot is part of the property the county is selling for the Shady Grove sector plan. That depot holds approximately 400 buses.
Katz referenced the proposal to relocate about 100 of those buses to the front of the Carver Educational Services Center along Hungerford Drive, property owned by MCPS.
He said Montgomery College students use the space to park their cars.
“The bus depot is one of those issues that are an extremely difficult one,” Katz said.
Board of Education member Rebecca Smondrowski said the idea emerged from the team focusing on the relocation of the Shady Grove Depot. Smondrowski said this team includes people from the county government and the school district.
Several attendees at the town hall meeting asked Katz why he voted in favor of the depot.
“There are places where this is okay to do. I believe that the buses need to go somewhere, not there,” Katz said...

 http://www.thesentinel.com/mont/newsx/local/item/3279-katz-calls-for-better-dialogue-between-council-school-board-on-bus-depot