Sorry, Somerset Elementary School.
This week Superintendent Jerry Weast announced that he was requesting a "change order" for the construction project at Carderock Springs Elementary School in Bethesda. That "change order" was actually funding for a new addition at the school. The new addition would involve the build out of a third floor - 3 of the 10 rooms in a shell that had been constructed into the new building for future use. You can read more about that surprise announcement here.
The $1.5 million being funded for Carderock ES this week is exactly the same amount of money that Somerset ES needs for the EXACT SAME ADDITION PROJECT. Somerset ES ALSO has a 4 room shell in need of money to build out the classrooms. The project would also cost $1.5 million.
But here's the rub. The Somerset ES project is actually in the MCPS Capital Budget plan. The Somerset funding has been reviewed by the County Council staff and determined to be a low priority project. The Somerset ES funding is in danger of being deferred.
That's the beauty of the Carderock ES "change order". No messy Master Plan process. No cumbersome review by the County Council. Just call it a "change order" and Carderock gets a new addition in front of all of the other MCPS addition projects waiting in the queue, including the exact same construction project at Somerset ES.
March 3, 2010
ReplyDelete"And despite the dire economic climate, Weast also recommended additions at Westbrook and Somerset Elementary Schools — at $11.8 million and $1.5 million, respectively, said Bruce Crispell, director of long-range planning for the school system."
http://www.gazette.net/stories/03032010/kensnew224119_32547.php
Photo in Gazette article with caption "Westbrook Elementary School fifth-grader [deleted student's name] steadies the base of the balance beam in the physical education class held in the all-purpose room."
ReplyDeletehttp://www.gazette.net/stories/03032010/kensnew224119_32547.php
The child sitting under the balance beam holding onto the metal brace.How often do children act as props for equipment? This surely looks like a lawsuit waiting to happen. If the child on the balance beam fell off and/or the balance beam couldn't be 'steadied' by the student - think of all the injuries that could ensue to either/both children.